This Handbook has been designed to assist you in working your way through the institutional structure of the Ph.D. degree in the Speech Communication Graduate Program (SPCM) at the University of Maryland at College Park. You will find that some of the information included explains requirements and policies that maintain the coherence and quality of the Speech Communication Graduate Program. Other information provides suggestions to help you progress toward your degree objective. There are also copies of forms that you are responsible for filing along the way.

We recommend that you keep this Handbook in a safe place for the rest of your studies. If you have not already acquired the The Graduate School Catalog, you should also do that immediately. (Copies may be picked up without charge at the Graduate Admissions Office in Lee Building.) If changes occur in the degree requirements during the time you are working on your degree, you will generally be "grandfathered" so that you may operate under these regulations or the new ones, whichever you choose. Having a copy of the requirements in force when you entered the program may therefore become important to you in the future.

The handbook is organized chronologically according to the steps in completing the degree. There are three phases to the Ph.D. degree:

1. the coursework phase

2. the preliminary examination phase

3. the dissertation phase

Each of these phases is structured into three stages. The Handbook will explain the regulations governing each phase and will provide answers to many of your questions.

Phase 1: The Coursework Phase

Stage 1A: Your initial registration

Timetable

Before classes begin in the fall -- see your temporary adviser, discuss a schedule with him/her, and register for fall semester.

October-November following admission -- after again seeing your adviser, register for spring semester.

This stage of your program stretches from admission until you have registered for your twelfth credit hour -- generally until the second semester for full-time students, and the second or third semester for part-time students. During this stage you will begin developing your research skills and identify a probable specialization for concentrated study.

The Admissions Committee annually accepts students into the Speech Communication doctoral program to begin their studies in the fall semester. During the spring or summer following your admission, you will need to register to begin classes in the fall. Begin registration by meeting with your temporary adviser. The Graduate Director will recommend this temporary adviser. S/he is a member of the Speech Communication graduate faculty whose interests coincide with yours and who can provide initial advice. Since you are not yet under the supervision of an advisory committee, seeking the advice of the temporary adviser is particularly important to assure that the courses you select are moving you toward your degree.

Definitions
Graduate Director -- the chief administrator of the Speech Communication graduate program and chair of the Graduate Studies Committee. You should notify her or him when you achieve the formal steps in your program or when you have questions about the program your adviser cannot answer.
Regular members of the graduate faculty -- faculty who have established a substantial record of research and are eligible to direct dissertations.
Preregistration -- a period each semester when students may register for the upcoming semester. Preregistration for spring semester is generally in October and November; preregistration for summer and fall is in March and April.
Temporary Adviser -- a Speech Communication faculty member recommended to advise you upon your admission to the program. This faculty member will be your adviser until you select your program adviser (who may, in fact, be your temporary adviser if you wish).

You will find the paperwork of registration relatively simple for graduate students. Some students complete it by mail, although this is not necessary. The most difficult part might well be assembling the information and forms necessary which come from a patchwork of offices on campus. Upon acceptance by the Graduate School you should have received a welcome brochure including basic information on registration such as dates and fees. To finish registration you will also need a Schedule of Classes and a registration form with the Department's permission to register. You may obtain the former from the Registration office in the Mitchell Building. The latter will be sent to you by the department. Those who are coming to Maryland from outside the Washington area and wish to register early may request a copy of the Schedule of Classes by calling (301) 314-4829. Since you also need to contact your temporary adviser before registration, most students from outside the area wait until they arrive on campus to register. (Note: the information from the Graduate School may list a date in mid-August when you must register. This date is only for mail registration. You may register once you reach campus, but before classes begin.) If you feel you should have received forms that you did not receive, please check with the Speech Communication departmental office at (301) 405-6519. After your first enrollment you will be able to enroll by telephone using the University MARS (Maryland Automated Registration System). Instructions for MARS are in the Schedule of Classes.

During the first semester of graduate work, a full-time student on a teaching assistantship will normally register for 10 credits; a full time student on a fellowship for as many as 12; a part time student for 3-6 credits. Three of your first semester credits will be in SPCH 700: Introduction to Graduate Studies in Speech Communication. If you cannot take this course during the fall semester you should request that your admission be delayed for a year until you can take the course. It is also a good idea to register in a course in your specialization within the program to introduce you to a faculty member with whom you will be working. An introduction to the subject matter will also confirm or suggest change in your choice of specialization.

