Revised March 2008

Table of Contents / Quicklinks

1 Introduction

1.1 Grandparenting of previous policies and procedures

2 Program administration

2.1 The structure of the program

2.2 Who creates and implements administrative policies

2.3 Who to contact for more information

2.4 Official forms

3 Admission

3.1 Criteria for admission

3.2 Our commitment to admitted students

4 Academic advisors

4.1 What the advisor does

4.2 Changing advisors

5 Time limits

6 Student conduct

6.1 Temple's Code of Conduct, including academic honesty

7 Requirements for the degree

7.2 Course and credit requirements

7.3 Academic progress and dismissal from the program

7.4 The MM&C Program Proposal

7.5 Public presentation of dissertation proposal project

7.6 Participation in the MM&C community

7.7 Preliminary examinations, dissertation proposal and the dissertation

7.7.5 Step-by-step procedures for preliminary examinations, dissertation proposal and dissertation

8 A Typical MM&C Student's Schedule of Activities from Admission to Graduation

9 Appeals

10 Financial support

10.1 Research/teaching assistantships

10.2 Research mini-grants

10.3 Conference travel grants

10.4 Tuition assistance

10.5 Dissertation assistance

1  Introduction  [ Top ]

This document describes most of the policies and procedures that apply to students in the Mass Media & Communication (MM&C) doctoral program in the School of Communications and Theater (SCT) at Temple University. Additional information can be found on the web sites of MM&C, SCT, the Graduate School of Temple University.

This document supersedes all earlier versions of program documents titled Ph.D. Manual and The Mass Media and Communication Doctoral Program: Policies and Procedures; questions about grand parenting of provisions in those documents should be addressed to the MM&C director.

Note that all links on this page open a new browser window.

1.1  Grandparenting of previous policies and procedures  [ Top ]

This document is updated whenever a policy or procedure of the MM&C program is created or changed. Under normal circumstances students will be expected to follow the new policy or procedure, but all such changes will be grandparented; that is, unless explicitly prohibited in the changed policy/procedure, students may choose to follow the previous version of the policy/procedure. A copy of this document as it exists at the beginning of each academic year is saved for future reference; to review a previous version students should contact the MM&C director.

2  Program administration  [ Top ]

2.1  The structure of the program  [ Top ]

MM&C is the only doctoral program of the School of Communications and Theater. It is an interdepartmental program, administered by faculty who also hold positions in one of the departments in the School. One of the program faculty members, elected or re-elected every two years, serves as program director (the term "chair" is reserved for administrators of departments). All MM&C faculty are dedicated to scholarly research and committed to graduate education. Initial and continuing faculty membership is based on an annual review of each member's scholarly productivity.

2.2  Who creates and implements administrative policies  [ Top ]

Decisions regarding all MM&C policies and procedures are made by the program's faculty and, when so delegated, by the MM&C director. Current policies and procedures for students are documented here while those related to faculty administration of the program are documented in the program's Bylaws. Where they conflict, all MM&C policies and procedures are superseded by those of the School of Communications and Theater, the Graduate School, and Temple University.

2.3  Who to contact for more information  [ Top ]

For all assistance with administrative and procedural issues, MM&C students should first contact the School of Communications and Theater Graduate Office (Annenberg Hall Room 344; 215-204-8409). In some cases students will be directed to the Graduate School (Carnell Hall Room 501; 215-204-1380).

2.4  Official forms  [ Top ]

To fulfill many of the policy requirements for the MM&C degree, MM&C students need to complete and submit official forms. Most of these forms are available on the Forms and templates page of the MM&C web site. The others are available in the SCT Graduate Office or on the web site of the Graduate School.

The MM&C faculty meets at least once each month during the academic year. Forms that request faculty response or action should be submitted early enough to be placed on the next meeting's agenda, typically at least one week prior to an MM&C meeting date. Forms submitted during the summer, between April 30 and August 31, may not be acted upon until the following fall semester. Students should bring emergencies to the attention of the MM&C director.

3  Admission  [ Top ]

3.1  Criteria for admission  [ Top ]

The MM&C faculty carefully evaluate applications for admission to the program each spring for the following fall. The decision to admit an applicant is based on several criteria, including the applicant's previous degrees and grade point averages; performance on the Graduate Record Examinations (GREs) and for applicants whose native language is not English, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL); letters of recommendation; honors and scholarly achievements; and, very importantly, the convergence of the applicant's abilities and research interests with those of available faculty mentors.

3.2  Our commitment to admitted students  [ Top ]

Students admitted to the program are judged to have the background and skills required to complete doctoral level scholarship, and the MM&C faculty are dedicated to insuring that students receive the academic training and advising necessary to obtain the doctoral degree.

4  Academic advisors  [ Top ] 

4.1  What the advisor does  [ Top ]

Each student in the MM&C program works with an MM&C faculty member who serves as the student's academic advisor. While the student should contact the SCT Graduate Office regarding administrative matters, the academic advisor serves as a mentor, tutor and consultant regarding all other aspects of the MM&C program and the student's progress toward their degree. The student is expected to discuss with her or his advisor all substantial academic decisions, including the determination of which courses to take each semester, and most official forms require the advisor's signature to indicate that person's approval. Ultimately, the academic advisor serves as the chair of the student's preliminary examination and dissertation committees.

4.2  Changing advisors  [ Top ]

When the student is admitted to the MM&C program she or he is assigned an MM&C faculty member who serves as the student's initial advisor. This assignment is normally based on the convergence of the faculty member's and student's research interests. All students must have an academic advisor while they are in the program, but the initially assigned advisor may or may not end up being the most appropriate person for the student's needs and interests, which are expected to evolve. When either the student or the assigned advisor believes a change in advisor is necessary, either can and should request such a change. In that event, following consultation among all parties involved, the new advisor need only inform the SCT Graduate Office of the change.

Students are strongly encouraged to identify the faculty member most appropriate to serve as their advisor as early in the program as possible so that that person can provide mentoring to best serve the student's scholarly and professional needs. Students can learn about all of the MM&C faculty via the program web site, the courses they take, program colloquia, faculty members' publications, earlier MM&C dissertations, and so forth; and the student should talk with appropriate faculty members even before she or he may be able to take courses with them.

5  Time limits  [ Top ]

Following Graduate School regulations, MM&C students must complete the requirements for the degree within seven years of entering the program. Students may request a leave of absence for one or more semesters (via the Request for a Leave of Absence form available on the Forms page of the web site of the Graduate School), but these leaves do not extend the seven year time limit.

Under special circumstances, the student may be granted an extension of time to complete the degree. Such extensions are available only to Ph.D. candidates, i.e., those students who have completed all degree requirements except the defense of the dissertation. The time-to-degree can be extended by MM&C and SCT for a maximum of three years. Requests for all extensions must be made via the Request for Extension of Time form available on the Forms page of the web site of the Graduate School. Requests for extensions beyond three years must be forwarded to the Graduate Board of the Graduate School and must be endorsed by the student's advisor, the MM&C director, and the SCT dean.

