Dissertation Credits
Once a student has completed all coursework, he or she must maintain student status by registering either for Dissertation Research or Matriculation Continued, whichever applies. Either registration keeps students
on the active rolls when they have not registered for coursework. Students must
complete 24 dissertation credits prior to graduation. The number of
dissertation credits completed per semester is decided in consultation with the doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) director.
Dissertation Proposal (Prospectus)
The first stage of the dissertation involves
developing and defending a proposal (also called a prospectus). Working closely
with an adviser, the student develops a written research proposal of about
30-40 pages in length (not including attachments). With advice from the
student's adviser, a committee is formed to review the proposal and participate
in a public and open defense, known officially as the qualifying examination.
The committee should be composed of three School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA) core tenured or tenure-track
faculty members (including the adviser, who chairs the committee) and a fourth,
outside member who must be from outside SPAA (either another department at
Rutgers or another university).
Upon successfully passing the qualifying examination, the student is admitted to candidacy (and known then as a Ph.D. candidate). At the defense, it is important for the committee and candidate to complete and sign the Application for Admission to Candidacy, which is available from the Graduate School-Newark. The committee may, at
its discretion, allow the student to revise the proposal and to repeat the defense.
If the committee does not recommend admission to candidacy, the student may
appeal that decision to the Ph.D. program committee.
Dissertation Defense
An oral defense of the dissertation is required after submission of the final document to the dissertation committee for approval.
The date for the defense is set by the dissertation adviser in conjunction with
the Ph.D. director. The dissertation must be on file in the school office for at
least two weeks prior to the formal defense. The student must get signatures of
all members of the dissertation committee for final approval of the
dissertation to be granted.
Upon successfully defending the dissertation, the
student has satisfied the requirements for the Ph.D. At the defense, it is important for the dissertation
committee and candidate to complete the Dissertation Defense Report, which is
available from the Graduate School. The committee may at its discretion allow
the student to revise the proposal and to repeat the defense. If the dissertation
committee does not pass the dissertation, the student may appeal the decision
to the Ph.D. program committee.