You should register for spring semester during the preregistration period in October or November. Sometime during your first twelve hours it is a good idea to take a course outside Speech Communication but related to your specialization. You are required to include a faculty member from your cognate area on your advisory committee. By identifying such a person immediately and registering in one of his or her graduate courses, you will be able to have that person work with you at all stages of the program.

Some Questions New Students Often Ask

Q: Whom should I contact if I have not received registration material?

A: If you have not received the registration material by May 1 or four weeks after admission, which ever is later, contact the Registration office.

Q: How late may I register?

A: You may register anytime before classes begin. Preregistration by mail is not required, merely offered as a service to students.

Q: When should I meet with my temporary adviser?

A: Before you register. Please realize that many faculty members are not under contract in the summer and may be out of the office or out of town conducting research. It is a good idea to meet with your adviser before classes end in the spring or just before classes begin in the fall.

Q: How soon after admission may I register?

A: Please allow four weeks for all parts of the University to be notified of your admission.

Q: What if my commitments do not allow me to take SPCH 700 at the time it is offered?

A: You should request that your admission be delayed a year and plan on beginning courses a year later.

Q: May I take any course listed in the Graduate Catalog?

A: Yes, but not all will move you toward completion of your program. Although courses numbered 400 and above are generally open to graduate students, selected courses will contribute to your degree requirements only if they are part of the program of study approved by your advisory committee. In some cases, an advisory committee may judge certain courses inappropriate for your degree objectives.

Q: How can I be sure that courses in which I register prior to the preliminary approval of my program will be accepted as part of my program?

A: You cannot. That is why you should put a program together in the semester you are registered for your twelfth credit. Still, you should not worry excessively about your first twelve credits. At least six of those will be required methods courses. The others will probably be selected because they are close to your interests. The probability that they will be accepted is very high. The real danger occurs when you begin taking classes beyond twelve credits without prior approval of your program. In cases where you believe there might be some special problem, however, you may wish to form your advisory committee early.

Return to the Contents of this Page

Stage 1B: Constructing your Program of Study

Timetable

During the semester you are registered in your twelfth hour -- meet with the faculty member whom you would like to be your program adviser, discuss her or his willingness to serve, and construct a list of faculty members for your advisory committee.

After agreement with your adviser on a full committee -- file a Request for Appointment of Program Adviser and Advisory Committee with the Graduate Director (departmental form).

After appointment of your advisory committee -- work with your adviser to plan your program of study and meet with your committee to seek approval of your program.

During the semester when you are registered for your twelfth hour, you need to construct your program of study and have it approved. We recommend the following procedure:

