Areas of Study and Advisers
Major Area of Study and Assignment of Major Adviser
The College and Graduate School of Education doctoral program areas and the associated majors are as follows:
Counseling and Human Development Services
Curriculum and Instruction
Educational Administration
Higher Education
K-l2 LeadershipEducational Foundations
Educational Psychology/Instructional Technology
Evaluation and Measurement
Cultural Foundations
School Psychology
Special EducationHealth Education and Promotion
The letter of admission to the Ph.D. program specifies a student's major and names the major adviser assigned by the program coordinator. In some instances, a second faculty member is assigned to serve as a co-adviser or to provide special assistance throughout the advisory phase. When reading this handbook, students having a committee headed by co-advisers should assume that the duties and responsibilities ascribed to the major adviser will be shared.
If it is necessary for the student to request a change of adviser, the request should be made to the program coordinator. In the event that the major adviser is the program coordinator, the request for a change should be directed to the department chair.
Minor, Cognate, and Minor Concentration Program Options
The College and Graduate School of Education does not require a student to pursue a minor area of study (or a minor area of concentration), or an interdisciplinary cognate, or minor concentration. However, some programs may require or strongly encourage selection of one of these options. The student and committee should be aware that only the doctoral major(s) will be noted on the official transcript.
A minor area of study consists of a minimum of 15 hours of coursework in an area of specialization selected by the student and committee. Unless a specific minor is required by the faculty of a student's program, any specialization that has an approved graduate major code at Kent State University may be selected as a minor. If appropriate to the student's goals, the major and minor may reside within the same doctoral program area. A minor area of study must be represented on the advisory phase committee by a minor adviser who will prepare and evaluate the separate minor written comprehensive examination.
A minor concentration consists of at least 10 semester hours of coursework selected from an area of specialization defined by a graduate major at Kent State University. It is possible for the concentration to be selected from the same doctoral program area as the student's major. The minor area of concentration must be represented on the advisory committee by a member of the graduate faculty of the area. There will be no separate written comprehensive examination for a minor concentration. The major adviser will obtain input from the concentration adviser when preparing questions for the major written comprehensive examination.
An interdisciplinary cognate is an optional alternative to a minor. A cognate is a systematically planned sequence consisting of a minimum or 13-15 semester hours of graduate-level coursework from at least two program areas. Courses from departments outside the College and Graduate School of Education may be used. A cognate area of study must be represented on the advisory phase committee by a cognate adviser who will prepare and evaluate the separate cognate written comprehensive examination.
The Advisory/Coursework Phase Committee
The major adviser or co-advisers and the advisory phase committee play an important role in the planning of the doctoral program. It is the responsibility of the committee to approve the student's prospectus (plan of study) and residency plan, and when coursework has been completed, to conduct the candidacy examinations.
One of the first tasks of the major adviser or co-advisers is to provide guidance in selecting the other members of the advisory phase committee. The committee will consist of the major adviser, a co-adviser or second major adviser, an at-large representative, and a minor, or cognate adviser where appropriate. The structure of the committee will be influenced by decisions regarding the number of majors; the inclusion of a minor, or cognate, and the appropriateness of including one or more optional committee members. In the event that a double major or minor is selected, both major and minor areas must be represented on the advisory phase committee.
Requests for exceptions to the guidelines regarding committee structure should be presented in writing by the student. The major adviser or co-adviser and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs must endorse the exception before the committee can be approved.
Structure of Typical Committees
The typical committee for a program containing a single major and a single minor or cognate appears below. The committee must contain at least four members.
Major adviser
Co-adviser or second member from the major area
Minor or cognate member
At-large member
The typical committee for a program containing a single major and no minor or cognate appears below. The committee must contain at least three members.
Major adviser
Co-adviser or second member from the major area
At-large member
Committee Members
The major adviser and co-adviser or second major adviser may be full or associate members of the College and Graduate School of Education faculty in the student's major. If the major adviser has associate rank, the co-adviser or second major adviser must hold full graduate faculty rank.
The minor or cognate adviser must be a full or associate member of the graduate faculty of the department in which rank is held. This individual will assist the student in selecting coursework and preparing for comprehensive examinations. The minor or cognate adviser will write the questions for the written comprehensive examination in the minor or cognate area of specialization.
The at-large member contributes to the advisory phase committee as a general representative of the Kent State University graduate faculty rather than as a scholarly expert in the student's major field. This individual is selected by the student and the major adviser from the full or associate members of the graduate faculty of a program area other than the major or minor area of study. For this purpose, areas of study are considered to be Counseling and Human Development Services, Health Education and Promotion, Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Administration and Educational Foundations. The at-large member may be a member of the Kent faculty from a department outside the College and Graduate School of Education. In this event, a memorandum attached to the committee form should specify the at-large member's department and rank.
In addition to the required members of the advisory phase committee, an optional
member may be selected. The optional member may be from any graduate area within
or outside the College and Graduate School of Education. Typically, optional
members are selected because of their academic or scholarly expertise. In the
event that an optional member from outside of the Kent State University faculty
is proposed, a vita must be attached when the committee form is submitted.
The Program Prospectus and Residency Plan
Doctoral programs are highly individualized and must be carefully documented. It is suggested that the entire committee meet to review and discuss the prospectus and residency plan with the student before it is finalized. The plan agreed upon by the student and committee constitutes the official program of the doctoral student. The program prospectus and residency plan should be approved and filed in the Office of Graduate Student Services before the end of the second semester of study. With the exception of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, all individuals required to sign the form should do so before the form is submitted to the Office of Graduate Student Services. The student is responsible for insuring that the signatures are obtained.
The College and Graduate School of Education does not specify the number of hours of coursework to be included in the doctoral major. This decision is made by the advisory phase committee after a thorough review of a student's background and goals. University policy mandates that a student must present a minimum of 90 semester hours beyond the bachelor's degree or 60 hours beyond the master's degree in order to qualify for a doctoral degree.
Because a variety of important seminars, internships, and individual courses are graded according to an S/U system, there is no set limit to the number of S/U graded courses that may be included in a program. Students and committees are expected to carefully consider the total plan of study and weigh the merits of each course listed in the prospectus.
