Culminating
Events:
Culminating event for the degree program
Dissertation
Dissertation Advising Committee Information
The advisory committee consists of at least three members, two from the department and one from outside the department. The committee work together to guide the student toward completion of dissertation research, with the chair coordinating these efforts.
Dissertation Examining Committee Information
In addition to the Doctoral Advisory Committee, one or two graduate faculty may serve as examiners for the defense. These examiners are expected to read and evaluate the student's dissertation, and with the Advisory Committee, determine whether it is acceptable, needs revision, or is unacceptable.
Advisor/Committee Information
The student petitions the Doctoral Coordinator of the program, or the Director of Graduate Studies in Music. Upon appropriate consultation with all parties pertinent to the petition, the Director of Graduate Studies and the Associate Dean make the final determination. The change also must be communicated to the Associate Dean and to the Graduate School.
Preliminary Exam Description
The examination is designed to test the student in the following areas: knowledge of the literature; research competence in both quantitative and qualitative paradigms; ability to integrate theory, research and practice; ability to contextualize one's own work within the field;ability to project solutions to disicplinary and professional issues; and ability to synthesize and evaluate one's own learning.
Subject Areas/Major Components of the Preliminary Examination
The examination is given in two parts: a written take-home examination with a deadline of 5 weeks, and an oral defense. The main topic is music therapy; subtopics therein include: theory, practice, research, ethics, supervision, and teaching.
At what point in the program is the student expected to take the preliminary examination
Upon completion of 30 credits.
Writing the Questions for the Preliminary Examination
The music therapy faculty will design individual written examinations for each student, based upon the student's interests, experience, expertise, and coursework taken at Temple. The oral defense will be before the music therapy faculty.
Evaluating the Preliminary Examination
Three faculty will indepedently grade each question on the written exam, using a 5 point rating scale. A passing grade for each question is 9. The oral examiners will be the same three faculty members, who will have an opportunity to follow up on the written answers. Upon completion of the oral defense,the examining committee will determine whether the student passed or failed. If any portion is failed, the committee will specify in writing whether permission will be granted to retake various portions of the examintion, and the conditions under which such permission will be granted. Students will be given only one opportunity to retake the examination or portion thereof.
Criterion for Passing the Preliminary Examination.
See above.
Administering, Scheduling, and Proctoring the Preliminary Examination
Upon completion of 30 credits, the student requests permission from the Doctoral Coordinator to take the examintion. Upon consultation with the music therapy faculty, the Doctoral Coordinator prepares and schedules the exam. Each student will be given five weeks to complete the written part. The oral can be scheduled three weeks after the student submits the written part.
Dissertation/Monograph Philosophy
The purpose of the dissertation is to contribute new knowledge or insight to any aspect of music therapy.
Philosophy of the Proposal
The proposal must include: the student's background and experience with the research topic; an articulate and comprehensive review of the literature; a clear statement of the research problem and questions to be answered; and a proposed methodology.
Upon approval of a dissertation advisory committee, the student works with the major advisor to prepare the proposal. In the process, the student consults other members of the committee. Each member of the DAC must approve and sign the final proposal. Once all DAC members have signed the title page, the student copies the final proposal and delivers within thirty days one copy to each member of the DAC, the Department Chair, the Associate Dean, and the Graduate School. The dissertation proposal must be approved before the student may register for 999.
Criterion for Passing the Dissertation and the Defense.
The dissertation must meet the various expectations of quality from each member of the advisory committee. A major criterion shall be whether the student has demonstrated scholastic excellence in carrying out the research project as proposed.
Dissertation Defense Scheduling
The Doctoral Advisory Committee will determine when the dissertation is ready for defense. Upon obtaining approval to defend, the major advisor requests the Director of Graduate Studies to assign outside readers. The advisor makes all the necessary arrangements for scheduling the defense. The "Permission to Schedule the Dissertation Defense" form bearing signatures of all of the Doctoral Examinating Committee members must be submitted to The Associate Dean at least one month prior to the requested defense date.
Announcing the Dissertation Defense
Upon receiving of approval to defend, the Associate Dean announces the dissertation defense to the academic community.
