Dissertation Writing
Overview / Quick Links
Office of Research Support & Compliance (IRB Info)
Deadlines & Time to Completion
Dissertation Proposal Timing: the Proposal typically consists of the first several chapters of the Dissertation, and serves as a collaborative work session and chance to receive feedback before the dissertation defense. You should discuss timing of the Proposal with your dissertation committee/supervisor early in the dissertation process, and check in regularly.
Dissertation Completion/Defense:
Ph.D. students are expected to complete the dissertation within two years of admission to candidacy.
If not completed within two years, the Graduate School will request a recommendation from the Graduate Studies Committee (GSC), which may:
Extend candidacy for one additional year, or
Recommend termination for lack of academic progress
Note: final decisions are made by the UT Graduate Dean.
Dissertation Enrollment Requirement
Once you are admitted to candidacy, the Graduate School requires you continuously register for dissertation hours (EDP 399W, 699W, or 999W) every Fall and Spring semester until graduation. Summer registration in dissertation is required if your faculty adviser believes it necessary, if you will hold your proposal meeting in the Summer, or if you will graduate during the summer.
Dissertation Format Options
The Graduate School’s Dissertation Formatting / Writing Resources > are an excellent resource during your dissertation writing! Be sure to review the Grad School’s requirements for dissertation formatting and submission.
You and your dissertation supervisor will choose one of two formats for your dissertation:
Traditional format: follows the standard structure with full chapters, and a single study or set of studies. Students are encouraged to submit the completed dissertation as a journal article or book manuscript after the defense.
Article format:
Designed to resemble a journal-length article or series of articles
Still focuses on a single cohesive project or set of studies
Follows formatting and length guidelines of a target journal
Not intended for brief reports
Important Notes for Article Format: The proposal document should include a full literature review and methods section, just as in the traditional format. For the final dissertation, you’ll work with your supervisor (and possibly committee) to determine what goes into the article, and what supplementary materials should be placed in appendices for committee review (e.g. extended literature review, detailed methods, or results).
Once your dissertation proposal is approved, switching formats requires full committee approval.
IRB & Human Subjects Research
If your dissertation involves human subjects, you must obtain approval from the Institutional Review Board (IRB) before collecting data.
Before Your Dissertation Proposal Meeting:
You may conduct preliminary analyses using existing data if IRB approval is already in place. Acceptable pre-proposal analyses include: descriptive statistics (means, SDs, ranges, graphical displays, correlations), outlier diagnostics, missing data diagnostics, and assumption checking. You should not test hypotheses before the proposal meeting.
After Dissertation Proposal Approval:
You may begin data collection and full analyses only after IRB approval. Work closely with your supervisor to ensure compliance.
All human subjects research requires IRB application - even when using existing data. To get started:
Review the IRB Policies & Procedures Manual
Complete required online training
Designate your faculty supervisor as Principal Investigator (PI) on your IRB application (they may list you as PI proxy using the Research Management Suite)
Projects Fall under one of three IRB categories: Exempt (Minimal Risk), Expedited (Minimal Risk), Full Board (More than Minimal Risk). If your study needs Full Board review, plan ahead - deadlines are strict and the board meets monthly. If revisions are necessary, a second IRB review will take place, according to a set meeting schedule. For questions, email the Office of Research Support and Compliance.
TIP: See the IRB’s tips for completing the application
Using the Department Subject Pool
If you plan to recruit participants from the Department’s Subject Pool, you may request access as part of your dissertation or other research. Discuss this option with your supervisor during the planning stage.