Culminating
Events:
Culminating event for the degree program
Dissertation
Dissertation Advising Committee Information
The Dissertation Advising Committee is formed to oversee the student's dissertation research and is comprised of at least three Graduate Faculty members. Two members, including the Chair, must be from the Mass Media and Communication program. Committee compositions must be approved by the Mass Media and Commuication faculty. 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 Mass Media and Communication Program. 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 program's faculty and registered with the Graduate Secretary and the Graduate School.
Preliminary Exam Description
The purpose of the preliminary examination is to demonstrate critical and interpretive knowledge in specialized areas of mass media and communication. The examination evaluates the student's ability to apply specific research foci to related issues in the discipline. The examination will be defended orally approximately three weeks after it is written.
Subject Areas/Major Components of the Preliminary Examination
The subject areas will be determined, in advance, by the student and the Dissertation Advisory Committee. The examination consists of essay questions in three areas.
At what point in the program is the student expected to take the preliminary examination
The preliminary examination should be completed no more than one semester after the student completes the coursework component of the program. The examination must be completed before the student defends his or her dissertation proposal.
Writing the Questions for the Preliminary Examination
The members of the student's Dissertation Advisory Committee write the questions for the preliminary examination.
Evaluating the Preliminary Examination
The Dissertation Advisory Committee will evaluate the examination. Each member votes to pass or fail the student. In order to pass, a majority of the committee members must agree that the exam has been satisfactorily completed.
Criterion for Passing the Preliminary Examination.
The student must answer every question on the examination in order to be evaluated. The evaluators look for: (a) a breadth and depth of understanding of specific research areas, (b) a critical application of that knowledge to specific mass media and communiation issues, and (c) an ability to write technical prose in a manner consistent with mass media and communication research.
Administering, Scheduling, and Proctoring the Preliminary Examination
Students who are preparing to write their preliminary examinations should confirm a time and date with their Dissertation Advisory Committee Chairperson and register this information with the Graduate Secretary. The student and Chairperson will receive confirmation for the time, date, and, where applicable, room and proctor, for the examination.
Dissertation/Monograph Philosophy
The Doctoral Dissertation is an original empirical study that makes a significant contribution to the field of mass media and communication. It should expand the existing knowledge and demonstrate the student's mastery of knowledge of both research methods and his or her primary area of interest. Dissertations should be rigorously investigated, uphold the ethics and standard of the mass media and communication field, demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the primary area of interest and the broader field of mass media and communication, and be prepared for publication in a professional journal.
Philosophy of the Proposal
The proposal should consist of the following: (a) the context and background surrounding a particular research problem; (b) an exhaustive survey and review of literature related to the problem; and (c) a detailed methodological plan for investigating the problem.
The proposal should be completed and approved no more than one semester after completing coursework. It cannot be defended before the preliminary examination is taken. Upon approval, a timeline for completing the investigation and the writing process will be established.
Criterion for Passing the Dissertation and the Defense.
The Committee will evaluate the student's ability to express verbally his or her research question, methodological approach, primary findings and implications. The Committee will vote to pass or fail the dissertation and the defense at the conclusion of the public presentation.
Dissertation Defense Scheduling
Students who are preparing to defend their dissertation should confirm a time and date with their Dissertation Advisory Committee and register with the Graduate Secretary at least 15 days before the defense is to be scheduled. The Graduate Secretary will arrange the time, date, and room within two working days and forward to the student the appropriate forms.
Announcing the Dissertation Defense
After the Graduate Secretary has arranged the time, date and room for the defense, the student must, at least 10 days before the defense, send to the Graduate School (501 Carnell Hall) a completed "Announcement of Dissertation Defense" form. The program will post fliers announcing the defense.