6  Student conduct  [ Top ]

6.1  Temple's Code of Conduct, including academic honesty  [ Top ]

The MM&C faculty is committed to strict adherence to and enforcement of Temple University's Code of Student Conduct and in particular its policy on academic honesty. We expect every MM&C student to understand and follow both the letter and spirit of all of the components of this code. This includes the strict adherence to commonly recognized academic standards regarding the proper citation of and reference to other scholars' work. Plagiarism and other forms of cheating are serious breaches of academic integrity and grounds for dismissal from the program and from Temple University.

6.2  Research ethics and institutional review of research  [ Top ]

All students are expected to follow the highest standards of ethics as they conduct original research. Students who conduct research projects that involve human participants are responsible for applying for and being granted approval from the Temple University Institutional Review Board (IRB) (detailed information about this process is available at the IRB web site).

7  Requirements for the degree  [ Top ]

7.1  Residency and continuous enrollment  [ Top ]

The Graduate School requires all Temple Ph.D. students to be "in residence" (registered for at least nine credits, also known as "semester hours") for the two consecutive semesters (excluding summer sessions) of their first year of study.

After the first year of matriculation, the student must be enrolled for at least one credit every fall and spring semester until graduation. Of course, each student is expected to make satisfactory progress toward the degree, and this minimum of one credit per semester may not constitute satisfactory progress. In the rare case where the student must take a leave of absence, the continuous enrollment requirement is waived.

7.2  Course and credit requirements  [ Top ]

MM&C students must complete 72 credits of coursework beyond the baccalaureate degree and an additional 6 credits of dissertation research (i.e., MMC 9999). The following policies apply to the distribution of these credits.

7.2.1  Transfer credits

Students may receive approval from the MM&C faculty to count up to 30 credits of their graduate coursework prior to entering the MM&C program toward the 72 credits required for the doctoral degree. To receive this approval the student must complete a Petition for Transfer Credit (.pdf) and submit it along with supporting documentation (described on the Petition) to the SCT Graduate Office. If a student intends to petition for transfer credit, then she or he must submit this completed form as part of her or his Program Proposal (see 7.4 below) during the first year in the program. Transfer courses will be accepted only if they fit in the student's overall program of study.

Prior coursework can be transferred, based on the evaluation of the MM&C faculty, as non-MM&C elective courses. All of the policies regarding credit distribution and restrictions below apply to transfer credits as well.

7.2.2  Time limitations for course credits

Graduate credits taken toward the Ph.D. are considered valid for up to seven years. Credits older than seven years may be counted toward the degree only after the student submits a Petition for Policy or Procedure Waiver (.pdf) and secures approval from the MM&C faculty. If the credits in question involve courses to be transferred into the program, the matter of credit age is considered in the faculty's evaluation of the student's Petition for Transfer Credit (see 7.2.1 above).

7.2.3  Required courses

All MM&C students are required to successfully complete the following courses (descriptions for all MM&C courses can be found here; descriptions of all Temple graduate courses can be found via the quicklink on the web site of the Graduate School): 

• MMC 9001 Communication Theory I (during first semester)
   

• MMC 9002 Researching Communication I (during first semester)
   

• At least one semester of MMC 9003 Doctoral Colloquium (during first semester)
   

• MMC 9101 Communication Theory II (during second semester)
   

• MMC 9102 Researching Communication II (during second semester)
   

• MMC 9004 Teaching Communication
   

• One additional advanced research methods course: This may be in MM&C or another program or department. If an appropriate course topic is offered in MM&C, that should be the student's first choice
   

• MMC 9999 Dissertation Research. Students must register for at least six credits of MMC 9999 before they can be awarded the doctoral degree. Only candidates with approved dissertation proposals may register for these credits, which cannot be applied toward the 72 credits of coursework required for the degree
   

7.2.4  Credit distributions and restrictions

7.2.4.1  Required MM&C credits

Students must take at least 30 credits of MM&C coursework; credits transferred into the program may not be applied toward these 30 credits.

7.2.4.2  Independent study

Independent study, directed reading, directed project and master's thesis coursework may not (together) constitute more than eight credits toward the degree without approval from the MM&C faculty (via the Petition for Policy or Procedure Waiver (.pdf)). Students must also obtain approval from their advisor and the MM&C faculty before registering for any independent study coursework in programs or departments other than MM&C..

7.2.4.3  Applied coursework

No more then eight credits of applied courses (e.g., news writing, film making, advertising layout, broadcast production, etc.) may be applied toward the degree without approval of the MM&C faculty (via the Petition for Policy or Procedure Waiver (.pdf)).

7.2.4.4  Prerequisites

MM&C students may register only for those courses for which they have completed the appropriate prerequisites. Students may occasionally register for courses out of sequence only after they have secured the approval of both the course instructor and the MM&C director.

7.2.4.5  Courses with undergraduates

MM&C students will not receive course credit toward their degree requirements for any graduate course that is cross-numbered or cross-listed with a course section designated for undergraduate students.

7.2.5  Grades and standards of scholarship

7.2.5.1  The meaning of specific grades

Grading standards vary across universities, programs, and faculty members, but in general, a grade of A represents outstanding or exceptional work; a B indicates competent, satisfactory work in the course. A B- in a graduate level course suggests that the student's work is lacking in some important way. A grade of C represents seriously flawed work. In most classes that would mean doing the assignments but misunderstanding fundamental concepts or presenting them in an unacceptable form, and/or a total lack of constructive participation in class discussions. A grade of D or F represents failure and would be given only if assignments were extremely poorly executed or in the case of plagiarism or other failure to adhere to norms of appropriate student conduct (see 6 above).

7.2.5.2  Minimum grade requirements

All MM&C students must maintain a grade point average of at least 3.0 (on the A to F 4-point scale). Students who hold graduate teaching and research assistantships are required to maintain a grade point average of 3.5.

MM&C students must earn a grade of B- or higher in all required MM&C courses; the Graduate School requires that Temple graduate students not receive a grade of B- in more than two courses or a grade of F in more than one course.

7.2.5.3  Incompletes

In the rare circumstances in which a student cannot complete the requirements for a course during the semester in which the course is offered, she or he and the instructor can complete a Contract for Completion of Coursework (available on the Forms page of the web site of the Graduate School). If the work has not been completed after a calendar year the grade becomes a Permanent Incomplete (PI). Students may have no more than one Incomplete (I) for a course on their transcript at a time. At the time of graduation, they must not have any.

7.3  Academic progress and dismissal from the program  [ Top ]

7.3.1  Grounds for dismissal

MM&C makes every effort to admit individuals who are likely to succeed in and benefit from the training the program provides. Dismissal from the program is a measure of last resort and is rare. However, the following indications of lack of academic progress and other problems may be considered grounds for dismissal from MM&C: 

• Failure to meet any of the minimum grade requirements and requirements regarding incompletes listed above
   

• Failure to complete the core MM&C courses within four semesters of admission to the program
   

• Failure to complete the preliminary examinations within three years of admission to the program
   

• An exceptionally poor performance resulting in failure on the first preliminary examinations
   

• Failure to pass the preliminary examinations after two attempts
   

• Failure to complete the dissertation within three years of taking the preliminary examinations
   

• Serious violations of Temple University's Code of Student Conduct (see 6 above)

7.3.2  Procedures regarding academic progress and dismissal

7.3.2.1  Identifying lack of progress

All MM&C faculty members are responsible for monitoring the academic progress of MM&C students. If a problem is indicated (e.g., by a student's performance in a course or as a teaching or research assistant, lack of progress on the dissertation proposal or dissertation, etc.) the faculty member notifies the student's advisor and the program director. Each student's progress toward the degree is also reported every year in the student's Program Proposal (see 7.4 below) and evaluated by her or his advisor, who presents any problems to the entire MM&C faculty.