Once you have determined that the faculty member that you wish to advise your program is a regular member of the graduate faculty, make an appointment with him or her to discuss his or her becoming your program adviser. (Your temporary adviser may become your program adviser, if you wish.) Complete a Request for Appointment of Program Advisor and Advisory Committee and submit it to the Graduate Director to secure appointment of your advisor.
Once your program adviser has been appointed, you and she or he should discuss appointment of your advisory committee. This committee consists of at least four members, including your adviser. At least three members of your advisory committee must be regular members of the graduate faculty, a majority must be from Speech Communication, and at least one of the four should be a graduate faculty member from your cognate area. Complete a Request for Appointment of Program Advisor and Advisory Committee and submit it to the Graduate Director to secure appointment of your committee.
You are now ready to prepare your program of study. Begin by discussing with your adviser your current thinking about the area of your dissertation research. You need not have a specific research question, or even a specific topic area, but a general idea of the research tradition to which your dissertation will contribute is necessary for planning. You are early in your program and your interests may change, but you should make a tentative decision. If your interests change later you will revise your program and your advisory committee will reconvene to approve the changes.
Next, do preliminary planning on the areas that will compose your preliminary examination. Generally there will be four areas of examination including research methods, your cognate, a general area of specialization, and either a specific or a second area of specialization. (See the section of this Handbook on the preliminary examination.)
Based on these decisions, you are ready to begin selecting the courses that will prepare you for the preliminary examination and dissertation research. Generally your adviser will ask you to go over the list of courses in the The Graduate School Catalog and find courses that you think will prepare you for the work ahead. She or he will then go over the list with you to suggest deletions and/or additions. In deciding which courses are needed to prepare you for the preliminary examination and the dissertation, you should consider not only courses that you will take in the future but also courses from your Bachelors, Masters, and the first twelve hours of your registration. Masters degree courses are an especially important part of your preparation. If your earlier coursework in Speech Communication was limited, you should expect up to 30 additional credits (which may or may not be required before entering the program) to make up for the assumed basic material in the discipline. The Preliminary Program Planning Outline (departmental form) provides a handy way of structuring your course planning.
Next, compare your program with the requirements on the next page to make certain that at least the minimum SPCM requirements are met.
After you have developed the program of study, circulate a copy to all members of your advisory committee and arrange for a meeting no less than ten days after the committee receives the program. At the meeting, the committee discusses your program. Once the committee is satisfied that the program will prepare you properly for your preliminary examination and your dissertation, they will approve the program.
After securing approval, bring a copy of your program signed by your adviser and the committee to the Graduate Director. She or he will check to see that minimum requirements have been met and will add the program of study to your file.

Definitions

Program Adviser -- a regular member of the graduate faculty in Speech Communication who will oversee the coursework phase of your program. Before you complete your twelfth hour you should contact the Graduate Director and request that this person be appointed to chair your advisory committee.

Advisory Committee -- the first committee to oversee your work toward the doctoral degree. You and your adviser should select the committee and request their appointment by the Graduate Director. The Committee consists of at least four faculty members. The committee must include at least three regular members of the graduate faculty, a majority from the Speech Communication faculty, and one member from your cognate area.

Program of Study -- a plan of requirements for your doctoral degree. The program generally lists your specialization, the area of your dissertation research, your anticipated preliminary examination plan, and the courses which will prepare you for the preliminary examination. The program is prepared in consultation with your adviser and approved by your advisory committee during the semester in which you are registered for your twelfth hour.

Cognate -- a field of study outside the Speech Communication discipline selected to contribute to your dissertation research. Your cognate will generally be a recognized academic discipline. You may, however, construct a mix of courses from different disciplines if you define the coherence of the cognate and the relevance to your dissertation research, and if your advisory committee approves.

Minimum Requirements for the Ph.D. Program in Speech Communication

The degree is a competency based degree; an Advisory Committee will decide the coursework necessary to prepare the student for independent research in an area of specialization. The program of study, which must be approved by the Advisory Committee, will specify the required courses. The program must meet or exceed the following minimum requirements (39 hours):

1. All students must take SPCH 700 (3 hours).

2. All students declare a disciplinary interest either in Rhetoric or Communication Theory. Students must take a minimum of one three-hour course in the department outside of their disciplinary interest. The course must be taken while enrolled as a Ph.D. student. For example, a Rhetoric student might take a seminar in organizational communication while a Communication Theory student might take classical rhetoric. Courses at the 400 level can be taken to satisfy this requirement (3 hours).

3. All students must have a minimum of six hours in a cognate outside the department (6 hours).

4. Students in both disciplinary interests must take a minimum of 27 hours of a core concentration. The configuration of the hours will differ for the disciplinary interests:

4a. All Communication Theory students must take a minimum of 12 hours in research methods (702, 703, and two methodological/statistical electives). Prerequisite courses such as SPCH 600 or an introductory statistics course may not be used to satisfy the 12 hour requirement. In addition, Communication Theory students must develop an area of specialization of at least 15 hours (e.g., interpersonal, health, organizational, cultural, etc). (27 hours minimum).

4b. All Rhetoric students must take a minimum of 6 hours in research methods (711, 712). In addition, Rhetoric students must develop an area of specialization of at least 21 hours (27 hours minimum).

If you fail to have your program properly approved, you may find additional coursework required at a time that you think your coursework is complete. By planning your program in the first twelve hours and seeking committee approval of changes as special opportunities arise or your interests change, you will avoid problems that may delay your preliminary examination.

