Suggested Schedule for Dissertation Proposal

It is suggested by graduate schools and universities that you start with research at least 4 months before your dissertation proposal. If the schedule for your proposal defense will be on May of next year, for example, you should start working on January. This is because unlike an undergraduate thesis, a dissertation is a lengthy piece of academic writing that should show your expertise in your chosen topic and should contribute to new knowledge in your field. Here are the suggested tasks to be complete per month:

Month 1

Preliminary research
Define research questions/objectives
Formulate working thesis
Work on methodology and finish rough draft of methodology
Find committee members for dissertation proposal defense

Month 2

Library work
Refine thesis and dissertation methodology
Write rough draft of literature review
Get feedbacks from committee members
Prepare working bibliography

Month 3

Write Introduction
Finish writing methodology chapter
Finish writing literature review chapter
Incorporate feedbacks of committee members
Finish the bibliography

Month 4

Polish format of dissertation proposal
Prepare for the presentation

Notice that in the suggested timeline, meeting with committee members is done at least once a month. This is to make sure that you are on the right track and that if there you’ll remedy the things that are needed to be improved upon while you still have time. Doctoral dissertations need to be always consulted with those who will approve them.

Notice also the last month, everything that you need to write is already finished. The only thing that you need is to prepare for the presentation itself. This involves making Powerpoint presentations or hand-outs to be given to the committee members. Many graduate students make the mistake of writing with the defense 2 weeks away. This is a no-no because the pressure and the stress will not be beneficial with the organization and clarity of your dissertation proposal. Let this rough schedule guide you so that you’ll not be cramming and you’ll not produce a sloppy work.

Tags: dissertation methodology, dissertation proposal, doctoral dissertations, literature review, methodology chapter