Students are assigned a faculty advisor during their first two years of coursework, and complete a research design course during that period. The faculty advisor and the research design instructor help students develop a research question and select a methodological approach.   In the third year of the program, students select a Price School faculty member to guide the writing of their research proposal. This faculty member chairs a 3-person committee, selected by the student, that supports and oversees the fourth year dissertation project. The additional two committee members can be USC faculty, faculty from other institutions, or professional experts on the topic of study.   Please see the Professional Dissertation page for examples of recent dissertations. Committee chairs are also listed.