Once the advisory phase committee has approved the program prospectus and residency plan and it has been filed in the Office of Graduate Student Services, it becomes the student's official program of study in the College and Graduate School of Education. Changes in an approved prospectus may be made by submitting a memorandum noting the changes to be made. The memorandum is to be brought to the Office of Graduate Student Services after being endorsed by members of the advisory committee. If the change involves dropping a minor or cognate from the plan of study, endorsement of the revised prospectus must be sought from the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the student and major adviser to ensure that all changes have been filed prior to the student's application to take comprehensive examinations.
Completing the Prospectus and Residency Plan Form
A sample copy of the Doctoral Prospectus and Residency Plan Form appears in the Appendix. It may be helpful to refer to the sample before reading this section of the Handbook.
1. Ph.D. Universal Professional Requirements
All students in the Ph.D. program in the College and Graduate School of Education are required to complete the Ph.D. Universal Professional Requirements (UPRs) as outlined on page 1 of the form. If a student has a strong background the advisory phase committee may waive the courses listed as UPR prerequisites. If a course similar to one of the UPRs has been completed at another college or university, the course must be evaluated by a representative of the UPR committee before a substitution can be approved. The student initiates the review by submitting a Universal Professional Requirement Waiver Form (see Appendix).
UPR waiver forms are available in the Office of Graduate Student Services and in the departmental office, 405 White Hall. An official transcript documenting the coursework completed at other institutions must be attached when the course waiver form is submitted. The results of the request for a waiver will be mailed to the student following the review by the UPR Committee representative.
The substitution/waiver process should be completed prior to filing of the Prospectus and Residency Plan Form.
2. Coursework Taken Prior to Entering the Doctoral Program
The relevant graduate-level courses satisfactorily completed prior to doctoral admission should be listed in the spaces indicated and dates of completion provided. Courses taken as part of the master's program should be included.
3. Coursework Comprising the Advisory Phase of the Program
The list of courses to be completed during the advisory phase of the student's program should be presented on the pages provided. It is not necessary to project a completion date for each course. The time and date columns may be left blank at the time the prospectus is initially submitted. This information can be provided just prior to comprehensive examinations when the student has the opportunity to update the prospectus.
Students who have elected a double major or minor should present prospectus information for each of the major or minor areas of study.
4. Residency Plan
The residency plan portion of the prospectus consists of a list of options for completion of the residency requirement. Refer to the residency section of this handbook for further information regarding residency policy and procedures.
5. Tentative Fulfillment Dates
This section of the prospectus provides the student with an opportunity to "project" the doctoral studies program in a time frame. While not absolute, the plan is intended to provide general time guidelines for accomplishing the task.
6. Approval of Prospectus and Residency Plan
When the program prospectus and residency plan have been tentatively completed, the major adviser will normally call a meeting of the entire advisory phase committee for the purpose of reviewing the plan. In programs where coursework is highly standardized, a prospectus-oriented meeting may not be necessary.
Each member of the advisory phase committee is asked to sign to indicate approval of the prospectus and residency plan. This is usually accomplished following the prospectus-focused meeting of the advisory phase committee. Because it may be helpful for the student to refer to the plan from time to time, it is suggested that the student make and retain a copy of the prospectus and residency plan prior to filing the original in the Office of Graduate Student Services. Note: The program prospectus cannot be approved until the advisory phase committee has been officially approved and filed in the Office of Graduate Student Services.
Doctoral Comprehensive Examinations
The doctoral comprehensive examination is designed to assist the faculty in evaluating a student's academic progress toward a Ph.D. degree. It provides the student with the opportunity to review and integrate academic and professional learning. The examination is comprehensive in order to determine whether the student has successfully developed a cohesive and integrated base of advanced professional knowledge and is able to synthesize, generalize, and relate theoretical knowledge to professional practice. In addition to assessing the student's learning in a specialized field, the examination also provides an opportunity to assess the student's written expression.
Following evaluation of the examination, the student may ask the minor adviser for feedback regarding minor written examination performance. Pending such a request, the minor adviser is expected to provide feedback relative to writing style and content, in order to assist the student in preparation for the remaining stages of the comprehensive examination.
The Major Written Examination
The College and Graduate School of Education provides the opportunity for doctoral advisory committees, in consultation and collaboration with students, to choose among alternatives for fulfilling the written candidacy examination requirement for the doctoral program. Please note: program areas are responsible for defining what options its students may choose.
It is the student's responsibility to determine when all of the prerequisites for the major written examinations have been met. The student must also file the Application for Ph.D. Major Comprehensive Examination Form (see Appendix) and the Ph.D. Residency Completion Form (see Appendix) with the Office of Graduate Student Services at least ten weeks prior to the date on which the examination is to be taken. Up-to-date copies of the student's transcript and prospectus must be attached. If requested, consultation and assistance in completing the application will be provided by the staff of the Office of Graduate Student Services.
Option 1: There will be a written major comprehensive examination of approximately 8 hours in length. The examination normally will be written in 4-hour sessions on two consecutive days. Students who elect a double major will have an 8-hour examination in each major. The breadth and depth of the examination should conform to the spirit of the statement of purpose as stated above.
The student is expected to confer with the major adviser regarding readiness to take the comprehensive examination. In order to be eligible to sit for the examination, the student must have completed all of the coursework listed in the prospectus with the exception of those courses, seminars, or internships being taken during the term in which the examination is scheduled. All "IN" or "IP" grades should be removed prior to application for the examination. If the student's program includes a minor or cognate area of study, the minor or cognate examination must have been satisfactorily completed.
The major written examinations are administered in group sessions three times each year. The specific dates of the examinations are announced several months in advance, posted, mailed to advisers, and published in the Graduate Student Newsletter. Students are responsible for being aware of the dates and the deadlines for application. With the exception of a dictionary, no notes or aids of any kind are allowed to be used during the written examination. Students interested in utilizing a word processing program as a tool in writing the examination should be aware that Microsoft Word and Macintosh software are available for use at the present time.
The Office of Graduate Student Services staff will be happy to update information about word processing software available at the time a student applies to take the comprehensive examination.The major adviser, in consultation with other committee members in the major and minor concentration areas of study, is responsible for developing the major written examination and submitting the questions to the Office of Graduate Student Services three weeks prior to the testing date. The major adviser is also expected to provide direction for the student in preparing for the examination. Although a discussion of the nature and scope of the examination is appropriate, the student is not to be given knowledge of specific questions.
