Doctoral Student's Comprehensive Guide to Finishing the Degree
for humanities,
social science, or interdisciplinary focuses |
Area of Development |
Early Course Work |
Exams, Research & Dissertation Work |
Diss & Job
Search |
|
Years 1-2
- begin
course work
- begin
to develop relationship with advisor
- balance
course work with assistantship (depending on funding)
- Identify
areas of specialization in department & in profession
|
Years 2-3
- continue
course work
- begin
prep for prelims
- balance
course work and prelim prep with graduate assistantship and/or other job/funding
|
Years 3-4
- complete
exams
- select
dissertation committee
- file
prospectus
- begin
research and fieldwork
- attend
conferences
- balance
exams and dissertation work with assistantship
|
Years 4-5
- research/draft
dissertation
- shape
professional presence in field as part of career planning
- submit
manuscripts
- balance
dissertation work, professional development, and assistantship and/or other
job/funding
|
Year 6+
- develop
& defend final dissertation draft
- interview
for jobs
- balance
disser-tation, professional development and assistantship and/or other
job/funding
|
Writing Development |
Identify
types and styles of academic writing that are central to your discipline(s)
Learn
new writing and research skills necessary to excel in graduate school
Seek out resources to consult as you meet new obligations and expectations
More ... |
Seek out peer feedback and establish a writing group
Learn to use feedback to improve writing
Determine writing support needed for on-going development of
scholarly writing
More... |
Discuss with advisor samples of writing in your field: grants, teaching materials/documents, field/lab/research notes, and conference papers, presentations,
and posters
Distinguish among the criteria for acceptance of papers,
proposals, posters, articles, and book chapters in your field
From this, develop a plan to further advance your reading and writing support
More... |
Gather manuscript/submission guidelines for key publishers of periodicals and publishers that regularly accept/solicit book chapters in your field and related areas of study
Understand the different approaches to drafting and
revising scholarly research when preparing a manuscript for a specific
audience, purpose, type of degree requirement, publication or
presentation
More... |
Prepare a new Comprehensive Guide to assist in your transition from dissertation writer to junior faculty or post-doctoral
associate, or into a non-academic position
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Dissertation Development |
Understand “the dissertation” as a particular type of text
document
Frame possible topics and articulate these to others
More ... |
Learn
what components your department expects to be in a dissertation and explore field appropriate
methodologies
Begin narrowing your main focus/research questions to a manageable scope
Begin compiling citations/analytical notes for your literature review
More... |
Shape a peer support group suitable to your work at this stage
Conduct research in preparation for exams and with attention to intended focus/topic of the dissertation you will propose
Develop a prospectus as a corollary to exam prep.
More...
|
Consult with your dissertation committee to put the research phase into the background and focus on writing
Write a full first draft using the university's dissertation template
Make a
plan for gathering committee response to draft
More... |
Discuss defense expectations and protocols
Revise dissertation draft after gathering and analyzing committee feedback
Finalize defense draft with advisor and conduct a mock defense
More... |
Communicating with Advisors
(addressing topics and issues beyond program and course
requirements) |
Develop an understanding of personalities and communication
styles
Establish a meeting schedule
Discuss
research interests
Develop
timeline to completion of graduate degree
More ... |
Seek
guidance to narrow your research topic and review methodology options
Discuss
committee selection
Inquire
about departmental/ college co-authorship protocols
|
Clarify research direction/intended topic
Identify
faculty with expertise in methodology appropriate to your work
Keep
faculty apprised of professional goals and accomplishments so they can write
effective reference letters |
Plan for feedback: decide how to ask for feedback and from
whom
Write a cover letter to request specific feedback from
readers
Submit draft to disertation advisor and circulate to committee members as appropriate |
Set a defense date
Evaluate final feedback from readers in preparation for
defense
Consult with advisor about defense format and the roles of
participants |
Communicating with Peers |
Join student organizations at the departmental, college, and discipline levels
Seek out
local opportunities to hear presentations and discuss research
Learn the range of social, cutural and interest groups on campus and create a local support network
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Understand the Principles of Productivity for early career faculty and develop an individual plan for fostering strength in these areas
Join/form/reconfigure a peer writing support group to develop research questions and practice advanced scholarly writing and thinking
More...
|
Practice asking for feedback on your writing: conference papers, travel grant applications, preliminary dissertation writing, and course materials
Meet peers outside of your own department, concentrating on building interdisciplinary, cross-cultural connections
More... |
Assess the fit of current writing support and build in teaching support to keep work efficient & effective
Determine how and from whom you will seek advice and feedback for emerging drafts and next steps
Attend dissertation defense sessions
More... |
Develop a strategy for evaluating feedback from multiple readers and incorporating key feedback into the revision process
Arrange a mock defense with peers who know your dissertation well
More... |
Networking & Professional Development |
Draft an Individual Development Plan with your advisor
Attend
local talks, events, and workshops and join professional associations
Learn how
conferences operate . from program planning to proposal review
More ... |
Present at conferences
Prepare and submit
publications
Learn strategies
for efficiently integrating all elements of your academic life |
Identify a chosen career path but remain open to other possibilities
Identify mentors in your chosen career and begin to foster a mentor/mentee relationship |
Talk with various mentors about day-to-day life in
academic and non-academic careers
Determine what practical skills you need to
develop to pursue different employment options
|
Finalize a job search portfolio including CV/resume,
research statement and teaching portfolio
Conduct mock job talks and interviews with mentors and peers |
Seeking Financial Support |
Identify & actively explore assistantship
and fellowship options in your department and in related fields on and off campus
More ... |
Identify processes & timelines for fellowships and travel grants in your
field(s); seek out & review successful applications
Complete training for human/animal research |
Apply for fellowships to fund research
Apply for travel grants to fund research and attendace at conferences |
Research postdoctoral fellowships and the academic and non-academic job
markets |
Apply for jobs |