Some Questions about Program Planning

Q: How should I select my adviser?

A: You will want to find someone whose research interests stimulate you and with whom you can work. Generally the program adviser will be the person who will also be your dissertation adviser, although early in your program you may not have decided on your dissertation research sufficiently to identify an adviser based on this factor.

Q: May I include more than four members on my advisory committee?

A: Yes. You can also include additional people on any of your committees. In fact, you may wish to do so in order to take advantage of some faculty member's expertise in your research area. Be careful, however, not to expand your committee needlessly. The more people you have on your committee, the more difficult it will be to find a common time for meetings.

Q: What if I do not know anyone outside Speech Communication to serve on my advisory committee?

A: To avoid this problem it is important that you take a course in your cognate within the first twelve hours. If for some reason you cannot do this, or if the instructor for the course cannot serve on your committee, decide with your adviser which courses you will propose for your cognate, and contact the Director of Graduate Studies in the cognate area to find out

who is likely to teach these courses. Approach the appropriate faculty members and ask them to serve on your committee. You may also want to find a faculty member from the cognate area who is a regular member of the graduate faculty, although this status is not required for the faculty member to serve on your advisory committee. (Later on, the member of your dissertation committee from outside Speech Communication must be a regular member of the graduate faculty, so appointing such a person to your advisory committee now will help provide the outside member for your dissertation committee.)

Process for Exemptions
Your adviser may propose an exception to your advisory committee by attaching a justification to your program of study which is circulated to your advisory committee. The advisory committee should then explicitly approve the exception and sign the justification sheet. This should then be forwarded to the Graduate Director along with the program approved by the advisory committee. The Graduate Director will then present the request to the Graduate Committee for approval.

Q: May courses taken at universities other than the University of Maryland be a part of my program?

A: Yes. The opportunities provided in the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area are particularly important sources of courses outside the university. Before enrolling in such courses, you must secure approval of your advisory committee and the Graduate Director. See the The Graduate School Catalog for restrictions governing acceptance of courses from other institutions (including a restriction that these hours are not subject to tuition remission for those on fellowship or assistantship). Do not expect that unlimited numbers of courses from other universities will be approved. You should have a substantial core of courses at the University of Maryland taught by faculty who will be preparing your preliminary examination and evaluating your dissertation. A degree from the University of Maryland implies that the substantial portion of your study is with this faculty.

Q: How many hours may be transferred into my program from other universities?

A: In one sense an unlimited number, but it does not exactly happen by transfer. Your program of studies will be constructed to require the courses you need to prepare you for the preliminary examination and the dissertation. Courses you have had elsewhere are not technically transferred, they simply are courses that are not required at Maryland, and therefore are not on your program. If a transfer is to meet a SPCM method requirement, follow the instructions for seeking an exception to the requirement described above. To justify such a request you must acquire the written approval of a faculty member who teaches the relevant required course. The faculty member may, at his or her option, examine you on the relevant material. If your request is based on a previously taken course, you may also be asked to provide a copy of the course syllabus to the faculty member.

Q: How many favorable votes are required on my advisory committee to approve my program of studies?

A: The program must be approved by all members of the committee.

Q: What can I do if I disagree with a decision of my adviser or my advisory committee?

A: The Speech Communication program guarantees faculty members the right to exercise their academic judgement without interference from others. If you feel, however, that a decision by any of your committee members is arbitrary and capricious, or that SPCM or graduate school regulations were violated in committee actions, you should contact the Graduate Director or the Speech Communication department Chairperson to discuss the problem. If problems are not resolved you may file a grievance under the procedure outlined below.

Grievance Procedure
Grievances always begin after contacting the faculty member or members for informal discussion of the situation, and after contacting the Graduate Director to follow up those discussions. If you feel that you are still being treated in an arbitrary and capricious manner, you may prepare a grievance. Your grievance should be filed with the Graduate Director. Prepare a letter that (1) states the specific decision you are grieving; (2) provides the reasons you consider the decision arbitrary and capricious; and (3) states the specific remedy that you are requesting. Your grievance will be heard by the departmental Graduate Studies Committee. Ultimately, responsibility for the integrity of all students' programs resides in the Dean of the Graduate School and all departmental decisions regarding graduate programs may be appealed to that office.
Note: Other grievances procedures apply to your working conditions as a teaching assistant (see the Handbook for Teaching Assistants and Graduate Fellows) or for sexual harassment (see the The Graduate School Catalog).