A "pass" evaluation of the major written examination by both the major adviser and second adviser from the major program area, constitutes successful completion of the major written examination.
Option 2: After completion of the major coursework, doctoral students declare their readiness to sit for written comprehensive examinations. A meeting with the advisory committee is called to discuss (a) whether the student is ready to go forward and (b) the questions.
The advisory committee, under leadership of the major advisor, develops four comprehensive questions in the major area of study that are to be answered by the doctoral student. Students may take two weeks to complete each question for a total of eight weeks to complete all four.
During the time allotted, students respond in appropriate format (e.g., APA, Chicago) to the questions posed by the advisory committee. All available resources should be used (e.g., research articles, literature, texts) to answer the questions fully with meaningful and appropriate citations.
After the written papers to each of the four questions have been presented to the members of the advisory committee, the student’s work is evaluated. A "pass" evaluation of the major written examination by both the major adviser and second adviser from the major program area, constitutes successful completion of the major written examination. Students receiving passing marks (i.e., satisfactory or outstanding) proceed to the oral examination. The oral examination procedures remain the same as those currently in place.
Option 3: Option 3 for written comprehensive examinations must be decided by the end of the first semester of a doctoral student’s program. This option involves students in activities throughout the doctoral program which are documented in a portfolio.
After completion of the course work in the student’s major, doctoral students declare their readiness to sit for written comprehensive examinations. A meeting with the advisory committee is called to review the portfolio and to discuss (a) whether the student is ready to go forward and (b) the questions and time-frame for completion of the questions.
The advisory committee, under leadership of the major advisor, develops two comprehensive questions in the major areas of study that are to be answered by the doctoral student. The procedures for this part of Option 3 are the same as those described in Option 2.
Option 3 also includes an evaluation of completed work presented in the portfolio. Doctoral students must engage in a series of scholarly projects that are determined through collaboration between the student and advisory committee. Documents prepared during doctoral studies (such as grant applications, presentations at national and relevant conferences, manuscripts submitted for publication, research studies documented/submitted, or evidence of community/professional service) will be collected, documented, and presented for evaluation to the advisory committee. This presentation occurs after the student has successfully completed the two written comprehensive examination questions.
As with answers to comprehensive examination questions, the work included in portfolios is also evaluated as unsatisfactory, satisfactory, or outstanding. Students receiving passing marks then proceed to the oral examination. The oral examination procedures remain the same as those currently in place.
The Minor Written Examination
For minors within the College and Graduate School of Education, there will be a 4-hour written minor comprehensive examination. If a student has elected a double minor, two 4-hour examinations are to be completed. Students who minor in areas outside of the College and Graduate School of Education should assume that a written comprehensive examination will be required. If the outside department housing a student's minor uses evaluation procedures that do not involve a written examination, it is the responsibility of the student and major adviser to obtain approval through the College and Graduate School of Education Council for the procedures of the minor department to be substituted. If the written examination is waived, the student should file the Outside Minor Form (see Appendix) to document completion of minor requirements.
The minor adviser is responsible for developing the minor examination, submitting the questions to the Office of Graduate Student Services three weeks prior to the testing date, and evaluating the results of the examination (pass or fail). Although a conference relative to the nature and scope of the questions is encouraged, the student is not to be presented with knowledge of specific examination questions.
In order to be eligible to take minor examinations, the student must have completed all minor coursework listed in the prospectus with the exception of those courses, seminars, or internships being taken during the term in which the examination is scheduled. There must be no "IN" or "IP" grades in the minor area. It is the student's responsibility to determine when the requirements have been met, to contact the minor adviser to initiate planning for the examination, and to file the form notifying the Office of Graduate Student Services of the selected examination date.
The Cognate Written Examination
The cognate member of the advisory phase committee, in cooperation with the major adviser, will prepare the cognate examination. This examination will be comparable in scope and duration to the minor examination.
The Oral Examination
When the major written examination has been evaluated as satisfactory, the student should contact the major adviser to obtain feedback regarding the written examination and to receive guidance in preparing for the oral examination. It is the responsibility of the major adviser to make arrangements for convening the advisory committee for the oral examination which must be completed within 60 days after a student has passed the written examination.
The student who elects a double major must complete only one oral examination. It is assumed that the major advisers will collaborate in planning for the examination.
The oral examination is chaired by the major adviser, and all members of the advisory committee are expected to attend and participate in the questioning. At the discretion of the committee, the student may be questioned on any content pertaining to the doctoral program. Questions will not necessarily be restricted to the major and minor areas of study. The breadth and depth of the questions should conform to the spirit of the statement of purpose. Following completion of the questioning, the student is dismissed, and the committee evaluates the examination performance.
For the student to successfully complete the oral examination, there must be no more than one negative vote; both committee members who evaluated "pass" on the major written examination must vote in the affirmative on the oral examination. If the advisory phase committee's vote is favorable and the student has completed all coursework, the student is advanced to Ph.D. Candidacy.
Regardless of the outcome of the committee vote, the major adviser is responsible for filing the Report of Oral Candidacy Examination Form (see Appendix) in the Office of Graduate Student Services.
Registration for Dissertation
Registration for Dissertation I may not occur until the semester following the satisfactory completion of both written and oral exams. All students are expected to sit for the oral comprehensive examination within 60 days after completion of the written examination. Advancement to candidacy will not occur until the Office of Graduate Student Services has been notified of the successful completion of the written and oral examinations.
Failed Examinations
Doctoral students in the College and Graduate School of Education are guaranteed at least one opportunity to repeat a failed written or oral candidacy examination. If a portion of the examination is failed, clear and formal feedback will be given to the student. The doctoral student may not enter candidacy stage without successfully completing the written and oral examinations.
1. The Failed Major Written Examination
The major adviser, in consultation with the second major adviser or co-adviser, is responsible for conferring with the student to determine whether the student will be re-examined. Only one retake is permitted.
