20 credits
During the first quarter in which they have active dissertation committees, doctoral students are automatically enrolled in this dissertation status course. In this course, students have the opportunity to integrate their program of study by conducting an in-depth exploration of a topic of interest and by completing an original research study, called a dissertation, on that topic. With the guidance of a chair and committee members, students develop an approved prospectus, an approved proposal (the first three dissertation chapters), and an application for Institutional Review Board approval. They then collect and analyze data and, afterward, finalize their approved dissertation. During the final quarter, students prepare their dissertations for final review by the university and conclude with an oral defense of their dissertation.