HSCI 850 Dissertation Mentorship

A 3-day on-campus intensive or 8-week online course intended to be the final course in the doctoral health science sequence before students begin dissertation research and writing.

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

This preparatory course equips the doctoral health sciences student with the foundational skills and strategies needed to begin his/her dissertation journey. The student will refine his/her research topics, engage with scholarly sources, and develop key components of the dissertation proposal. The course emphasizes research ethics, organizing the writing process, and crafting strong, evidence-based arguments. By the end of the course, the student will have a clear plan and essential drafts to guide his/her dissertation work in the next phase of his/her academic journey.

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

No details available.

Course Requirement Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (2)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student will refine his/her dissertation research topic through two structured discussion assignments by developing a clear and focused research question, crafting a well-supported problem statement, and articulating the rationale and significance of his/her study within the health sciences. The student will also present a comprehensive overview of his/her proposed dissertation, including the literature review, theoretical framework, and methodology. Peer engagement is a key component, as the student will provide and receive constructive feedback to strengthen research alignment, methodological clarity, and ethical considerations. These discussions foster scholarly dialogue and support the student in developing rigorous, purpose-driven research proposals rooted in both academic excellence and a biblical worldview. Each discussion thread must be at least 500 words in length and supported by a minimum of 3 scholarly citations in current APA format. The student will post at least 2 replies (at least 250 words each) and incorporate at least 2 scholarly citations in APA format. (CLO: A, B, C, E)

Reflective Essay Assignments (2)

This set of Reflective Essays assesses the student’s ability to articulate personal, ethical, and methodological preparedness for the dissertation journey while integrating a biblical worldview. The student will be evaluated on his/her clarity of goals, understanding of potential research challenges, ethical considerations in research, methodological justification, and the degree to which Christian principles inform his/her decision-making and scholarly identity. Strong essays will demonstrate deep reflection, alignment between worldview and research practices, and a thoughtful engagement with academic and spiritual readiness for doctoral-level work. Each essay will be 3-4 pages (approximately 900-1,200 words), incorporate 5 scholarly journal articles published within the last five years, and conform to strict APA format. (CLO: B, C, E)

Dissertation and Applied Research Project Timelines Assignment

This assignment requires the student to create a comprehensive and detailed timeline for completing his or her dissertation or applied research project. The timeline should cover all major phases of the dissertation process, including research, writing, revision, and defense preparation. The student will break down these phases into specific, actionable tasks with clear deadlines to ensure steady progress toward completion. This structured plan will help the student manage his or her time effectively, prioritize tasks, and stay on track throughout his or her dissertation or applied research project journey. By developing this timeline, the student will gain a better understanding of the scope of his or her work, set realistic goals, and create a roadmap to successfully navigate the dissertation or applied research project process. (CLO: B)

Literature Review Matrix Assignment

Building on the foundational work completed in HSCI 704, this assignment requires the student to expand and refine his/her literature review matrix by identifying and critically evaluating ten new peer-reviewed scholarly sources relevant to his/her dissertation topic. The student will extract key details from each study, including population, methodology, theoretical framework, findings, and implications. This process enables the student to synthesize current literature, identify gaps, and strengthen the foundation of his/her dissertation proposal by supporting the development of Chapter 2 (Literature Review) and informing methodological decisions for Chapter 3. This assignment emphasizes critical analysis, scholarly organization, and alignment with research objectives in the health sciences. The 10 scholarly articles must have been published within the last five years and be cited in current APA format. (CLO: A, B, C)

Chapter 1 Draft Assignment

The first chapter of the dissertation or applied research project sets the stage for the research by providing a comprehensive overview of the study’s scope and objectives. It introduces the research topic, establishes its significance, and outlines the research structure. The APA formatted first chapter should be a minimum of 10-15 pages in length and include no less than 25 unique scholarly sources. The goal of this assignment is to clearly define the research problem, the scope and significance of the research, and detail the research questions and hypotheses. This will be a full draft of the student’s Chapter 1. (CLO: A, C, E)

Chapter 2 and 3 Detailed Outline Assignment

This assignment requires the student to create a comprehensive and detailed outline for Chapters 2 and 3 of his or her dissertation or applied research project. Chapter 2 will focus on the literature review and theoretical framework, where the student will identify key scholarly works, theoretical perspectives, and the conceptual foundation of his or her research. Chapter 3 will outline the methodology, including the research design, data collection methods, and data analysis procedures. This assignment is designed to help the student organize his or her thoughts, structure his or her approach to writing, and establish a clear plan for drafting these critical chapters. The outline will serve as a blueprint for the subsequent writing process, ensuring a coherent and well-supported dissertation or applied research project. The student will align the structure with dissertation guidelines and current APA formatting. (CLO: C, D, E)

Quiz: Dissertation/ARP Registration Form Submission

In this assignment, the student will complete the current Registration Form after carefully selecting his or her dissertation or applied research project chair and committee members. The quiz will be open-book/open-notes, contain 1 true/false and 1 file-upload question, and have a 15-minute time limit. (CLO: B)

Quiz: Methodology Selection and Qualtrics Access

This quiz gathers information about the student’s intended dissertation or applied research project methodology and research tools. It ensures that the student using surveys requests access to Qualtrics and allows others to provide a brief overview of research methods and software. The responses will help facilitate the necessary resources for the student’s dissertation or applied research project journey. The quiz will be open-book/open-notes, contain 7 multiple-choice, file-upload, and short-answer questions, and have a 30-minute time limit. (CLO: C, D)