If a student retakes the major written examination, the major adviser, in consultation with the second adviser from the major program area, will determine the time schedule and requirements, including coursework or other experiences, that must be completed prior to re-examination. The re-examination will adhere to conditions established for the original major written examination including a full 8-hour examination and new questions. If the student does not retake the examination or fails the retake, the student may be terminated as a doctoral student.
As decisions and actions take place, the major adviser is to provide written notification to committee members and the Office of Graduate Student Services.
2. The Failed Minor Written Examination
The minor adviser is responsible for providing a written rationale for the "failed" mark, and in consultation with the advisory phase committee, is responsible for conferring with the student to determine whether the student will be re-examined. The major adviser and the Office of Graduate Student Services are to be notified in writing of all decisions and resulting actions.
If a student retakes the minor written examination, the minor adviser determines the time schedule and additional requirements, which may include prescribed coursework or other experiences. The student must satisfactorily fulfill the conditions set forth by the minor adviser prior to retaking the examination. The re-examination will adhere to the conditions established for the original minor written examination, including a full four hour examination and new questions. Usually only one retake is permitted.
If the student does not retake the minor written examination, or fails the retake, the student must make arrangements to continue doctoral study without a minor, remain in the minor with a new minor adviser, or establish a different minor program area and an appropriate adviser. If the program is to include a minor, the student must complete the requirements established by the new minor adviser and successfully complete a new minor written examination. The new minor written examination should adhere to the conditions established for the original minor written examination including a full four hour examination and new questions.
The Office of Graduate Student Services must be informed of the decision of the committee and student regarding the options outlined above.
3. The Failed Cognate Written Examination
Guidelines regarding a failed cognate written examination parallel those for a failed minor examination.
4. The Failed Oral Examination
The major adviser, in consultation with the rest of the committee, determines the time schedule and conditions that must be fulfilled prior to re-examination. The requirements may include prescribed coursework or other experiences.
The procedures for conducting a re-examination are the same as those established for the original examination. If the student fails the retake, doctoral study may be terminated. A student terminated from the doctoral program will be provided a written rationale for the decision.
As decisions and actions take place, the major adviser is to provide written notification of the conditions and time schedule to the committee members and to the Office of Graduate Student Services.
RESIDENCY
Purpose, Rationale, and Options
Doctoral work across the diverse specialties of education addresses several goals:
l. Development of a comprehensive knowledge base in both the specialty and the broad field of education.
2. Development of the attitudes, values, reasoning, and technical tools of educational scholarship and practice appropriate to the specialty.
3. Socialization into the scholar-practitioner role of professor, counselor, administrator, or researcher.
4. Mastery of advanced skills and knowledge that enables the student to obtain the appropriate certification or licensure required for many educational roles.
The purpose of residency is to provide doctoral students professional educational experiences, in addition to their programs of coursework and previous employment activities. Residency is directed toward enabling the doctoral student to move beyond coursework toward internalizing and personalizing scholarship.
The traditional definition of residency (living in the academic environment for a full academic year) assumes that the student will acquire the attributes of a scholar and professional educator through acculturation. While such an experience is of great value in developing colleagueship and providing opportunity for more intensive study, it does not by itself guarantee synthesis. For part-time doctoral students whose roles and responsibilities make it virtually impossible to engage in full-time, campus-based study, achieving synthesis is an especially great challenge, and the need for programmatic assistance is particularly acute.
Residency, as it is defined by the College and Graduate School of Education, is a period in which students are engaged in personalized scholarship through the following broad types of intensive activity:
1. Examination/analysis of various forms of investigation within education.
2. Examination/analysis of issues, problems, and trends within and across education practice and research.
3. Development of a personal and professional perspective of education through synthesis of the various points of view and models provided in theory and practice.
4. Criticism of educational ideas, investigations, and practice.
5. Development of colleagueship that cannot be attained through part-time or isolated study.
Residency can be viewed as the means by which doctoral students pursue personal and professional goals not addressed through coursework and graduate appointments. It is assumed that plans for a residency will be developed jointly by the student and the advisory phase committee. It should be recognized that a given number of credits accumulated over a prescribed amount of time does not necessarily provide the context needed to promote synthesis.
To implement the purpose of the doctoral residency, the following three options are available:
Option A: Successful completion of a full academic year of two consecutive semesters with a minimum of 18 semester hours of credit including attendance at residency seminar each semester. This is the recommended option.
Option B: Successful completion of a minimum of 18 semester hours of credit within three consecutive terms (two academic year semesters and one set of summer sessions) including attendance at a residency seminar each academic year semester.
Option C: Individualized residency requirements can be developed by certain program areas. These must be approved by a student’s advisory committee and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
The doctoral prospectus and residency fulfillment plan must be submitted early in the residency period. Descriptions of major professional activities to be accomplished during the residency should be included in the prospectus. These professional activities must be consistent with the objectives of residency and focus on substantive matters.
Suggested Professional Activities
A partial list of professional activities is provided below as suggestions to students and their committees. It is assumed that individual committees and program areas will select or develop activities appropriate to their students' needs. All activities are to be approved by the student's advisory phase committee.
l. Activity: Attend several dissertation defenses.
Accountability: Reaction paper.
2. Activity: Participate in a project of service requiring scholarly work. The project would be of service to the work setting in which the student is employed or to the University. The major adviser, the appropriate work setting supervisor, and/or the University official must agree upon the project. No academic credit would be given.
Accountability: As determined by the committee.
3. Activity: Participate in an activity which is an extension of coursework. For example, a student might prepare an up-to-date extensive bibliography that might be of value after graduation.
Accountability: As determined by the committee.
4. Activity: Assist faculty in teaching, research, or practice. An example of practice might be the design and evaluation of a workshop.
Accountability: As determined by the committee.
5. Activity: Contribution to the department through conducting a seminar or colloquium.
Accountability: Evaluation by participants, self-evaluation by the doctoral student, and evaluation by the major adviser.
6. Activity: Attendance at significant University-sponsored professional meetings such as the Early Childhood Conference.
Accountability: Reaction paper; report to Residency Seminar.
Residency Completion Form
The Residency Completion Form (see Appendix)is submitted at the end of the residency period in order to document the student's completion of residency requirements.
