Disstertation - Doctorate Degree

Special Education

Special Education and Literacy Studies

College of Education and Human Development

Special Education Doctorate

Doctorate of Special Education - Dissertation

Dissertation

All students admitted to the doctoral program in special education will be required to successfully complete a scholarly dissertation according to and human development and Graduate College specifications. When a proposal has received written approval by all members of the Dissertation Committee and approval has been granted by the HSIRB, the student may proceed in the implementation and completion of the dissertation. If, during the conduct of the dissertation research, major deviations from the proposal occur or appear to be imminent, the student will need approval from the Dissertation Committee to continue the research study. Final copies of the dissertation will be submitted to each member of the committee including the graduate faculty representative and must receive formal written approval by the committee prior to the scheduling of the oral examination.

Candidacy

Prior to the term or semester in which the dissertation is defended, the student is required to demonstrate

Completion of any special requirements established at the time of admission.
Graduate Dean's approval of the student's Permanent Program of Study as approved by the Department Graduate Faculty.
An overall grade point average of 3.25 or better.
Completion of all basic course requirements.
Completion of all research tool requirements.
Successful completion of the Comprehensive Examination.
Appointment of a doctoral Dissertation Committee and approval by the Committee of the student's dissertation proposal.

Dissertation Advisor and Committee

The student will select a dissertation advisor from approved faculty in the department. The dissertation advisor will guide the student in developing a prospectus (concept paper) regarding the dissertation. Keeping in mind the nature of the topic, the student, in conjunction with the dissertation advisor, will nominate committee members and present these recommendations to the dean of the Graduate College. The dean will appoint the members of the Dissertation Committee, appoint a graduate faculty representative and notify the dissertation advisor of the appointments. The graduate representative will act as a non-voting observer and participant throughout the dissertation process. With the help of the dissertation committee, the student will formulate a proposal from the prospectus. The committee will then formally approve the proposal for the dissertation. The dissertation advisor and the committee will then aid the student in completing the review process as specified by the Human Subjects Institutional Review Board, if appropriate.

Oral Defense

The student will submit the oral defense application and an abstract of the dissertation to the Graduate College at least 10 working days prior to the oral defense. The oral defense must not be scheduled without completion of all program requirements except the dissertation. The dissertation advisor will conduct the oral examination together with the members of the student's dissertation committee and the graduate faculty representative. Acceptance of the dissertation and the oral defense by all of the committee members will be required before the dissertation will be judged as satisfactory for submission to The Graduate College (abstentions shall be considered negative votes).

If the dissertation is not accepted, the committee may:
(a) require a revision and resubmission of the dissertation without an additional oral defense,
(b) require a revision and resubmission of the dissertation and require a second oral defense, or
(c) reject the dissertation and require another research proposal to be submitted.