Dissertations
Dissertation Proposal Stage
Doctoral students who have completed all required coursework and have an approved Major Area Paper (MAP) on file are ready to begin the dissertation proposal stage of the program.
Prior to requesting enrollment in CRIM 998, you must identify a dissertation topic and have an acting dissertation chair who has agreed to work with you to develop the proposal. The acting chair must be a full-time member of the graduate faculty in the Department of Criminology, Law and Society.
You must submit Dissertation Form 1 to the Director of Graduate Programs at least two weeks prior to the start of the semester in which you first enroll in CRIM 998.*
*Students should be familiar with the dissertation policies listed in the university catalog.
For subsequent semesters of CRIM 998 enrollment, you do not have to resubmit Dissertation Form 1. Instead, you should email the Graduate Program Coordinator (and CC the Director of Graduate Programs) to request the registration code at least two weeks prior to the start of the semester; include the name of your dissertation chair and the number of credits in which you plan to enroll.
Once you have prepared a proposal and selected a dissertation committee, you must schedule a dissertation proposal defense. All members of the committee must be present at the defense (it is acceptable for a committee member to participate via videoconference or teleconference if necessary). You must notify the Director of Graduate Programs and the Graduate Program Coordinator of the date, time, and location of the proposal defense by the CLS deadline for the applicable semester (see below). You must successfully defend your dissertation proposal and obtain all signatures on Dissertation Form 2.
CLS deadline for proposal defense notification:
Fall: September 30
Spring: February 28
Summer: May 31
To advance to candidacy (ATC), you must complete all coursework required on your approved program of study, have an approved Major Area Paper on file, and have successfully defended your dissertation proposal.
You must submit your ATC paperwork (Dissertation Form 2 and an electronic copy of your dissertation proposal) to the Director of Graduate Programs and the Graduate Program Coordinator by the CLS deadline for the applicable semester (see below).
CLS deadline for ATC paperwork:
Fall: November 10
Spring: April 10
Summer: July 10
Dissertation Research Stage
Doctoral students who have advanced to candidacy are ready to begin the dissertation research stage of the program.
To request initial enrollment in CRIM 999, you must submit Dissertation Form 3 to the Director of Graduate Programs at least two weeks prior to the start of the semester in which you first enroll in CRIM 999.*
*Students should be familiar with the dissertation policies listed in the university catalog.
For subsequent semesters of CRIM 999 enrollment, you do not have to resubmit Dissertation Form 3. Instead, you should email the Graduate Program Coordinator (and CC the Director of Graduate Programs) to request the registration code at least two weeks prior to the start of the semester; include the name of your dissertation chair and the number of credits in which you plan to enroll.
Once you have completed your dissertation research and have received approval from your committee to move forward, you must schedule a dissertation defense. All members of the committee must be present at the defense (it is acceptable for a committee member to participate via videoconference or teleconference if necessary) and the public is invited to attend. You must provide the following defense information to the Graduate Program Coordinator to be entered into the CHSS notification system at least 21 days prior to your scheduled defense:
- Full name (as you want it to appear in the announcement and university commencement program)
- Title in sentence case (e.g., Title in Sentence Case)
- Abstract
- Chair
- Committee members
- Date/time (include start and end time)
- Location (if virtual, please send link in email)
Warning: Your dissertation defense information must be entered into the CHSS notification system at least 21 calendar days before your scheduled defense or it will not be accepted by the system and your defense will have to be rescheduled.
Commencement Program: If you would like your name and dissertation title to appear in the university commencement program, you must submit your defense information by the CLS deadline for the applicable semester:
Fall graduation: September 15
Spring graduation: February 15
Summer graduation: May 15
There are several major steps you must complete in order to prepare, format, and submit your dissertation. More information about each step and corresponding deadlines can be found on the University Dissertation & Thesis Services (UDTS) webpage.
Helpful information:
- You can and should complete the format review process before your document is finalized. This review is done electronically (via email) and only focuses on proper formatting of the dissertation, not content.
- Prepare your signature sheet prior to your defense and have it ready to collect signatures (in person or electronically). A specially formatted signature sheet for CLS doctoral students is available on this webpage for your use.
- All committee members must sign the signature sheet in black ink (can be digital versions of their handwritten signatures) and in the order listed on your advancement letter from CHSS.
- Once your committee members have signed their approval, email the signature sheet to the Director of Graduate Programs and the Graduate Program Coordinator to obtain the final department signatures.
Suggested Timelines for Dissertation Submissions
The Department of Criminology, Law and Society has developed suggested timelines for defenses of the proposal and dissertation, and final submissions based on the requirements for each process. Students should review the UDTS website for all official guidance on the process and associated deadlines. The Graduate Program Coordinator can assist students in interpreting the suggested timelines, answer questions related to defenses and submissions, and refer students to the appropriate resource/department when necessary.