The student is responsible for reviewing residency experiences with the major adviser and filing the Residency Completion Form in the Office of Graduate Student Services at the end of the residency period. A comprehensive listing of the professional activities accomplished during residency should be attached. If the nature of these activities differs markedly from the activities proposed on the Prospectus and Residency Plan, a brief rationale for the change should be provided. The adviser's signature indicates an assessment that the objectives of residency have been attained.
CANDIDACY PHASE
At this point in the doctoral program, the student is designated a "Doctoral Candidate." Once admitted to the doctoral candidacy phase, the student has five years to complete the dissertation and graduate with the Ph.D. degree.
Registration for Dissertation I may not occur until the semester following satisfactory completion of both the written and oral exams. (All students are expected to sit for the oral comprehensive examination within 60 days after completion of the written examination. Advancement to candidacy will not occur until the Office of Graduate Student Services has been notified of the successful completion of the oral and written examination.)
The doctoral candidate is required to register for a minimum of 30 semester hours of Dissertation I credit. There is no upper limit to the number of dissertation hours that may be taken but there is a clear expectation that students will work toward completion of the dissertation at the earliest possible time. In order to remain an active doctoral candidate, the student is required to enroll for dissertation credit each semester (including summer) following the term in which candidacy was reached. (After the first term, students will be automatically registered by their departments through the completion of the dissertation; however, students will be responsible for requesting any needed time extension). Students who are enrolling for dissertation for the first time or students who have not completed 30 hours of dissertation should enroll for Dissertation I (name of program area 80l99). Dual majors should alternate between their two program areas when enrolling for dissertation.
Once a student has registered for 30 hours of Dissertation I, subsequent registrations should be for Dissertation II (name of program area 80299). Students who have a master's degree from Kent should register for 15 hours of Dissertation II during each semester of the academic year and 15 hours of Dissertation II during the summer until they have registered for a total of 173 hours of graduate credit (including dissertation). Students who do not have a Kent master's degree should register for 15 hours each term and summer until they have registered for a total of 139 hours. After registering for the number of hours specified above, students should register for only one hour of dissertation each term and summer session. Because registration is related to state funding, adherence to these guidelines is monitored by the Registrar's Office.
The fee for Dissertation I or II can be determined by consulting the Schedule of Classes for the appropriate term. A student who enrolls in an additional course or courses must plan to pay additional tuition fees for the courses selected.
All doctoral dissertation registrations permit the student the use of University facilities including library and research equipment.
Students must register for dissertation credit in the term in which graduation is anticipated.
Committee Structure
The dissertation phase committee consists of a minimum of three members of the graduate faculty: a director representing the student's program area, a co-director or second member, and an outside member. Co-advising of dissertations, with various faculty expertise brought to bear on dissertation topics, is encouraged, and a research methodologist is recommended for all committees. (At the time the committee meets for the dissertation pre-defense, a graduate faculty representative joins the committee.)
The dissertation director and graduate faculty representative must be full members of the University Graduate Faculty. The co-director or second member and any optional members may be full or associate members of the graduate faculty. The outside member must be selected from the full or associate members of the graduate faculty of a program area other than the major or minor area of study. Kent graduate faculty from departments outside the College and Graduate School of Education, as well as graduate faculty members from our sister institutions of the University of Akron, Cleveland State University and Youngstown State University, are eligible to serve as outside or optional members. If a student wishes to include a member of the graduate faculty from another institution, a graduate faculty membership form (including a current vita) requesting temporary graduate faculty membership, must be requested by the department chair and forwarded to the Office of Academic Affairs for review by the Associate Dean.
Normally the advisory phase major adviser serves as the dissertation director, but the student may change to another faculty member from the same doctoral program area. The remaining members of the dissertation phase committee are selected by the doctoral candidate and the dissertation director based on the nature of the proposed study. The committee may include one or all of the members of the advisory phase committee, but there is no obligation to involve any member of the advisory phase committee.
In summary, the dissertation phase committee is constituted as follows:
• Dissertation Director--(must be a full member of the College and Graduate School of Education faculty and a representative of the student’s program area. The dissertation director or a staff member in the Office of Academic Affairs can assist in determining the status of graduate faculty members under consideration as committee members.)
• Dissertation Committee Member or Co-Director, usually from the major program area.
• Outside Member from a program area different from the major program area.
• Optional Member(s)
Dissertation Phase Committee Form
The student is responsible for initiating a meeting with the dissertation director for the purpose of identifying a committee to guide preparation of the dissertation. Once this has been done, the Dissertation Phase Committee Form (see Appendix) must be filed in the Office of Graduate Student Services. Please note that certain signatures (noted by /s/) are required on the form. If, due to faculty leave of absence or illness, it becomes necessary to change the committee, an updated committee form must be filed.
The Dissertation Phase Committee Form should be filed during the semester following attainment of candidacy. Although a general research topic should be selected prior to choosing a committee and filing the form, it is not expected that the student be able to state the exact title of the dissertation at this point. The title provided on the Dissertation Phase Committee Approval Form is assumed to be an approximation of the eventual title.
Contents of Proposal
The dissertation proposal consists of a detailed plan for the proposed research study. The proposal should be as specific as possible to insure that the dissertation phase committee and the student know exactly what the student plans to do, as well as why, how, when, and where the student plans to do it. The importance of the dissertation proposal should not be minimized. The proposal becomes a contract between the student and the dissertation phase committee. The more accurate, complete, and detailed the proposal, the easier it should be to complete the dissertation.
Normally, where appropriate, a dissertation proposal will include the first three chapters. The topic under study should demonstrate a strong relationship to a theoretical base, and should represent a thorough understanding of the related literature.
A typical dissertation proposal has the following major sections:
Part I A clear statement of the problem(s) to be researched, the reason for the researcher's interest in the problem, the theoretical framework and research question(s) to be answered, and a definition of terms.
Part II A complete review of the related literature and previously completed research dealing with the research problem.
Part III A detailed description of the theoretical and conceptual framework, the research questions or hypothesis (es), the population or sample of the population, the instrument(s) used to gather data, and the methods of analysis.
Part IV A presentation and analysis of data.
Part V An assessment of the utility of the findings for educational policy or practice. Please note that the final chapter of the dissertation, while commenting on both applications and implications for practice, should focus primarily on the theoretical interpretation and implications of research as well as possibility for further research.