7.3.2.2  Developing a solution

When a problem is reported, at the director's discretion either the advisor alone or both the director and the advisor meet with the student to 1) express support, 2) discuss the reasons for the lack of progress, and 3) establish specific steps that the student and the program will take to insure that the problem is resolved, and a schedule for this resolution. A written summary of the meeting is distributed to the faculty and put in the student's academic file. The student's advisor and the program director are responsible for monitoring the resolution of the problem.

7.3.2.3  Considering withdrawal and dismissal

If the student is not able to renew adequate academic progress as agreed at the first meeting, the advisor and program director meet with the student and consider other solutions but also establish a date by which the student should conclude that withdrawal from the program is appropriate. If the lack of progress continues at that date and the student does not choose to withdraw, the MM&C faculty meets to determine whether to pursue formal dismissal of the student from the program. The student can make a written or oral presentation to the faculty prior to this discussion if he or she wishes.

7.3.2.4  Appeals

Appeals of the decision to dismiss the student from the program can be brought to the SCT Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and the Dean. SCT decisions can be appealed to the Provost.

The Graduate Board of the Graduate School hears appeals for reinstatement after dismissal for poor academic performance or failure of preliminary examinations.

The policies page of the web site of the Graduate School contains additional information concerning appeals and grievance procedures.

 7.4  The MM&C Program Proposal  [ Top ]

All MM&C students are required to create, and then annually update, a Program Proposal, a document that outlines the student's previous, current, and planned professional activities.

7.4.1  Purpose of the Program Proposal

The Program Proposal is designed to assist the student in planning for and completing a cohesive and appropriate set of courses, participating in appropriate research and related scholarly projects, preparing for and completing the dissertation, and planning for and achieving post-degree career goals. It accomplishes this by 1) encouraging thoughtful planning by the student at regular intervals, and 2) providing the opportunity for the MM&C faculty to be regularly informed about the student's plans and progress and to make suggestions and decisions that will help the student reach her program and career goals. The Program Proposal is a planning document. It is understood and expected that successive versions of a student's Program Proposal will reflect changes in their interests and plans as they move through the MM&C Program.

7.4.2  Procedures for the Program Proposal

All MM&C students must submit a complete (new or updated) Program Proposal document to their advisor by the end of the second week of classes of the spring semester each year until they either graduate or leave the program. The advisor may then require a discussion about and/or revisions of the document. By the first Monday in March, the student and advisor must both sign the Program Proposal form. The advisor then retains the Program Proposal for discussion and review by the MMC faculty. After this review, the advisor will inform the student of any suggested revisions. The signed copy of the Program Proposal is then kept in the student's file in the SCT Graduate Office.

7.4.3  Components of the Program Proposal

The Program Proposal consists of several separate components, as listed and then described below.

1. Program Proposal Form

2. Statement of research interests

3. Statement of career plans

4. List of current and planned research projects

5. Participation in MM&C research activities

6. Chronological listing of assistantship assignments

7. Comprehensive examination committee members

8. Dissertation advisory and examination committee members

9. Dissertation topic

10. Timeline for completion of the degree

11. Chronological listing of coursework (entering students: Petition for Transfer Credit)

12. Transcript and grade report (printed from OwlNet)

13. Listing of coursework sorted by topic areas

14. Curriculum Vitae

Description of Components

1. Program Proposal Form
   
   The Program Proposal Form (.pdf) identifies the student and advisor and provides spaces for their signatures. It's available on the Forms and templates page of this web site.
    

2. Statement of research interests

   
   

3. Statement of career plans
   

4. List of current and planned research projects
   
   These three components can contain lists or brief text descriptions; the contents are expected to evolve as the student proceeds through the program.
    

5. Chronological listing of assistantship assignments
   
   If the student has been awarded a graduate assistantship at Temple, a chronological list of the semesters of the award and the research and/or teaching assignments and activities the student completed should be included here.
    

6. Comprehensive examination committee members
   
   This is a list of actual (if the committee has been approved) or potential members of this committee.
    

7. Dissertation advisory and examination committee members
   
   This is a list of actual (if the committees have been approved) or potential committee members. Note that the only difference between the dissertation advisory committee and the dissertation examination committee is the addition in the latter of an outside member (see 7.7.5.14 below).
    

8. Dissertation topic
   
   This is a brief description of the student's actual dissertation project or likely potential project.
    

9. Timeline for completion of the degree
   
   This is a short list of the dates by which the student expects to complete each requirement for the doctoral degree, including finishing coursework, taking preliminary examinations and defending the dissertation proposal, and defending the dissertation.
    

10. Chronological listing of coursework (entering students: Petition for Transfer Credit)
    
    This includes all courses taken during graduate work at other universities (with notations indicating which courses have been approved for transfer credit by MM&C) and all courses taken as a nonmatriculated or matriculated graduate student at Temple University. The listing should also include all courses the student plans to take in the future as an MM&C student, and a brief rationale for taking each of these courses (it is understood that this planning is subject to course availability and the evolution of the student's interests). For each course in the chronological listing the following information must be included: the university (if not Temple), the department or program and number of the course, the course name, the number of credits received, the grade earned, and the instructor's name. Students who entered MM&C within the previous year must include a completed Petition for Transfer Credit (.pdf) here; see 7.2.1 above for details.
     

11. Transcript and grade report (printed from OwlNet)
    
    Click here for details on how to obtain this printed report from the Temple University online OwlNet system.
     

12. Listing of coursework sorted by topic areas
    
    This list contains the same information as the one described above but is organized not by chronology but by topic areas. Standard topic areas include, but are not limited to: Communication Theory, Research Methods, and Statistics. Additional areas will represent the student's areas of specialty within communication (e.g., Psychology, Political Science, Sociology, Anthropology, etc.).
     

13. Curriculum Vitae
    
    This document should contain current information about the student's scholarly activities and follow generally accepted standards regarding content and form for an academic job search. 

7.4.4  Sample Program Proposal

A sample program proposal for a hypothetical student is available here, on the Forms and templates page of this web site. Students are encouraged to download this document, which is in MS Word format, and use it to create their individualized Program Proposal.

7.5  Public presentation of dissertation proposal project  [ Top ]

Every MM&C student must present her or his proposed dissertation project in a public forum, the SCT Theory and Research Seminar Series (STARSS). Students should contact the STARSS coordinator to schedule a presentation. Not only does this provide a valuable opportunity for other members of the MM&C community to learn about the student's work, it provides the student important feedback as she or he develops the proposed study.