Q: What happens if I receive a grade of "C" or lower in one of my courses?

A: It depends on the course in which you receive the grade. In required methods courses you must retake the course until you improve your grade to a "B" or higher. In advanced methods courses and other specified courses you may (a) seek the approval of your advisory committee to redefine the dissertation research and subsequently to remove the course with the deficient grade from your program, or (b) retake the course until you improve the grade to a "B" or higher. In other courses on the program you may (a) seek the approval of your advisory committee to delete the course from the program, (b) seek the approval of your advisory committee to substitute some alternative course, or (c) retake the course until you improve the grade to a "B" or higher.

Only the option of retaking the course will remove the deficient grade from your official transcript. The graduate school requirement that you maintain a 3.0 grade point average is calculated using all courses on your transcript including any grade of "C" or lower not remedied by retaking the course.

In addition, deficient grades will also lead to a review of your academic progress. After your grade point average falls below 3.0, or after you receive a second (and after each subsequent) grade of "C" or lower during your time in the program, the Graduate Director will request that your advisory committee review your academic progress. The review will consider your overall academic progress and not only the deficient courses. Your adviser is required to send a letter to the Graduate Director signed in support or dissent by all members of your advisory committee: (a) concluding that evidence exists of satisfactory progress despite the deficient grades, (b) stipulating some probationary requirements for you to continue in the program, or (c) recommending your dismissal from the SPCM program. (If your advisory committee has not yet been formed when you receive the second deficient grade, the Graduate Committee will review the recommendation and recommend action to the full faculty.) After referral from the Graduate Committee, the Speech Communication faculty will approve appropriate action. Termination from the program will require a 2/3 vote of those present and voting.

Return to the Contents of this Page

Stage 1C: Completion of Coursework

Timetable

During October or November for spring and March or April for summer and fall -- preregister for the appropriate semester.

Within five years of your initial registration -- complete the courses listed on your program and take the preliminary examination

For the next several semesters, you will be completing the courses specified by your program of study. During that time there is little paperwork associated with the program except your semester by semester registration. Changes in your program are another exception. There are several reasons why your program may change. Courses that you plan to take may not be offered for some reason. New or visiting faculty may offer courses that you did not know would be offered. You may find a special topics course you wish to take or a special interest that leads to a readings course or independent study. In some cases your interests may change as you encounter a new idea that excites you more than the research idea you had planned to pursue. Rather than being a sign of weakness in your development as a graduate student, such changes are often a sign of a vibrant and growing interest in graduate work.

When changes in your program are appropriate, you should make the changes. The process is not difficult. A Request for Program Change (departmental form) may be filled out and circulated among the committee. If the request concerns a major change of direction in your program, or if an advisory committee member wishes to discuss the change with the full committee, then reconvening the advisory committee is required.

Major changes in the direction of your program should be considered carefully, but do not be reluctant to change if your interests have evolved. Major changes may imply revisions in coursework or even a new adviser. Changing advisers is common in such circumstances and are expected by faculty members. Since course choices are oriented toward your specific research interest, changing your interest may require coursework different from that originally planned. For example, if you decide that you wish to use historical methods rather than statistical methods as part of your dissertation research but have already taken SPCH 703, your committee will require that you take SPCH 712 in addition. As a result, a change of research interest will probably result in your having to take additional coursework beyond your original program. You should still make the change, however; the dissertation is too important a project in your life to invest a year or more in research that you no longer feel compelled to pursue. Once your program is changed, of course, any courses required by the old program but not yet taken will no longer be required.

You have five years from your admission to complete your coursework, your preliminary examination, and your dissertation prospectus. If you are a part-time student, this means that careful monitoring of your progress toward completing the program is important so that you do not find yourself running out of time to complete your coursework, examination, and prospectus. The faculty recommends that you take at least six (6) credits each semester (excluding summer).

