Culminating
Events:
Culminating event for the degree program
Dissertation
Dissertation Advising Committee Information
The Dissertation Advising Committee is formed to oversee the student's doctoral research and is comprised of at least three Temple Graduate Faculty members. Two members, including the Chair, must be from the Department of Criminal Justice. Committee compositions must be approved by the departments graduate committee. The Chair is responsible for overseeing and guiding the student's progress, coordinating the responses of the Committee members, and informing the student of his or her academic progress.
Dissertation Examining Committee Information
The Dissertation Examining Committee evaluates the student's dissertation and oral defense. This committee is comprised of the Doctoral Advising Committee and at least one additional Graduate Faculty member from outside the Department of Criminal Justice. The Outside Examiner should be identified no later than the beginning of the
semester in which the student will defend the dissertation.
Advisor/Committee Information
If a student needs to change a member of a Committee, the new member must be approved by the departments graduate committee and registered with the Graduate Secretary and the Graduate School.
Preliminary Exam Description
The purpose of the preliminary examination (prospectus defense) is to demonstrate critical and interpretive knowledge in specialized areas of both the criminal justice system and criminal justice theory. The examination evaluates the student's ability to apply specific research and/or analytic methods to the questions addressed in the prospectus. The defense will occur within several weeks of the student's advisor confirming, in writing to the graduate chair, that the student is ready to defend their prospectus.
Subject Areas/Major Components of the Preliminary Examination
The preliminary examination consists of a short (30-40 minute) presentation of the prospectus by the student to faculty and graduate students. Following the presentation, the graduate chair will mediate a question and answer session between the student and the audience. The defense will take no longer than 2 hours.
At what point in the program is the student expected to take the preliminary examination
Ideally, the prospectus defense should be completed within one academic year of the comprehensive examinations.
Writing the Questions for the Preliminary Examination
The members of the student's Dissertation Advisory Committee normally pose the initial questions at the defense. When these have been completed, other audience members are asked to put forth any questions they have for the student.
Evaluating the Preliminary Examination
The Dissertation Advisory Committee will evaluate the prospectus defense. Each member votes to pass or fail the student. Members can also vote to pass pending the completion of specified changes to the prospectus. In order to pass, a majority of the committee members must agree that the defense has been satisfactorily completed.
Criterion for Passing the Preliminary Examination.
The advisory committee must evaluate the quality of the presentation and of the answers provided during the question and answer session. Advisory group members look for evidence of a breadth and depth of understanding of specific substantive and methodological areas. In addition, they are looking at the ability of the student to utilize their knowledge to address the questions posed during the defense.
Administering, Scheduling, and Proctoring the Preliminary Examination
Students who are preparing to defend their prospectus should arrange some dates/times of the defense with their advisory committee. The student should then inform the graduate chair of these dates/times and confirm the final date/time selected. The graduate chair will provide confirmation for the time, date and room.
Dissertation/Monograph Philosophy
The Doctoral Dissertation is an original empirical study that makes a significant contribution to the field of criminal justice. It should expand the existing knowledge and demonstrate the student's knowledge of both research methods and a mastery of his or her primary area of interest.
Dissertations should be rigorously investigated, uphold the ethics and standard of the field of criminal justice, demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the primary area of interest and the broader field of criminal justice, and be prepared for publication in a professional journal.