7.6  Participation in the MM&C community  [ Top ]

Every MM&C student is expected to participate in some of the professional activities of the program, including the annual SCT Graduate Student Competitive Research Forum, MM&C Poster Sessions, and the SCT Theory and Research Seminar Series (STARSS), as well as professional activities such as attending and participating in academic conferences and submitting work to be published in academic journals. Participation in MM&C social activities, such as MM&C semester parties, is also strongly encouraged.

7.7  Preliminary examinations, the dissertation proposal and the dissertation  [ Top ]

7.7.1  Overview

After the student completes the coursework requirements of the program, she or he works with the academic advisor and one or more faculty committees that provide guidance as the student takes preliminary examinations and proposes and conducts an original research project, the doctoral dissertation.

The MM&C faculty first approve the membership of the preliminary examination committee and the student takes the three exams within a 14 day period.

The student then creates a short abstract of the proposed dissertation project, the MM&C faculty approve the project and the membership of the dissertation advisory committee, and the student prepares a detailed project proposal for the dissertation. When the dissertation proposal is judged defendable by the student's dissertation advisory committee, the student and the committee meet for an oral defense of the proposal. This meeting must take place within 120 days of the preliminary examinations (only in cases of extreme need that establish clear and compelling reasons why a student has not yet defended the dissertation proposal can she or he petition the MM&C faculty for a waiver of this 120-day limit; otherwise the student is considered to not be making satisfactory progress toward the degree and is ineligible for assistantship support or a Dissertation Completion grant; if the proposal is not defended within one year after the student passes the preliminary examinations, she or he must retake the examinations). When the student's proposal is successfully defended, she or he becomes a Ph.D. candidate (also known as "being ABD" or having "All But Dissertation" status).

When the dissertation study and written report are complete, the dissertation is formally approved at another meeting of the student and the dissertation examination committee (the advisory committee and an outside member previously unfamiliar with the project). The student then makes any requested revisions and submits a final copy of the dissertation report to the Graduate School of the University and is officially awarded the doctoral degree in a traditional hooding ceremony at the School's commencement program.

Detailed explanations of the format, content and evaluation of the preliminary examinations, the dissertation proposal and the completed dissertation, and then the step-by-step process involved in completing these requirements for the MM&C degree, follow.

7.7.2  Preliminary examinations

7.7.2.1  Overview

The preliminary examinations require the student to produce detailed written responses to a set of three questions, one from each of three members of the student's examination committee.

7.7.2.2  Format for the written examinations

The format for the administration and responses of the three preliminary examinations can vary in several respects based on the preferences of the student and examiner. Each examination question may be taken either on campus (in an office or classroom) or off campus (at the student's home or another convenient location). The student may have notes and/or books available as she or he works or these may be prohibited. The amount of time for the exam can vary from a few hours to several days (on campus examinations can not take more than four hours, not including typing of handwritten responses). All of the written responses must be completed within a 14-day period.

7.7.2.3  Content of examination questions

The examinations are intended to assess the student's overall knowledge in the field  rather than knowledge in narrow topic areas. The topics may include any aspects of the discipline of mass media and communication and are not limited to material covered in coursework taken by a given student. Moreover, the preliminary examinations are not designed merely as adjuncts to, or research support for, the dissertation - the examinations and the dissertation are independent.

The student is examined in three areas, each represented by the question(s) of one committee member. The questioner in each examination area is considered the lead or main reader for that portion of the exam. The three areas are: 

• Communication theory: Major conceptual perspectives on the process of interpersonal and/or mass communication.
   

• Communication research methodology: Conceptual perspectives and/or operational details related to planning, conducting, and interpreting research in communication.
   

• Other: Issues related to any of the following:
  
  Communication history: World history as related to the organization and transmission of social information, including both technological and non-technological issues.
  
  Communication institutions: Economics, law, and policy as they relate to the dissemination of information.
  
  Communication message systems: Formal and content characteristics of information "packaging," with particular emphasis on mass-mediated or technologically-recorded transmissions.
  
  Communication behavior: Behavior as it relates to information and its transmission and processing. Although this may include interpersonal processes (e.g., language and the social-psychological literature of person perception, small group interaction, etc.), mass media processes and effects are emphasized.
  
  Optional area: The student may nominate an area which is not significantly covered in any of the areas above but is related to the student's research and/or professional interests.

7.7.2.4  Evaluation of the examinations

The written responses to the preliminary examination questions are evaluated by the student's preliminary examination committee in two interrelated ways. First, the response to each question is graded separately on a pass/fail basis. To pass a given question, the majority of committee members (which may include no fewer than two and must include the examiner/lead reader) must accept the answer. Second, the complete set of written responses are evaluated; again, the majority of committee members (which must include the committee chair) must determine that the overall performance is adequate.

If the student's performance on all three questions is deemed acceptable, the student will have passed the examinations. If the student's performance on any of the three questions is deemed unacceptable by the committee, the student is required to have an oral defense of the examinations, a round-table discussion at which the preliminary examination committee members request further discussion or elaboration of any or all of the student's written responses. After this oral defense the members of the committee determine whether the student has passed the examinations.

If the student fails the examinations, she or he can petition to re-take them. In re-taking the examinations, the student may also petition to retain or to change her or his committee. The examinations may be taken only twice (failure on two sets of examinations leads to dismissal from the program).

7.7.3  Dissertation proposal

7.7.3.1  Overview

The dissertation proposal is a detailed written document that describes an original research project the student proposes to conduct under the supervision of her or his advisor and the other members of the dissertation advisory committee to fulfill the dissertation requirement for the MM&C doctorate. The student produces the dissertation proposal with the guidance of her or his dissertation advisory committee, and defends and discusses it at a meeting (an oral defense) with the committee.

7.7.3.2  Form of the dissertation proposal

Different dissertation advisory committees may require different amounts of detail in the dissertation proposal. However, the student should consider that the more specific and thorough the proposal, the more specific direction she or he will have in conducting the research and writing the dissertation, and the more agreement will exist among all parties regarding what is and is not to be done as the research proceeds.

The Graduate School has specific formatting requirements for dissertations, and students are strongly encouraged to follow these requirements in the dissertation proposal. The requirements are presented in the Graduate School's Dissertation Handbook.

MM&C dissertations must also follow the style guidelines of the American Psychological Association Publication Manual or the Chicago Manual of Style.

7.7.3.3  Content of the dissertation proposal

The doctoral dissertation for MM&C is a scholarly research endeavor culminating in a written work. The completed dissertation must represent original research and scholarship that contribute to the communication discipline. The research must be conducted by the candidate, and only the candidate, while she or he is an MM&C student, and it must not have been used to meet the requirements for another degree. As stipulated by the Graduate School, research that fits these requirements but has been previously published can be included if it is "logically connected with and integrated into the dissertation" and its inclusion "does not violate any existing copyright or contractual agreement"; see the policies page of the web site of the Graduate School for details).

The dissertation proposal is a preliminary version of the eventual dissertation document and justifies and outlines the proposed research project. Each faculty member may have somewhat different views about how the proposed research project should be presented. The student should take direction from her or his advisor and dissertation advisory committee members on how to construct the proposal. Generally speaking, nearly all proposals should do the following: 

• Introduce the research by briefly describing what is to be studied and how that study is to be conducted.
   

• Discuss the scholarly (theoretical) and social (practical) significance of the proposed study.
   

