Ph.D. Dissertation

Degrees | Ph.D. Dissertation

The dissertation is the culmination of the Ph.D. However, the dissertation is the beginning of one's scholarly work, not its culmination. Dissertation research should provide students with hands-on, directed experience in the primary research methods of the social sciences and should prepare students for the type of research and scholarship that will be expected of them after they receive the Ph.D. degree.

It should be and original and analytical treatment of a subject of conceptual importance that

• Reveals the student's ability to discover, analyze, and synthesize information in a creative fashion;
• Demonstrates the student's knowledge of the literature relating to the project and acknowledges prior scholarship on which the dissertation is built;
• Describes the methods and procedures used;
• Presents results in a sequential and logical manner; and
• Displays the student's ability to discuss fully and coherently the meaning of the results.

A student will have a period of five years beginning at the date of the first written comprehensive examination to conduct the research for, write, and defend the dissertation.  It is understood that in fields with exceptionally difficult languages, the process may take longer.

Dissertation Defense

The Associate Dean of Academic Affairs formally appoints the members of the dissertation committee after consultation with the dissertation advisor and the candidate. In the majority of cases, the committee will remain the same as the prospectus defense committee.

The examination committee will grade the dissertation as defended

• Pass with distinction,
• Pass,
• Conditional pass or
• Fail.

When the grade is a conditional pass, the members of the committee provide the student with a memo that itemizes required revisions, establishes a deadline for completion, and specifies the procedure through which revisions will be reviewed and approved.

Upon completion of the dissertation defense, the student works closely with the Office of Academic Affairs to assure that all formatting and publication requirements are met for storing the dissertation at the JHU Eisenhower and SAIS Mason libraries.