Dissertation

The dissertation is the culmination of your Ph.D. studies. The doctorate symbolizes the ability of an individual to plan and conduct research and scholarly work at the highest level. The quality of the dissertation represents both the student and Gonzaga University. The dissertation should demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge and exceptional attainment of scholarship pertinent to a specialized field of study. For the dissertation, an original scholarly research study must be completed by each student under the guidance of a dissertation committee. The research conducted is to inform the knowledge base of personal, organizational and/or global systems leadership. The dissertation will be published and accessible to professionals and other doctoral students world-wide.

Given the high standards for the dissertation, it takes much, much longer to write and edit than most students anticipate. The dissertation will go through an average of four more revisions before it is ready for sign off. Students must allow two to three weeks per round of review for drafts they submit. It is not uncommon to go through as many as seven rounds of rewriting and editing before the student, the advisor, the other members of the committee, and the Dean of the School of Professional Studies are satisfied.

Students who anticipate a Spring graduation must have a sound draft of their entire dissertation to their Dissertation Chair by February 1 of the year they intend to graduate. The Chair will then be able to assess whether final reading and editing of the dissertation will allow the feasibility a Spring graduation. The sign off must take place no later than April 15 for the student to be able to graduate in the Spring term. The final draft of the dissertation must be to the committee members by April 1 to allow time for its final review.

The Dissertation Chair and Committee

Once students have been advanced to candidacy, they select a chairperson and two or more additional committee members for their dissertation committee. After achieving Candidacy and prior to enrolling in Proposal Seminar, candidates should discuss with a faculty advisor of their choice whether that faculty member is available to act as their Dissertation Chair as well as request others to serve on the Dissertation Committee. 

It is expected that the chairperson of the committee and at least one of the remaining two to three committee members will be selected from the core faculty of the Doctoral Program. Any exceptions to the expected committee configuration should be carefully discussed with the advisor before individuals from outside the program are approached about participation on the committee. Written approval of the entire core doctoral faculty is required to petition for an external committee member.

January 23, 2011