Appendix The instrument(s) used to collect the data and other elements needed to carry out the research are normally included.
Bibliography A complete bibliography encompassing all the sources cited in Part II as well as other pertinent reference documents.
Investing time and effort in the development of an excellent proposal will greatly simplify the task of writing the dissertation. Once the proposal has been approved, Part I of the outline above, with some rewriting, can become Chapter I of the dissertation. Part II, if carefully written, can become Chapter II, and Part III can become Chapter III. The Appendix and Bibliography of the proposal can become the foundation for the Appendix and References of the final document.
Dissertation Proposal Defense
A formal dissertation proposal defense, conducted by the student’s full dissertation committee, should include a rigorous review of the topic and methodologies to be used in this study. Once the student and the dissertation director are satisfied that the proposal is ready to present to the dissertation phase committee, copies of the proposal are distributed to the members of the committee. The committee should have a minimum of one week to study the proposal prior to the dissertation proposal approval meeting. The dissertation director is responsible for arranging the time, date, and place of the dissertation proposal approval meeting.
When the dissertation phase committee has approved the proposal, the Notification of Approved Dissertation Proposal Form (see Appendix) should be completed. The names of members of the dissertation phase committee should be typed on the appropriate lines and signatures obtained when /s/ appears. The completed form and appropriate signatures, should be forwarded to the Office of Graduate Student Services along with a copy of the approved dissertation proposal. This must be accomplished no later than the first day of the semester of graduation. The title of the dissertation, as it appears on this form, will be on the official University transcript.
Human Subjects Review
Even though it may appear that risk to research subjects or participants is negligible, any research that involves human subjects must have approval from the University Human Subjects Review Board before proceeding.
The doctoral student and the dissertation director are responsible for obtaining the approval to use human subjects in research. An Application for Approval to Use Human Subjects form may be secured from the Division of Research and Graduate Studies, 111 Auditorium Building, from the Office of Graduate Student Services in 418 White Hall, or downloaded from the web at: www.kent.edu/rags/compliance. If human subjects are involved, a copy of the approved Human Subjects Review form must be attached to the dissertation proposal before the proposal receives final approval.
Guidelines for Preparation of Dissertation Copy
The Guidelines for the Preparation of Theses and Dissertations is extremely helpful in providing information to the doctoral candidate and typist on specific style requirements of the College and Graduate School of Education.
There are three approved style guides that may be followed in typing the dissertation. The doctoral candidate and the dissertation director should decide which of the styles will be utilized, and then it should be used throughout the various steps and stages of the dissertation.
The approved styles include:
• American Psychological Association. (2001). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. (5th ed.). Washington, D.C.
• Turabian, K. L. (l996). A Manual for Writers of Theses and Dissertations. (6th ed.). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
• The Harvard Law Review Association. (l986). A Uniform System of Citation. (l4th ed.). Cambridge.
The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (2001) is the guide of preference. The Turabian and Harvard Law Review Association guides are to be used only upon the recommendation of the dissertation director.
In the College and Graduate School of Education, the following terms are used to describe the manuscript at various stages in its development:
• Predefense Copy - used for the predefense meeting.
• Defense Copy - used for defense.
• Final corrected Copy - copy submitted for publication and binding.
These terms will appear a number of times in handbook sections dealing with the events leading up to graduation.
Preparation for Defense of Dissertation
It is important to note that application for graduation must be made by the first Friday of the term in which graduation is planned. Refer to the Graduate Schools Catalog or inquire in the Office of Graduate Student Services for specific dates.
Selection of Graduate Faculty Representative
The Graduate Faculty Representative participates in the predefense as a non-voting representative and at defense meetings as a voting representative of the total faculty and submits a report of the defense to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. If requested, he or she may also serve as moderator for the oral defense.
To request a graduate faculty representative, a Graduate Faculty Representative Form must be completed (see Appendix). The selection of the Graduate Faculty Representative should be made by the dissertation director in consultation with the doctoral student. The representative must be selected from a list of three full members of the Kent graduate faculty who have directed at least one dissertation to completion and who are members of a program area different from the major and minor area of study of the doctoral candidate. The list will be provided by the Office of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. If no person on the list is available to serve or is acceptable to the director and student, the dissertation director may request additional names. Since the graduate faculty representative will participate in the predefense meeting, it is necessary that the individual be named prior to this meeting.
Predefense Dissertation Committee Meeting
The predefense meeting is scheduled by the dissertation director when it appears that the document may be ready for defense. At this point, major changes in content or in the grammar, style, or format of the dissertation should not be anticipated. Where appropriate, students may be required to acquire the assistance of an editor.
The dissertation phase committee, plus the graduate faculty representative, meet to discuss the dissertation and to determine whether the dissertation is ready for the final oral defense. The doctoral candidate must allow the dissertation committee a minimum of ten days to read the predefense copy before the predefense meeting.
The committee may use its discretion in determining whether the student will be present at the portion of the meeting in which preparedness for the defense is discussed. However, a formal decision should be made by the committee in the absence of the doctoral candidate as to the state of readiness of the manuscript. The following are among possible alternative decisions:
1. There is unanimous agreement that the dissertation is ready for the oral defense. Individual committee members may have some suggestions for improvement, but they do not wish to see revisions before the defense copy of the document is submitted to the entire examination committee. They recommend that the responsibility for seeing that these changes are made rests solely with the dissertation director.
2. One or more committee members request that minor changes be made in the predefense copy and wish to see the revisions before determining readiness to defend. However, the changes are of a minor nature and none of the committee members feels that an additional meeting of the dissertation committee is needed for final approval.
3. One or more committee members feel that revisions of a major nature are needed in the predefense copy. In this case, the doctoral candidate makes the recommended revisions and resubmits the revised copy to the dissertation phase committee. At this point, a reasonable period of time must be allowed before the rescheduling of the predefense meeting. At the second predefense meeting, outcomes "1" through "4" are again possible.
4. The committee determines that major revisions necessitate postponing the scheduling of the oral defense for an unspecified time period. If possible, arrangements should be made at this point to submit the revised document to the committee and a time for the next predefense committee meeting should be set.
Once the committee has determined that the dissertation is ready to defend, only minor changes agreed upon by the committee should be made.
