The dissertation has meaning and excitement only to the extent that students are genuinely interested in the area being studied. Once the Dissertation Chair is identified students will work to complete the prospectus. When the major advisor agrees that the prospectus is ready, students should distribute copies to the doctoral committee members and then set a time for convening the committee for the prospectus meeting. At that time the committee will make final recommendations for any improvements or modifications. When the prospectus is accepted, it becomes the students' dissertation research topic.
Students are now ready to proceed with the dissertation research.
If for some reason, as research progresses, modifications become necessary, the committee must approve the changes. If the students' topic area changes from one area of emphasis to another, students may need to identify a new Dissertation Chair. Students should discuss with their Committee Chair the possible need for a change in Chair and, if an agreement is reached, students must identify a new Dissertation Chair and request the Graduate College approve the change. The responsibility for serving as a Dissertation Chair rests solely upon the faculty and depends upon a variety of factors including current advising responsibilities. The purpose of the general examination is to test a student s mastery of a number of related fields as well as the capacity of synthesis, sound generalization and critical thinking.