Some Questions about the Coursework Phase

Q: May I change my program adviser?

A: Yes, at any time. If you wish to change, contact the Graduate Director. Changes most often occur because research interests change. In such cases the Graduate Director will be happy to accommodate the change. You should expect that changes in your program will be needed as well. If you wish to change advisers for different reasons, the Graduate Director may request that you discuss the reasons with him or her. The Director recognizes, however, that you must be able to work with your adviser, so your request will be honored.

Q: May I change members of my advisory committee?

A: Yes, at any time. These changes occur for a number of reasons. Discuss such changes with your adviser and request a change of appointment from the Graduate Director. In addition, it is good for you to meet with your new committee member, provide her or him with a copy of your approved program, and discuss your progress toward your degree.

Q: What do I do if my adviser or a committee member retires or leaves the University?

A: It happens. It even seems to happen frequently. Advisers and committee members may continue to serve up to one year after leaving the University. If the person who leaves is a particularly important member of your committee you may want to consider retaining his or her counsel even after he or she can no longer be a formal member of the committee. If this person is the adviser you may want to discuss the situation with the Graduate Director. Generally, such people are replaced in the manner discussed above.

Q: If for some reason I cannot take any courses during a given semester, do I need to do anything?

A: No, not formally, unless the semester is the first of your work. Do remember that you must complete your coursework, preliminary examination, and prospectus within five years of your admission. If the semester is the fall semester of your first year, request that your admission be delayed a year.

Q: What do I do if some of the courses on my program are only taught during the day and I work during the day?

A: This can be a major problem for part-time students. Many of our courses are offered in the late afternoon and evening, but not all. Designing a program around your external work schedule rather than your academic needs is a danger sign in your degree program. You may wish to talk to the Graduate Director to find out if sections are planned in the evening during other semesters. If not, you should work out an arrangement with your employer to be able to take the class. If this is impossible you may wish to check with your adviser and advisory committee to see if there is an appropriate substitute for the course. The Speech Communication program does notguarantee that all coursework will be offered in the evening. Your commitment to the degree program may require coordination with your employer.

Return to the Contents of this Page

Phase 2: Preliminary Examination Phase

As you near the end of coursework, your planning turns to the preliminary examination. The preliminary examination tests your overall command of your specialty in Speech Communication and its relationship to contextual knowledge. The examination is the faculty's opportunity to certify your knowledge and indicate your readiness to proceed with the independent research of the dissertation. Although your coursework should prepare you for the examination, the examination itself is neither defined nor restricted to material covered in your courses. Rather it is organized around identified areas of study within the Speech Communication discipline.

Stage 2A: Planning the Preliminary Examination

Timetable

Early in the final semester of your coursework, make certain that all changes from your originally approved program have been approved by your committee and the necessary approval forms are in your file and meet with your adviser to plan your preliminary examination.

Prepare a program report and a Preliminary Examination Plan Proposal and present them to your advisory committee for approval either in a meeting or by mail.

When you have received the approval of your advisory committee, submit the appropriately signed forms to the Graduate Director for approval.

Earlier your advisory committee approved your program of study. Any changes to that plan should have been formally approved by the committee. The advisory committee may specify additional coursework if they judge such work to be required to prepare you for the preliminary examination, but if you have kept your advisory committee abreast of changes in your interests and coursework, this is unlikely to happen.

You and your adviser will now formulate your plan for the preliminary examination within the following requirements.

Definitions
Preliminary Examination -- a two-stage (written and oral) examination to determine that your mastery of your chosen specialty warrants the doctoral degree, and that you are prepared to proceed to conduct independent research. The preliminary examination is sometimes called "comprehensives," the "comprehensive exam," or the "doctoral qualifying examination."
Examining Committee -- the committee responsible for conducting and evaluating your preliminary examination. The committee consists of those faculty members who are specified to write questions on the preliminary examination plan approved by the advisory committee. Thus, the committee is constituted by your advisory committee

The Preliminary Examination Plan Proposal (departmental form) provides a format for seeking approval of the preliminary examination plan. Your plan should specify and define each area of the examination, distribute the total exam time among the areas, name the faculty member(s) who will prepare the question in each area, and indicate the dates on which you will write the written part of the examination. Any faculty members who will be part of your examining committee but are not on your advisory committee should be contacted at this point to request that they prepare questions for you. Once their agreement is received, you and the adviser should present the plan for approval by your advisory committee.

