The Dissertation Proposal

Overview

A dissertation proposal should explain the topic, its significance to a non-specialist audience, and how the author intends to execute and complete their project. The proposal is a preliminary overview of the dissertation the student intends to write, but not an unalterable blueprint for the project. The proposal can also be the basis for grant applications and fellowship proposals.

The complete proposal should be approximately 20 to 25 pages, plus bibliography.  

Students will register for HIST 998: Doctoral Dissertation Proposal while they research and write the proposal.

Completing the Dissertation Proposal 

Assembling a Committee

The student chooses the dissertation committee in consultation with their dissertation advisor. A dissertation committee has a minimum of 3 faculty members, including the chair/dissertation advisor.

The University requires that dissertation advisors have a full-time appointment in the department offering the student’s degree. Further, all members of the dissertation committee must have Graduate Faculty Status or, if a fourth member of the committee is external to the University, Graduate Affiliate Faculty Status. The Catalog codifies the rules governing who may (and may not) serve on a dissertation committee in AP.6.10.5 Dissertation Committee. 

The student asks the faculty members they have chosen if they are willing to serve on the committee. Faculty are at liberty to decline.

Drafting & Circulating the Proposal

The student writes a proposal that is acceptable to their dissertation advisor. Then the student submits the proposal to other members of the dissertation committee and revises the proposal in response to their comments or otherwise addresses their concerns.

Proposal Approval Meeting

When the committee agrees that the proposal is ready for approval, the student schedules a Proposal Approval Meeting with the dissertation committee. This meeting is closed to the public and lasts approximately 45-60 minutes. It can be held in person or remotely via video conference.

The format of the Proposal Approval Meeting is up to the dissertation committee, but the time should be devoted to questions about and discussion of the proposed research, rather than a formal presentation.

Submitting the Proposal

If the committee approves, each members signs the Dissertation Proposal Approval Form and the Committee Formation Form, which the students should prepare prior to the meeting. The student then seeks the Ph.D. Director’s signature on the forms.

Once all the signatures have been acquired, the student submits the signed forms to the Graduate Coordinator.

Colloquium Presentation

Lastly, the student gives an oral presentation based on the proposal to the Doctoral Colloquium (HIST 810).

If advancing in Fall or Spring, the student presents in the semester they advance to candidacy. Proposal presentation typically occurs during the last two meetings of the semester.

If advancing over the summer, the student presents in the Fall semester after they advance.

Dissertation Proposal Elements

The following list of proposal elements offers a starting point for discussions with the dissertation advisor, who may have other suggestions. Students may arrange the sections of the proposal in any logical order. 

Introduction: Provide a hook to grab the reader’s attention and set the terms of the discussion. In a paragraph, introduce the historical problem the dissertation will address.

Research question and thesis/argument: What research questions will the dissertation ask? Why are these questions significant? This section should also include informed speculation about the answers--the dissertation's tentative thesis.

Historiography/literature review: What have other scholars written about this topic? How will the dissertation support or challenge their interpretations? What makes the dissertation original? Will the dissertation fill a gap in the existing literature or examine familiar sources in a new way? This section is where, via authoritative discussion of secondary sources, the author demonstrates that the dissertation will make a significant contribution to historical knowledge.

Sources and methodology: What primary sources will constitute the core of the dissertation research? How accessible are these sources, and where are they located? What information or data are they expected to yield? If the project requires a special methodology, such as new media or quantitative methods, those should be explained here.

Organization of chapters: Explain how the material will be divided into chapters. Devote one paragraph to summarizing the contents of each chapter.

Schedule of work: Explain the current status of the project—what has been done so far—and provide a detailed schedule for future work. On what timetable will the research, writing, revision, and submission take place? What is the target date for defending?

Bibliography: Divide works into primary and secondary sources. Primary sources may also be divided between archival works and published works. Citations must conform to the Chicago Manual of Style.