Department of Middle Eastern Studies

Dissertation Prospectus

This milestone takes place upon completion of the comprehensive exam, no later than 90 days after the comprehensive exam was passed. The prospectus must be successfully defended before being eligible to advance to doctoral candidacy in the Graduate School.

Dissertation Prospectus

Timeline

Purpose

Prospectus Committee

Format

to occur no later than 90 days after the Comprehensive Exam was passed

The prospectus must be successfully defended before being eligible to advance to doctoral candidacy in the Graduate School.

The prospectus committee is comprised of faculty whose area or research methodology align with your proposed dissertation topic.

Formats vary widely depending on the field and project, but most committees request a 15-20 page document that conforms to the standards of scholarly writing within the field.

The Graduate School requires for 3 members of the committee to be from the MELC Graduate Studies Committee, and one member to not be affiliated with the Department.

It should include a title page listing the name of the members of the dissertation committee, specifying the supervisor. It should conform to the standards in scholarly writing within the field in terms of style. It should also include footnotes, references, and bibliographies.

The Defense

All dissertation committee members must attend the prospectus defense. However, with Graduate Adviser approval, any member may be excused, provided it is not a supervisor or, if applicable, a co-supervisor. Members may attend electronically, including the supervisor/co-supervisor. If a regular committee member is absent, they must read and approve the prospectus prior to the prospectus defense. The MES Graduate Office will maintain the approved version of the prospectus in the student's file.