Having received approval of your plan, your adviser should present your committee's approval of the completion of coursework and the plan for the examination to the Graduate Director. The Graduate Director will certify that your plan for the examination is consistent with SPCM requirements.

Requirements for the Preliminary Examination

1. The total time allotted for the four parts of the written examination must be equivalent to at least twelve (12) supervised and "closed book" test hours.

2. The examination covers the following areas:

a. The general area of expertise. This examination tests your understanding of the general disciplinary context for your dissertation research subject, including your mastery of the central objectives and concepts, the foundational literature, and the recent research contributions.

b. The specific area of expertise. This examination tests your mastery of your dissertation research specialty, including the relationship of the narrower interest to any contextual discipline(s), foundational literature in the specialty, theoretical and methodological approaches to research, important recent research, and significant unanswered questions.

A second area of expertise. This examination locates a second area of interest within the disciplinary context and tests your understanding of the research literature and tradition in that context.

c. Cognate area. This examination tests your mastery of the material in your chosen study outside speech communication, including significant literature and concepts which relate the cognate area to your specialty.

d. Methods. This examination tests your understanding of appropriate ways to ask, and procedures to answer, important questions that form the framework for research in the discipline and your specialty.

3. The form and format of questions within each area of the examination is determined by the examiner(s) who prepares the question(s) in the area. Questions may be "open book" and/or "take home," even requiring use of the library or computer facilities, if specified by the examiner(s). In the absence of notification of specified format, the examination will be "closed book" and taken on campus under supervised conditions.

4. Examinations may be spread across any length of time agreed to by the advisory committee, but the written and oral portions of the examination must both be conducted within a single semester.

5. Although planning may proceed before all courses on the program are completed, all courses must be completed (including all incompletes removed) before the written examination may begin.

Return to the Contents of this Page

Stage 2B: The Written Preliminary Examination

Timetable

About three months before your written examination begins -- meet with the members of your examining committee to solicit recommendations for preparing for the examination and any information they may share with you on the format of their questions.

One month before the written examination is to begin -- ensure that the logistics of the examination are arranged. This includes a room secured in which to take the examination, typewriters or computers available if you want to use either, and the proper monitoring of the examination arranged.

Two weeks before the written examination is to begin -- check with your adviser to ensure that the examination questions have been prepared.

Normally, early in your preparation for the preliminary examination you will speak with each member of the examining committee for suggestions about studying. Committee members are under no obligation to provide such assistance, but most will provide some hints about how successful students have prepared for examination in the past. You may also wish to ask the committee member whether she or he will specify take-home questions.

In the final month before the examination you need to keep in touch with your adviser to ensure that arrangements for the examination are proceeding. Your adviser should receive the questions from the examining committee two weeks before the examination is to begin. She or he will look the questions over to make certain that questions are clear and that no overlap exists among questions, and will circulate the questions among the committee for their help on this. Although you will not see the questions at this stage, of course, you may want to ensure that the adviser has completed this step. Make certain you know from whom you will receive the questions and to whom you will return them, and where you will write the exams.

You may select from a number of media for writing your examination: (1) By far the simplest is paper and pen. If you choose this method, immediately after finishing each session, photocopy your answers and return the photocopies to the proctor. You may then take the originals to prepare typed copies of the answers. In preparing these copies you may make minor editing -- spelling corrections, grammatical corrections, delete those things crossed out in the original, and insert where inserts are clearly indicated in the originals -- but you may not alter the substance of your answer. (2) If you prefer to type your answers in the examination session, you may do so. Photocopies of these typed answers should be returned immediately to the proctor. (3) You may even arrange to use a word processor to type your answers. In this case you should print and return to the proctor a hard copy of your answers immediately after completing the session. (Neither your adviser nor the Speech Communication program is responsible for providing typewriters or computer. Furthermore, you are permitted to use these options only if their use is compatible with proper proctoring of your examination.)