• Provide a comprehensive review of all scholarship pertinent to the study.
   

• Describe any or all general procedures and techniques for conducting the proposed research.
   

• Offer a detailed budget, if applicable, for undertaking the proposed research.
   

• Offer a timetable for completion of the various stages of the dissertation.

7.7.3.4  Evaluation of the dissertation proposal

The dissertation proposal is evaluated by the dissertation advisory committee. The committee members evaluate both the written document and the student's responses to questions during a meeting (an oral defense). The dissertation proposal must be approved by the majority of the members of the committee. Several outcomes of the evaluation are possible, including: 

• The dissertation proposal is approved substantially as is.
   

• The dissertation proposal is approved with minor revisions which will be evaluated only by the committee chairperson.
   

• The dissertation proposal is approved with revisions which will be evaluated by one or more committee members who will inform the chairperson if and when all changes have been successfully accomplished.
   

• The approval of the dissertation proposal is deferred pending modifications that will subsequently be evaluated by one ore more committee members who will then report back to the chairperson on the matter of final approval.
   

• The approval of the dissertation proposal is deferred pending redistribution of a modified proposal to all committee members. In this case, the advisory committee also determines at the defense whether the assessment of these modifications may be reported directly to the chairperson or whether a second hearing needs to be scheduled (in which case the defense is officially suspended and a new official announcement must be made for the second meeting; see 7.7.5.7 below for details).
   

• Failure.

Technically, formal approval of the proposal requires votes of at least two of the MM&C members on the dissertation advisory committee, one of whom must be the chairperson. However, it could be very detrimental to the student and her or his research for any of the committee members to have strong objections to substantial aspects of the proposed project. It is therefore strongly recommended that any dissertation project not proceed unless it is approved be all members of the committee.

7.7.4  The dissertation

7.7.4.1  Overview

The dissertation is an expanded and completed version of the dissertation proposal. The student produces this document under the guidance of her or his dissertation advisory committee, and defends and discusses it at a meeting (an oral defense) with her or his dissertation examination committee (the advisory committee and a new, outside member previously unfamiliar with the project).

7.7.4.2  Form of the dissertation

The dissertation is a complete and detailed description of the background, purpose, method, results, and implications of a research project. It includes an abstract, a variable number of chapters, references to scholarly works, and supplementary materials. The length of complete dissertations in the field of Communication varies considerably, from as short as 100 pages to as long as 300.

All dissertations at Temple University must follow the formatting requirements presented in the Graduate School's Dissertation Handbook.

MM&C dissertations must also follow the style guidelines of the American Psychological Association Publication Manual or the Chicago Manual of Style.

7.7.4.3  Content of the dissertation

As noted above, the doctoral dissertation for MM&C is a scholarly research endeavor culminating in a written work. The completed dissertation must represent original research and scholarship that contribute to the communication discipline. The research must be conducted by the candidate, and only the candidate, while she or he is an MM&C student. As stipulated by the Graduate School, research that fits these requirements but has been previously published can be included if it is "logically connected with and integrated into the dissertation" and its inclusion "does not violate any existing copyright or contractual agreement"; see the policies page of the web site of the Graduate School for details).

As with the dissertation proposal, the particular requirements for an approvable dissertation vary with respect to the dissertation topic and the supervising committee. In general, all dissertations are well-written and organized presentations that identify a research problem, discuss its significance, provide a complete review of the relevant background and scholarship, describe in depth all methods and techniques of analysis used in the study, present and discuss all relevant research discoveries and findings, and draw conclusions concerning what we now know as a result of undertaking the research and what important questions still remain.

7.7.4.4  Evaluation of the dissertation

The dissertation is evaluated by the dissertation examining committee, which includes the members of the dissertation advisory committee as well as a new, outside member who is not involved with the planning or conducting of the research project prior to its conclusion (see 7.7.5.14 below). The committee members evaluate both the written document and the student's responses to questions during a meeting (an oral defense of the dissertation). The dissertation must be approved by the majority of the members of the examining committee. Several outcomes of the evaluation are possible, including: 

• The dissertation is approved substantially as is.
   

• The dissertation is approved with minor revisions which will be evaluated only by the committee chairperson.
   

• The dissertation is approved with revisions which will be evaluated by one or more committee members who will inform the chairperson if and when all changes have been successfully accomplished.
   

• The approval of the dissertation is deferred pending modifications that will subsequently be evaluated by one or more committee members who will then report back to the chairperson on the matter of final approval.
   

• The approval of the dissertation is deferred pending redistribution of a modified dissertation to all committee members. In this case, the examining committee also determines at the defense whether the assessment of these modifications may be reported directly to the chairperson or whether a second hearing needs to be scheduled (in which case the defense is officially suspended and a new official announcement must be made for the second meeting; see 7.7.5.17 below for details).
   

• Failure.

7.7.5  Step-by-step procedures for preliminary examinations, dissertation proposal and dissertation  [ Top ]

This section describes in detail the sequence of events students follow from the completion of coursework to the awarding of the doctoral degree. Relevant policies are highlighted.

7.7.5.1  Step 1: The student selects members of the preliminary examination and dissertation advisory committees.

The advisor and student select two or more other faculty to be members of the student's preliminary examination and dissertation advisory committees, and the student seeks their agreement to serve.

The student's advisor is the chair of both the preliminary examination and the dissertation advisory committees. Unless there is a compelling reason, the same people serve as members of both of these committees. The committees must consist of at least three Temple graduate faculty members: the chair and two additional committee members. The chair must be an MM&C faculty member and at least one of the additional committee members must serve on the MM&C faculty. All members of the committees may be, and often are, MM&C faculty members. No more than one committee member may be from outside Temple University.

The selection of committee members should generally be guided by two interrelated criteria: Each member's experience with and willingness to contribute to the student's dissertation research, and a distribution of expertise among faculty members so that the committee members can provide questions and evaluate responses in appropriate areas for the preliminary examinations (see the list of areas in 7.7.2.3 above).

The student and advisor may wish to invite additional members to serve on the dissertation advisory committee because of their particular expertise related to the dissertation project. In such cases, the additional faculty members do not provide questions or evaluate responses for the student's preliminary examinations.

Since later in the dissertation process the student will be required to add a non-MM&C member to the dissertation advisory committee, the student should carefully consider the inclusion of non-MM&C members at this proposal stage. That is, if there is a particular non-MM&C faculty member with whom the student wants to work, she or he may want to ask that person to serve as the outside member of the dissertation examining committee that evaluates the final dissertation (see 7.7.5.14 below).

It is useful for the student to discuss the constitution of these committees and the topics and timetable for the preliminary examinations and dissertation, and to check with prospective faculty members concerning their willingness and ability to serve as members on these committees, as the student nears the completion of required coursework.

7.7.5.2  Step 2: The student obtains formal approval for the preliminary examination committee.

To officially form the student's preliminary examination committee, the student completes the Preliminary Examination Committee Form (.pdf) and submits it to the SCT Graduate Office. This form is an official request to constitute the examination committee and take the examinations during a specified 14 day period. The MM&C director considers the petition and either suggest changes in the committee or approves the committee.

