49 Dissertation

Like the thesis, the dissertation is a work of original, advanced research written in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Doctor of Philosophy degree. The dissertation is not an option, but rather a requirement for the degree. A dissertation is a book-length, unified, coherent work, usually 120 to 250 pages, that makes an original contribution to scholarship in the field. This is the document that secures the candidate’s standing to enter into the academic profession and provides proof of a variety of professional competencies in research, analysis, and writing.

General information on dissertations is available in the Graduate Catalog in the section on Graduate Programs. Doctoral students are required to complete at least 12 semester hours of ENGL 7640: Dissertation Research. More may be done (and most Ph.D. candidates do more), but only 12 hours of ENGL 7640 may be applied toward the 60-hour requirement for the degree. (There are certain complications for students who have federal loans. Such students should discuss their plans in detail with the Graduate Advisor before registering for dissertation hours.) Furthermore, once degree candidates enroll in dissertation hours, they are expected to enroll for at least one hour of dissertation research each semester (excluding summer sessions) until the dissertation is completed.