Dissertation Proposal and Research III – DISS 989

CG • Section 16WK • 11/10/2019 to 04/18/2020 • Modified 09/05/2023

Course Description

A course designed as the final step for dissertation research and writing prior to the dissertation defense. Under the guidance of the dissertation chair and committee members, students will research and write chapters to complete the dissertation and to prepare for the final defense in DISS 990.

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

Rationale

This course is the third step in completing the dissertation for the PhD in Theology and Apologetics degree. In DISS 989, the PhD candidate researches and prepares new and final chapters for the dissertation. The tasks for this course must be successfully completed before the student can move to the defense of the dissertation. Students will remain in DISS 989 until their dissertation chair determines that the dissertation is ready to defend.

Course Assignment

Quiz

Before taking this quiz, the student will schedule and hold at least one meeting with his or her dissertation committee to discuss the progress on his or her dissertation. The discussion may include issues related to the contents of the proposal and the following chapters, issues concerning proper sources, and any other issues that the committee may need to address. The student is required to meet virtually at least ONCE with the dissertation committee, but since there are 2 weeks to complete this assignment they may meet more than once. Only ONE grade will be submitted for this assignment. This meeting must take place prior to the last day of Week 2. (CLO: A)

Dissertation

For these, the student will construct a first draft of a minimum of two new chapters for the dissertation. These chapters should represent the final materials to complete the dissertation writing process. This assignment will provide an opportunity to formulate thoughts on the dissertation topic while producing new chapters based on research and information from prior chapters. The student will submit new chapter drafts on the dissertation topic (in consultation with the dissertation chair and committee). The dissertation chair and committee will return these first drafts for revision. (CLO: B)

Dissertation

For these, students will revise the two (or more) chapters for the dissertation based on feedback from the dissertation chair and committee. This assignment will provide an opportunity to formulate thoughts on the dissertation topic while editing and revising new chapters based on the information contained in the feedback from the dissertation chair and committee. The student will submit revised drafts on the dissertation topic (in consultation with the dissertation chair and committee). (CLOs: C, D, E)

Quiz

The student will respond to four true/false questions about the contents and assignments of the class. The dissertation chair will use these responses to determine whether or not the student is ready to move on to DISS 990. If the student is not ready to move on to DISS 990 and to defend the dissertation, the chair will inform the program director that the student will take DISS 989 again. If the chair decides that the student is ready to defend the dissertation, then a request to place the student in DISS 990 should be sent to the program director. (CLO: B)