When the form is approved the staff in the SCT Graduate Office posts an official announcement including the dates and committee members on the MMC listserv. The announcement must be posted before the examinations begin.

The approval is granted for 120 days; if the student does not pass her or his preliminary examinations within this time period, approval of the committee must be renewed. Any subsequent changes in committee constituency must also be approved by the MM&C faculty.

Note that the preliminary examination committee must be approved before the student takes her or his examinations. Students should keep in mind that the faculty meets only during the academic year (from September to May), so if they wish to take preliminary examinations and/or schedule their proposal defense over the summer, they should get permission from the members of their committees and submit the form by April 30.

7.7.5.3  Step 3. The student and committee members prepare for the preliminary examinations.

The student meets with each of the three members of the preliminary examination committee to establish the topic and format of that member's exam question, and the student prepares to take the examinations.

At least 10 days prior to the start of the first written examination, each committee member submits her or his question to the committee chair and indicates the format for the examination (including whether the response is to be written on campus or off campus, whether notes and/or books are allowed, and the amount of time permitted), either on the Preliminary Examination Question Form (.pdf) or in another format (such as e-mail). The examination questions may not be submitted directly to the student or to the SCT Graduate Office.

During the next 10 days, the committee chair examines the set of questions and resolves any problems or questions regarding the prospective examination's content or administration. The committee chair then submits the set of questions to the SCT Graduate Office before the first exam is scheduled to begin.

During the semester or semesters the student prepares to take the preliminary examinations (more broadly, during which the student completes steps 1 through 4 just described), she or he should register for 1 credit of MMC 9994 ("Preliminary Examination Preparation"). If the student requests it, the University will designate her or him as a full-time student during this time (a status the University calls "code 23"; although it should not be needed, this status is available for up to six semesters; see the SCT Graduate Office for details about this).

7.7.5.4  Step 4. The student takes the preliminary examinations.

On the previously arranged date the student begins the examinations; the three exams can be taken in any order and with any intervals between them as long as all of them are completed within 14 days.

The student can arrange to pick up each question in person at the SCT Graduate Office or the exam questions may be e-mailed or faxed to the student by the preliminary examination committee chair or by the SCT Graduate Office staff. In either case if the student prefers, she or he can send the responses back to the SCT Graduate Office staff via e-mail (they can not be faxed).

Within 48 hours of the completion of the last (third) examination, the student submits to the SCT Graduate Office 4 printed copies of the original questions and the student's answers to each question; three of the copies are for the members of the committee and one is for the SCT Graduate Office. The SCT Graduate Office staff distributes hard copies of the set of answers to all of the examination committee members.

7.7.5.5  Step 5.  Each member of the preliminary examination committee reads and evaluates the student's responses.

Each member of the committee reads the complete set of questions and answers, and each member reads and evaluates the entire examination. Each committee member communicates their assessment to the committee chair. If all of the evaluations are that the answers are acceptable, the student has passed the examinations. If not, an oral defense of the examinations is scheduled. Following the defense, the members of the committee determine and tell the student whether she or he has passed the examinations. If the student fails the examinations, she or he can petition to re-take them (but only once). When the committee determines that the examinations have been passed, the SCT Graduate Office staff processes and submits the Preliminary Examination Report form to the Graduate School within 30 days.

7.7.5.6  Step 6: The student develops a short abstract of the dissertation project.

The student works with her or his advisor to develop a general plan for, and an extended abstract of, a viable dissertation study. This abstract is no more than 5 double-spaced pages long, and must be approved before the student writes the full proposal.

The extended abstract should fully explain the research the student plans to conduct, the contribution the project will make to the existing literature in the subject area, a plan and timetable for conducting the study, and what the student anticipates the study might reveal based on preliminary research and study. At least a paragraph or two should be devoted to a clear statement of the subject and the research question(s) regarding that subject. Another paragraph or two should explain the need for the project - a brief summary of the literature and what gap in the existing research the proposed project will fill. The abstract should also address the relevant theory and methodology; it should be as specific as possible about the scope of the evidence to be gathered, i.e., what particular media and/or individuals will be studied, why they have been selected, and how the necessary access will be achieved. The abstract should make it clear that the proposed project is feasible, including a summary of what the student has done so far that has led her/him to believe in the feasibility of the project.

7.7.5.7  Step 7: The student obtains formal approval from the MM&C faculty for the dissertation advisory committee and dissertation project.

To officially form the student's dissertation advisory committee and obtain approval for the prospective dissertation project, the student completes the Dissertation Advisory Committee and Proposal Form (.pdf) and submits it to the SCT Graduate Office. This form is an official request to constitute the dissertation advisory committee; the 5 page extended abstract is transmitted with the form. The MM&C faculty consider the petition and either suggest changes in the project and/or committees, or via a majority vote approve the project and committees.

When the form is approved the staff in the SCT Graduate Office posts an official notice of the approval of the project and committee, including the complete project abstract, to the MMC listserv and web site so other students know of the project.

Note that the dissertation advisory committee and project abstract must be approved by the MM&C faculty before the student begins writing her or his dissertation proposal (this protects the student from wasting time and effort on a project that is later not approved). Students should keep in mind that the faculty meets only during the academic year (from September to May), so if they wish to schedule their proposal defense over the summer, they should get permission from the members of their committees and submit the form by April 30.

7.7.5.8  Step 8: The student presents her or his dissertation project in a public forum.

Every Ph.D. student must present their proposal in a public forum, usually the SCT Theory and Research Seminar Series (STARSS). Not only does this provide a valuable opportunity for other members of the MM&C community to learn about the student's work, it provides the student valuable feedback as she or he develops the proposed study. The student should contact the STARSS coordinator or MM&C program director to schedule a presentation.

7.7.5.9  Step 9: The student writes and distributes a complete, defendable draft of the dissertation proposal.

The student writes a series of drafts of the complete proposal for the dissertation project, with the advisor reviewing and providing feedback on each one. During this process, the student consults with the other dissertation advisory committee members regarding their areas of expertise as they relate to the project. If needed, these other committee members can be called upon to review specific parts of the proposal, but they are not obligated to do more than this.

The final proposal draft is a polished and compelling document that will require minimal revision other than the addition of the results, analysis, and interpretation when the project is complete. When the advisor and student believe the proposal is complete and defendable, the student distributes copies to all of the dissertation advisory committee members and to the SCT Graduate Office.

During the semester or semesters the student creates and refines the dissertation proposal, she or he should register for 1 credit of MMC 9998 ("Predissertation Research"). If the student requests it, the University will designate her or him as a full-time student during this time (a status the University calls "code 23"; although it should not be needed, this status is available for up to six semesters; see the SCT Graduate Office for details about this).

7.7.5.10  Step 10. The dissertation advisory committee chair determines that the dissertation proposal is defendable.

When the chair of the dissertation advisory committee determines that the dissertation proposal is complete and of adequate quality, the student distributes copies to the other committee members. The chair is solely responsible for insuring that the proposal is defendable (note that the Dissertation Advisory Committee Declaration of Proposal Defendability (.pdf) is no longer required).

7.7.5.11  Step 11: The student and dissertation advisory committee members establish and announce a schedule for the student to participate in an oral defense of the dissertation proposal.

