The dissertation is required of all doctoral candidates. You must register for dissertation courses for a period of more than one semester or summer session. The dissertation research course (SED _99R) must be taken before the dissertation-writing course (SED _99W), and may not be repeated. The dissertation process includes, but is not limited to the following: Please BOOKMARK The Office of Graduate School's website (httphttps://wwwgradschool.utexas.edu/ogs/pdn/academics/theses-and-dissertations) to obtain information about procedures, timelines, and forms. IT IS THE STUDENT’S RESPONSIBILITY TO BE FAMILIAR WITH THIS INFORMATION AND ALL TIMELINES.
Steps for the Dissertation Include:
- Holding a proposal meeting with the Dissertation Committee and obtaining approval of the dissertation proposal (It will take time to find a meeting time when all of your committee members are available)
- Using the graduate school’s template for writing a dissertation
- Planning ahead in terms of when you want to conduct your study and submit your research to the IRB for approval, which also takes time.
- Completing Human Subjects training
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- and submitting and obtaining departmental and university approval to conduct the research
- Completing the UT Copyright Tutorial
- Conducting the research and writing the dissertation
- Defending the dissertation in an oral dissertation defense (See the 2nd bullet above about time)
- Submitting the dissertation to the Graduate School (Plan ahead to allow yourself enough time to make changes to your dissertation, receive approval, and then upload; You must meet the GS’s deadlines noted online.)
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The Dissertation Committee advises you on the research and writing of the dissertation, conducts the final oral examination, and approves your dissertation. The committee is generally composed of four or five faculty members including the Dissertation Supervisor who also chairs the committee. A six-member committee may be requested, and such a request is approved in most cases.
The student selects the Dissertation Supervisor with the consent of that faculty member. Typically, the Research Mentoring Supervisor agrees to continue as the chair of the dissertation committee. The Dissertation Supervisor must be a member of the GSC and in the Department of Special Education. In consultation with the Dissertation Supervisor, the student should select the remaining members of the committee based upon areas of expertise, research methodology, and compatibility. Once approved, contact the members to discuss your study. They should agree in advance to serve on your dissertation committee.
At least three (3) committee members, including the Dissertation Supervisor, must be members of the Department of Special Education's Graduate Studies Committee (GSC). Each committee must also have at least one member whose teaching and research are principally outside the Department of Special Education. If any member of your committee is not a member of the GSC, you must provide his/her vita and letter with the application packet.
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It is expected that all members of the committee attend the defense, either in person or via teleconference. The Graduate School does not distinguish between physical attendance or electronic/virtual attendance. If one non-supervisory committee member is unable to attend the defense, there must be an explanation of the member’s absence, together with an assurance that your dissertation will be read, and if approved, signed. Committee members who are unable to attend after the agreed upon date has been established should inform the Dissertation Supervisor and student of his or her issues, concerns, and/or questions prior to the proposal meeting. These should be presented in a written format (with a copy provided to all present) and discussed at the proposal meeting.
Prior to the proposal meeting, make sure that your Dissertation Supervisor has a copy of the Dissertation Proposal Approval form, available from the Graduate Coordinator.
Provide the committee members with a copy of the proposal AT LEAST TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO themeeting. Any committee member who believes that the proposal is not ready for the proposal meeting may inform the Dissertation Supervisor and alter the meeting date, but not later than one week prior to the scheduled meeting.
A minimum of four (4) members of the committee should be present for the proposal meeting. Committee members who are unable to attend after the agreed upon date has been established should inform the Dissertation Supervisor and student of his or her issues, concerns, and/or questions prior to the proposal meeting. These should be presented in a written format (with a copy provided to all present) and discussed at the proposal meeting.
During the proposal meeting, you will present and defend your research proposal, respond to questions, and discuss the research proposal and the expectations for the written document. The committee approves, approves with modifications, or does not approve the proposal.
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The members of the Dissertation Committee are submitted as part of the Application to Candidacy and therefore are approved by the Graduate Adviser and the Graduate Dean.
Changes to the Committee Membership require special approval (Petition to Change in a Doctoral Committee form), so you should be certain the membership is complete and correct before initiating the application. It may be necessary during the course of the dissertation to change a committee member, this will require the student to initiate the Petition to Change in a Doctoral Committee form (see https://gradschool.utexas.edu/academics/forms). Information about policies for departing faculty from committees can be found at https://gradschool.utexas.edu/academics/theses-and-dissertations. The Graduate Adviser and GSC Chair will work with the student to address committee changes along with the Dissertation Supervisor if this person is remaining on the committee.
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By now you should be very familiar with the IRB guidelines for conduct of research with human participants, and should have completed the training required to be in compliance with federal and University mandates. For a brief overview, please refer back to page 3 of this handbook. All the information you will need can be found at: https://research.utexas.edu/ors/human-subjects/ .
Intellectual Property (Copyright) Tutorial
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The final oral examination is an oral defense of your dissertation. You must be enrolled during the semester in which you complete the final oral examination. At least three All members of the Dissertation Committee shouldbepresent but at least four (4) members must be present, including the Dissertation Supervisor. Again, the Graduate School does not distinguish between physical attendance and electronic/ virtual attendance. . Begin preparation for your defense at the beginning of the semester, including the application for your graduate degree. You should submit the final dissertation draft, already reviewed by your Dissertation Supervisor, to your committee members and supervisor at least four weeks before the final defense. The OGS website (https://gradschool.utexas.edu/academics/theses-and-dissertations/doctoral-candidacy/oral-examinations ) provides more information about the number of committee members who MUST be present at the defense and the forms required.
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Note: Please remember to provide copies of your dissertation to your dissertation committee!