Selection of the Moderator
The moderator for the oral defense is normally selected by the student and dissertation director from the full members of the Kent graduate faculty from departments outside of the program area. It is acceptable for the Graduate Faculty Representative to serve as moderator.
Arranging for the Defense
Each term's deadline date for the oral defense is listed in the current Graduate Student Newsletter (http://www.educ.kent.edu/offices/OSS/gradnews.html), or may be obtained from the Office of Graduate Student Services in 418 White Hall. It is important to adhere to the defense deadline in order to provide sufficient time for editing and for production of the final corrected dissertation copy. Only rarely can a short extension of a deadline be made, and then only with a petition from the doctoral candidate and the dissertation director to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
Upon receiving the approval from the dissertation director, the doctoral candidate should distribute the defense copy to all members of the Dissertation Committee including the graduate faculty representative and moderator. At least ten working days must elapse between distribution of the defense copy and the oral defense.
The purpose of the defense copy is to be a basis for the questioning of the doctoral candidate. As such, all parts of the work must be included in typewritten form. These include the table of contents, lists of tables, all data, the complete references, and appendices. All pages must be numbered appropriately.
The Ph.D. candidate is responsible for assuring completion of the Notification of Readiness to Defend the Dissertation Form (see Appendix) and submitting it to the Office of Graduate Student Services. This form testifies that all members of the dissertation phase committee have agreed that the dissertation is ready for defense. A copy of the defense brochure must be attached to the Notification of Readiness to Defend form.
Announcement of the Defense
The defense is announced to the faculty and students of the College and Graduate School of Education through the defense brochure, prepared by the candidate or the candidate's typist. The candidate should make a copy of the brochure available to the Office of Graduate Student Services no later than ten days prior to the dissertation defense. Copies of the brochure will be posted so that interested parties can make arrangements to attend the defense. The candidate should also plan to provide copies of the brochure to committee members and guests at the defense.
The defense brochure contains a biography of the candidate and a condensed abstract of the dissertation. The biography, which should be 200 to 250 words in length, should include background information, professional experience, and research completed or in progress. The condensed version of the dissertation abstract should be limited to 200 to 250 words.
The oral defense of the dissertation is a formal scholarly event which is open to the university community and the public. It is suggested that the candidate distribute copies of the defense brochure to members of the audience who did not obtain them at an earlier time. At the discretion of the moderator, members of the audience may be granted the privilege of questioning the candidate. It is the responsibility of the graduate faculty representative to file an evaluation with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs regarding the maintenance of scholarly standards. Evaluation forms are available in the Office of Academic Affairs, 409 White Hall.
Students are expected to have achieved independence with the requisite research methodology of the dissertation. Thus, while advice and support have been given by a student’s advisers, and where appropriate, from the Bureau of Research Training, the student is expected to demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the research processes for his/her dissertation. The oral defense of the dissertation should be a clear demonstration of a student’s independence and competence in research.
Examining Committee and Voting Procedures
The Examining Committee consists of the dissertation phase committee, the graduate faculty representative, and the moderator. With the exception of the moderator who votes only if serving in the dual capacity of graduate faculty representative, each committee member must vote in favor of passing or failing the candidate's performance. No abstentions are permitted. A candidate passes the final oral defense if he or she passes with no more than one dissenting vote.
Immediately preceding the defense, the moderator typically clears the examination room of all but the Examining Committee. The committee then discusses the defense copy to insure that all members judge it ready to defend. The moderator and committee will also establish the questioning procedures at this time.
At the outset of the examination, the moderator reviews the ground rules for the oral defense and the order of questioning by the Examining Committee. The doctoral candidate then presents an overview of the research, briefly stating the purposes of the research, method of investigation, and outcomes. Questioning of the doctoral candidate follows the rules previously established by the moderator. Normally each committee member is allotted ten to fifteen minutes during the first round of questioning. The dissertation director is usually the last member of the committee to present questions.
Following the first round of questioning, the moderator will normally ask each Examination Committee member if there are further questions. When the Examining Committee has been satisfied in the questioning, the moderator may ask if there are any questions or comments from the members of the faculty or guests in attendance. The moderator may also choose to question or comment at this time.
When the questioning and dialogue have been completed, the doctoral candidate and all visitors are excused. The Examination Committee then has an opportunity for discussion before voting to determine whether the oral defense should be evaluated as pass or fail.
Doctoral candidates preparing to defend their dissertations are strongly encouraged to attend one or more oral defenses in order to become familiar with procedures.
Report of the Oral Defense
The Report of the Oral Defense of Dissertation Form (see Appendix) must be completed and filed in the Office of Graduate Student Services with the proper signatures as noted on the form. It is necessary that this form be submitted in order to clear the candidate for graduation.
The graduate faculty representative is expected to provide an evaluation of the dissertation defense including thorough written comments which are forwarded to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. (Comments will be summarized periodically and will be disseminated to dissertation chairs, the Annual Dissertation Awards Committee, and the committee conducting the five-year review of graduate faculty membership.)
Repeating the Oral Defense
If the doctoral candidate fails the oral defense of the dissertation, the Examining Committee determines when and under what conditions another oral defense of the dissertation may be scheduled. The Examining Committee is not obligated to provide a second opportunity to defend the dissertation; however, there is no mandated limit to the number of times a doctoral candidate may be granted an opportunity to defend the dissertation. Failure to defend the dissertation successfully means that the student is removed from the graduation list and must reapply for graduation according to the established deadlines for the term in which the next defense will be scheduled.
POSTDEFENSE ACTIVITIES
It is not unusual for the Examining Committee to recommend a number of changes in the defense copy of the dissertation. The candidate should work closely with the dissertation director as these revisions are made.
The final copy of the dissertation should be checked as carefully as any article or book being prepared for publication. Format, style, spelling, punctuation, and references should be in final form before the committee gives final approval to the dissertation. It is suggested, but not required, that the candidate employ an editor to assist in production of error free copy.
Use of word processing equipment is strongly encouraged as long as the final copy is prepared on a letter-quality printer.
Each term, the deadline for submitting the final copy is posted outside of the Office of Graduate Student Services. Candidates who will not be on campus should feel free to write or telephone (330) 672-2576 for information about critical dates.