The student, in consultation with the committee members, schedules an oral defense of the proposal. The date of the oral defense must be at least 14 days after the proposal draft is distributed to the committee members so they have time to read it. The defense typically lasts approximately 2 hours.

The defense should be scheduled, with the approval of the committee members, to occur during the fall or spring semesters. The date, time and place for the defense should be chosen so that all committee members can attend. No more than a single member of the committee can be physically absent from the defense (this person can participate via conference call).

When the defense date/time/place is determined, the SCT Graduate Office reserves a meeting room and posts an announcement of the defense date/time/place on the MMC listserv. The announcement notes that students and others interested in attending the defense are to request permission to do so from the student. (This electronic announcement replaces the old form called Notification of Preliminary Examinations & Dissertation Proposal Hearing.) The announcement must be posted at least 14 days prior to the date of the defense.

7.7.5.12  Step 12. The oral defense of the dissertation proposal is held.

The defense of the dissertation proposal is held on the previously scheduled date.

Although many variations are possible, the event usually proceeds this way:

First the student and any guests who are students are asked to leave the room briefly while the committee members discuss any relevant issues. When the student is called to return, she or he makes a very brief presentation about the proposed project, and then each committee member asks the student questions and makes suggestions regarding the proposal. Through the questioning and discussion, precise expectations for what will and will not be covered in the dissertation, how the project will be conducted, and so on, are established. At the conclusion of this part of the defense, the student and any guests who are students are asked again to leave the room and when the student is called to return, the group is informed of the outcome of the proposal defense.

If guests (faculty and/or students) attend the defense, they may or may not be allowed to ask questions or contribute to the discussion, at the discretion of the chair of the student's dissertation advisory committee.

If the proposal is not approved, the student has 90 days to submit a new version of the proposal for a second oral defense. Until the proposal is approved, no work on the dissertation project itself can begin.

If the student's dissertation proposal is approved, she or he advances to candidacy (also known as "being ABD" or having "All But Dissertation" status). The committee members then sign the Dissertation Advisory Committee and Proposal form (see 7.7.5.7 above) and the Dissertation Proposal Transmittal form (available on the Forms page of the web site of the Graduate School) and the chair of the committee or the student returns the forms to the SCT Graduate Office. The SCT Graduate Office staff then processes and submits the Dissertation Proposal Transmittal form to the Graduate School within 30 days of the successful defense.

7.7.5.13  Step 13. The student submits and receives approval for the study from the Temple University Institutional Review Board.

All students (and faculty) at Temple University who conduct research projects that involve gathering information from human participants must apply and be granted approval for the project from the Temple University Institutional Review Board (IRB). Detailed information about the review process, required forms, and a schedule of IRB Committee meetings are available at the IRB web site. The student should plan carefully to receive timely IRB approval; materials generally have to be submitted two weeks prior to the IRB Committee meeting date and review takes at least three weeks.

7.7.5.14  Step 14. The advisor and student select the university-mandated outside member of the dissertation examining committee.

At this point, University regulations require that a new person be added to the dissertation advisory committee, which then becomes the dissertation examining committee. This new outside member must not have been involved in the dissertation research or writing to this point. She or he must not be a member of the MM&C faculty, but may be a SCT faculty member, another Temple University faculty member, or a faculty member from another university. The Graduate School must approve this outside member. If the person selected is not a member of Temple's Graduate Faculty, a formal request for approval must be submitted four weeks prior to the date of the oral defense of the dissertation; in all other cases the request can be made two weeks before the defense (see 7.7.5.17 below). 

The student and advisor together identify an appropriate person to serve as this outside member of the committee, and the student invites the person to serve. These arrangements can be made prior to this point and it is a good idea for the student and advisor to consider the identity of the outside member when planning the membership of the dissertation advisory committee.

7.7.5.15  Step 15. The student conducts the proposed study and writes a complete, defendable draft of the dissertation.

The student conducts the research as outlined in the approved dissertation proposal and modifies the proposal to create a draft of the dissertation. The advisor reviews and provides feedback on this and subsequent drafts of the document. During this process, the student consults with the other committee members regarding their area of expertise as it relates to the project. If needed, these other committee members can be called upon to review specific parts of the proposal, but they are not obligated to do more than this.

During the semester(s) the student conducts the dissertation study and completes the dissertation document, she or he must register for 1 credit of MMC 9999 Dissertation Research. The University requires that all doctoral students register for a minimum of 6 of these credits. The student may not register for them until she or he is officially advanced to candidacy. To be designated as a full-time student during this time, the student has to be classified by the University as "code 23"; see the SCT Graduate Office for details).

7.7.5.16  Step 16. The dissertation advisory committee chair determines that the dissertation is defendable.

When the chair of the dissertation advisory committee determines that the dissertation is complete and defendable - i.e., that any changes committee members might require could reasonably be made within the 30 days following a defense of that version - the student distributes copies to all of the dissertation examining committee members (i.e., the original members of the dissertation advisory committee and the new outside member; see 7.7.5.14 above) and to the SCT Graduate Office. The chair is solely responsible for insuring that the dissertation is defendable (note that the Dissertation Examining Committee Declaration of Dissertation Defendability (.pdf) is no longer required).

7.7.5.17  Step 17. The student and committee members schedule the oral defense of the dissertation.

The student identifies a date and time at least 14 days after the committee members receive their copies of the dissertation draft when all committee members can meet for the defense. The student then completes and submits the Announcement of the Oral Defense form, available from the Forms page of the web site of the Graduate School, to the SCT Graduate Office, which processes it and forwards it to the Graduate School. Graduate School policies state that the defense cannot be held until the Announcement of the Oral Defense form is received and approved in the Graduate School.

The Announcement of the Oral Defense form identifies the new outside member of the dissertation examining committee, the chair of the examining committee (who will chair the defense meeting), and the date/time/place of the defense.

The Graduate School must approve the outside member of the committee; if that person is not a member of Temple's Graduate Faculty, a formal request for approval should have been submitted earlier (see 7.7.5.14 above); otherwise the request can be made via the Announcement of the Oral Defense form. 

Graduate School regulations require that the faculty member who has served as chair of the student's dissertation advisory committee not chair the student's dissertation defense meeting. Another member of the committee must be selected to chair the defense and this must be indicated in the Announcement of the Oral Defense form.

The staff of the SCT Graduate Office will reserve an appropriate meeting room for the date and time selected for the defense and add this information to the form. The defense typically lasts approximately 2 hours.

7.7.5.18  Step 18. The details of the dissertation defense are announced to the MM&C community.

When the Announcement of the Oral Defense form is complete and on file, the SCT Graduate Office staff posts an announcement of the defense date/time/place on the MMC listserv. The announcement notes that students and others interested in attending the defense are to request permission to do so from the student. The announcement must be posted at least 10 working days prior to the date of the defense.

7.7.5.19  Step 19. The defense is held; the committee agrees on which member(s) will read and approve any required revisions.

The defense of the dissertation is held on the previously scheduled date.

The Graduate School requires that all members of the Dissertation Examining Committee be physically present at the defense except in case of an emergency. The Dean of the Graduate School may give prior written approval for one member to be absent but that person must still participate in the defense in some way (e.g., via telephone, video conference, or written comments and/or questions asked by another member of the committee).

