Also, refer to the section of this Bulletin for the requirement on statistical competence. The candidate's dissertation proposal must be approved by his or her dissertation committee and department at a formal dissertation conference which is reported to the Office of Doctoral Studies. The procedures for granting departmental approval of a dissertation proposal differ somewhat from one department to another. In preparation for his or her presentation to a dissertation conference, the candidate prepares a prospectus or outline of the proposal. D. Committee has prepared a sheet of suggestions for the preparation of prospectuses, obtainable from departmental offices or from the Office of Doctoral Studies.
Some departments also have supplementary instructions or outlines for the prospectus.
The prospectus is adapted to the nature of the study and the method of investigation used but ordinarily includes statements of the purpose, the problem, the procedures, and the competencies and resources needed. The prospectus usually includes a tentative outline of the completed dissertation. The prospectus must be approved by the sponsor prior to its presentation to the dissertation conference. When the committee and the other faculty members present at the dissertation conference agree that the candidate has proposed an acceptable plan and that he or she is qualified to carry it through successfully, they indicate their approval. A report of this action, and one copy of the candidate's dissertation prospectus, are sent to the Office of Doctoral Studies.