Signature Pages
The candidate should be careful to note the examples of the signature page in the Guidelines for Preparation of Theses and Dissertations (available on the web at: http://educ.kent.edu/offices/OSS/guide.pdf) before having the pages typed. The number of lines typed for signatures should correspond to the number of members on the dissertation phase committee.
The candidate should make certain that two original signature pages are included when the final copy is submitted to the Office of Student Services. These pages must be signed by the entire dissertation committee and the department chairperson. The Dean of the College and Graduate School of Education will review the dissertation and sign the signature pages. The signatures of the committee indicate that the dissertation meets the standards of the College and Graduate School of Education and is ready to be placed in the library.
Signatures should be made in permanent black ink. Suitable pens are available in each department office. Pens having a ball point, felt-tip, or blue ink are not acceptable because signatures will not reproduce or microfilm clearly.
Editing
It is suggested that the candidate hire a dissertation editor to assist in producing an error-free document that can be a continuing source of pride for the individual and for the College and Graduate School of Education. When working with an editor it is important to be specific about the scope of the editing expected. In general, the less polished the document delivered to an editor, the greater the editing cost.
Typically candidates request editors to check the following:
l. Type style and quality of paper.
2. Pages preceding text to note whether the following items are properly included: title, copyright, and approval pages; preface and table of contents; lists of figures, illustrations, and tables; blank pages before title, copyright, approval, and preface pages.
3. Margins, spacing and pagination.
4. Chapter titles and subheadings.
5. Paragraph and sentence structure; punctuation, spelling, and vocabulary usage in text and appendixes following standard procedures as presented in APA.
6. Coordination of text with appendixes references, tables and illustrative material.
7. Tables, figures, and references for consistency with the form (APA or Turabian) used by the student.
Each term there is an official deadline for submitting the final corrected
copies of the dissertation, Microfilm Release Form and survey of earned doctorates.
The candidate should check with the Office of Graduate Student Services for
the exact date.
The following material must be submitted to the Office of Graduate Student Services by that official date:
l. Two copies of the corrected dissertation on paper specified by the Guidelines.
2. Signature/Approval pages inserted in text according to the Guidelines.
3. Two copies of the abstract on paper specified by the Guidelines. The 350 word limit must be maintained. If the abstract is longer than 350 words, Microfilm International will reject the abstract and require it to be rewritten and shortened.
4. Microfilm Release Form. This form is available from the Office of Graduate Student Services. All candidates are required to complete the form, giving permission to the University to have the dissertation microfilmed.
The second half of the Microfilm Release Form is for copyright purposes. If the candidate wants to copyright the dissertation, the copyright page must be included in the dissertation. The candidate must also sign the form in the appropriate area. The signed form allows the University to act as the doctoral candidate's agent to the federal government in obtaining the copyright. A certified check or money order for the copyright fee is required. Currently, the fee is $45. No personal checks are acceptable.
5. Survey of Earned Doctorates. The doctoral candidate is requested to complete this form regarding employment status even though he/she may be searching for a position or planning to continue in the same position.
Additional Copies of the Dissertation
The two copies of the dissertation required to be submitted to the College and Graduate School of Education become the property of Kent State University. Most doctoral candidates want at least one personal copy and a copy for the dissertation director. If more copies are desired, contact the Kent State University Bookstore, (330) 672-2762. Please note that binding of the personal copy and copies for others must be done at the expense of the doctoral candidate.
GRADUATION ARRANGEMENTS
There is a formal application deadline for each graduation period. This deadline is usually the first Friday of the semester or term in which the doctoral candidate plans to graduate. The deadline is firm and must be met. The exact deadline for a given term is listed in the Schedule of Classes booklet. It is also posted on the bulletin board just outside the Office of Graduate Student Services. Application can be made in advance of this date.
Qualifications for Application
In order to apply for graduation, the doctoral candidate must have completed and/or met all of the requirements listed below:
l. All coursework must be completed (all incompletes removed) with the exception of dissertation registrations.
2. Appropriate written comprehensive examinations and the oral candidacy examination must have been passed and residency requirements must have been completed. The dissertation proposal must have been approved and submitted no later than the first day of the semester of graduation. All forms and documentation for the above must be on file in the Office of Graduate Student Services (418 White Hall).
3. The student must be registered for dissertation credits during the term of graduation. Since doctoral candidates must register continuously for dissertation credits each term after reaching candidacy, this requirement is usually met without difficulty.
Application materials for graduation with the Doctor of Philosophy degree are available in the Office of Graduate Student Services or on the web. The candidate must complete the Application for Graduation and pay the appropriate fee to the Bursar’s Office. This fee covers the binding of the two required copies of the dissertation. Currently, the fee is $65. Check the current schedule book for graduation fees in effect for the term in which you plan to graduate. After payment of fees, the application, along with the receipt, is filed in the Office of Graduate Student Services.
Reapplication for Graduation
Those applicants who do not meet all of the above requirements for graduation by the posted deadlines must reapply for graduation in the Office of Graduate Student Services. The deadlines for application for graduation hold for reapplication for graduation. The doctoral candidate must also register for dissertation credits for the term in which graduation is anticipated.
Specific information regarding the commencement exercises will be mailed to
individuals who are on the official graduation list. The mailing of information
is handled by the Commencement Office: (http://www.kent.edu/ksugraduation).
Their phone is: (330) 672-2235.
Doctoral Hoods
Every doctoral graduate who attends the commencement ceremony is presented with the ceremonial doctoral hood free of charge. The hood is given by the College and Graduate School of Education to celebrate the accomplishments of the new Ph.D. Those students who would like to own a hood, but do not attend the commencement, may obtain the hood at their own expense.
Candidates who plan to participate in the graduation ceremony must make arrangements to be properly attired in a doctoral gown. The University Bookstore rents and sells doctoral gowns. Whether purchased or rented, the doctoral gown must be appropriate to the degree. When ordering a gown, a doctoral candidate from the College and Graduate School of Education should specify that the Doctor of Philosophy degree in education has been earned. The gowns worn by master's or bachelor's degree recipients are inappropriate attire.
Ph.D. graduates are asked to update the Office of Graduate Student Services with addresses and professional positions. Kent State University is proud of its graduates and would like to share their successes and inform them of upcoming activities.