Although many variations are possible, the event usually proceeds this way: First the student and any guests who are students are asked to leave the room briefly while the committee members discuss any relevant issues. When the student rejoins the meeting she or he makes a very brief presentation about the project, and then each committee member asks the student questions about the dissertation. If guests (faculty and/or students) attend the defense, they may or may not be allowed to ask questions or contribute to the discussion, at the discretion of the chair of the defense meeting. When the questioning is complete, the student and any guests who are students are again asked to leave the room. During this time the committee members determine whether the dissertation is to be approved and, assuming it is, what revisions in the document are to be required before the final version is submitted to the Graduate School, along with the procedures for supervising the student's completion of these revisions. When the student is called to rejoin the group she or he is informed of the outcome of the defense and the committee's decisions regarding the revisions.

If the student's dissertation is approved, all members of the dissertation examining committee sign the Dissertation Examining Committee Form (sent by the Graduate School to the chair of the student's dissertation advisory committee prior to the defense). They also sign two copies of the signature page to be included in the final copies of the dissertation the student submits to the Graduate School after making any final revisions (note that the title of the dissertation should not appear on these signature pages until the final dissertation copies are to be submitted).

7.7.5.20  Step 20. The student makes the required revisions and submits the complete dissertation to the Graduate School.

The student must complete the revisions required by her or his dissertation examining committee and submit the final version of the dissertation to the Graduate School within 30 days after the defense. Before the dissertation can be submitted to the Gradate School the chair of the dissertation advisory committee and/or other members of the dissertation examining committee have to approve the revisions (arrangements for this are determined at the end of the defense). The dissertation must also be made to follow all format guidelines in the Graduate School's Dissertation Handbook. The student submits copies of the final version to the Graduate School. The student then provides finished, bound copies of the dissertation to all of the members of her or his examining committee.

7.7.5.21  Step 21: Graduation!

To graduate, the student must file an Application for Graduation for Doctoral Degrees (available from the Forms page of the web site of the Graduate School) early in the semester in which she intends to graduate. Application filing deadlines are listed in the academic calendar available on the University's web site. The staff of the SCT Graduate Office submits the Doctoral Candidate Graduation Recommendation form (available from the Forms page of the web site of the Graduate School) to the Graduate School.

Graduates can attend the University's, and/or SCT's commencement exercises, but the latter is likely to be of greater importance. At that ceremony the student is 'hooded' by her or his advisor in a traditional academic ritual. Click here for a guide to academic costumes and ceremonies; click here for pictures of the proper way to wear a doctoral hood; click here for a short video (in .wmv format) of a hooding ceremony (from Michigan State University).

8  A Typical MM&C Student's Schedule of Activities from Admission to Graduation  [ Top ]

To provide as complete a picture of the process of earning a doctoral degree from MM&C as possible, the schedule of activities for a fictitious student is provided below (note that once coursework is completed, the timing of the activities listed is likely to be different for each student). 

9  Appeals  [ Top ]

All appeals, except those involving dismissal for academic reasons, should begin at the most immediate level. For instance, to question a class grade, the student should first consult the course instructor. If the problem can't be resolved it should then be brought to the attention of the student's advisor, who can bring it to the MM&C director and if necessary, the full MM&C faculty. If further resolution is required, appeals can be brought to the attention of the SCT Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and the Dean. SCT decisions can be appealed to the Provost.

The Graduate Board of the Graduate School hears appeals for reinstatement after dismissal for poor academic performance or failure of preliminary examinations.

The Graduate Bulletin and the policies page of the web site of the Graduate School contain further information concerning appeals and grievance procedures.

10  Financial support  [ Top ]

The Financial aid page of this web site contains information about a variety of sources of support for prospective and current MM&C students. Some types of support are available directly from MM&C, and policies and procedures regarding these are detailed below.

MM&C has limited funds which are competitively awarded based on academic merit. To apply for these funds, the student must complete the appropriate forms available on the Forms and templates page of this web site and in the SCT Graduate Office.

10.1  Research/teaching assistantships  [ Top ]

MM&C assistantships provide valuable learning opportunities to outstanding students. Students receiving this award work 10 hours each week during the academic year as a research assistant and 10 hours each week as either a teaching assistant or instructor. Specific assignments are designed wherever possible to meet the training needs of the specific student. The student receives a stipend (in 2003-2004 the amount is $12, 900) and a waiver of tuition expenses for 9 credits each semester. Students who are funded by an assistantship and who do not have any unresolved incompletes from prior courses can request tuition remission for more than 9 credits; the request must be made through the student's advisor, who must indicate in writing to the MM&C director that the extra credit(s) are necessary for the degree and that the extra coursework will not represent an undue burden on the student.

Assistantships are awarded during the spring semester for the following year. Students who wish to be considered for the awards must submit a completed Application for Graduate Assistantship (.pdf) to the SCT Graduate Office by February 1.

To be eligible for an assistantship award, the Graduate School requires MM&C applicants to have a graduate level grade point average of 3.25; current students must have a GPA of at least 3.5 to be eligible for the award.

An assistantship offer is for one year. Assistantships will be considered for renewal, for up to a maximum of six semesters, for students who maintain a 3.5 GPA, successfully perform their research and teaching (RA and TA) assignments, and participate in the activities of the MM&C community (the SCT Graduate Student Competitive Research Forum, the SCT Theory and Research Seminar Series [STARSS], MM&C Poster Sessions, and other MM&C events [see 7.5 and 7.6 above]).

10.2  Research mini-grants  [ Top ]

When funding is available, MM&C students may be invited to apply for small grants ($250 - $500) to assist them in conducting research projects leading to conference presentation and journal publication. Details about the application process are announced on the MMC listserv.

10.3  Conference travel grants  [ Top ]

Each year MM&C, in conjunction with the School of Communications and Theater, awards grants to reimburse students for registration, travel and lodging expenses related to their attendance at and participation in one or more academic conferences. Students can submit an Application for Conference Travel Award (.pdf format) to the program director at any time during the academic year; evidence of formal acceptance of a scholarly paper to be presented at an academic conference and original receipts or cost estimates for allowable expenditures must be included. In accordance with SCT policies on travel reimbursement, you also need to include a letter from your advisor. and, like faculty, students applying for travel reimbursement must use a Temple-approved travel agency to purchase tickets (if you find a better price online, include a price quote from such an agency dated the same day you purchase your ticket online). Click here for a list of Temple-approved travel agencies.

10.4  Tuition assistance  [ Top ]

Very limited funds are sometimes available to help pay for MM&C students to complete coursework. There is no formal application for these funds; students who wish to be considered if the funds are available should contact the MM&C director.

10.5  Dissertation assistance  [ Top ]

Very limited funds are sometimes available to help pay for MM&C students to complete their dissertation project. To be eligible for these funds the student must have successfully defended her or his dissertation proposal and applied for but not been awarded a Doctoral Project Completion Grant from the Temple University Graduate School (the application for this award is available on the Forms page of the web site of the Graduate School).

There is no formal application for these funds; students who wish to be considered if the funds are available should contact the MM&C director.

[ Top ]