After you have completed all answers, copies of the entire examination (questions and answers) must be forwarded to all the members of your examining committee. Within two weeks of receiving the examination, each member of your examining committee should notify your adviser that the answers are of sufficient quality to proceed to the oral portion of the examination. After all members of the examining committee have indicated approval, the oral examination is scheduled as soon as possible. You will probably be asked to arrange a time and place for the oral examination, but be certain that your adviser has formally notified the other committee members of these arrangements.

Return to the Contents of this Page

Stage 2C: The Oral Examination

Timetable

After completing the written examination -- copies of all the questions and answers distributed to your examining committee.

One week after your answers are distributed to the committee -- your adviser should check with each committee member to see if she or he agrees the written portion is ready for oral examination. If the written portion has been approved for oral examination, you and your adviser should schedule the oral examination.

After passing the oral examination -- see that the Results of Preliminary Examination Form is signed and returned to the Graduate Director.

After successfully completing the written portion of the examination, you are examined orally. The oral examination is based upon (but may go beyond) the written exam and is generally two hours in length. Upon completion of the oral part of the examination, the examining committee will determine whether you have (1) passed, (2) passed conditionally, or (3) failed the preliminary examination. If you pass conditionally or fail, the committee will indicate in writing any specific actions required of you before passing or retaking the examination. This may include additional courses to be taken, books to read, papers to be written, or anything that the committee determines will provide additional preparation. You and the Graduate Director will be notified of such action in writing.

Passing the oral examination completes this phase of the program.

Rules for Reexamination
If the committee determines that the written portion of the examination is not satisfactory prior to the orals, the committee may require retaking the written portion of the preliminary examination prior to the oral. The committee may also proceed, however, despite an inadequate written examination, to examine you further on the material during the oral.
If you do not pass the examination, your examining committee must inform you and the Graduate Director in writing of (1) the deficient portions(s) of the examination, (2) remedial action that the committee recommends, and (3) any proposal for reexamination. You have the right to be reexamined during the next semester of the academic year but should request the reexamination in writing to your adviser and the Graduate Director. The examining committee is under no obligation to pass you after the original examination or the reexamination; you are passed only after you have demonstrated satisfactory performance during the examination.
You may be reexamined once. Any request to redo one or more parts of the examination constitutes reexamination. If you do not pass your reexamination unconditionally, you may petition the Graduate faculty for permission for additional reexamination. If such permission is not granted you are dropped from the program. You may apply to reenter the program after one year.
If you do not pass the preliminary examination, you may change the membership of your examining committee, but only for demonstrated cause besides your failure, and with the approval of your adviser, the Graduate Director, and the Speech Communication faculty.

Some Questions about the Preliminary Examination Phase

Q: May my committee ask me about material not covered in my courses?

A: Most definitely. The preliminary examination is a test of your mastery of a body of knowledge, not a series of courses. Your courses are chosen and framed into a program to prepare you for the preliminary examination; the preliminary examination is not written to test you over your chosen courses.

Q: How long should I study before I take the preliminary examination?

A: There is no simple answer to this question. Some people take them nearly immediately and others take more time. Discuss the time with your adviser, but realistically assess your own comprehensive command of the discipline.

Return to the Contents of this Page

Phase 3: The Dissertation Phase

The dissertation is an independent project which makes a significant and original contribution to the cumulative knowledge of your discipline. In preparing the dissertation you work closely with your dissertation adviser. The dissertation work will take between one and four years to complete.

Most of the rules and regulations governing the early part of your Ph.D. work are regulations of the SPCM program. The rules and regulations governing the dissertation are, for the most part, rules and regulations of the graduate school. If you have reached this stage, you will be wise to familiarize yourself completely with the Ph.D. requirements published in the The Graduate School Catalog.

Stage 3A: The Prospectus

Timetable

Each semester after passing the preliminary examination until you complete the degree (except summers) -- register in at least one credit hour, normally dissertation credit. After you have accumulated the number of dissertation credits required for your degree, you must still register for a credit in semesters when you are using any of the resources of the university including your adviser's or committee's time. In semesters when you are not working on your dissertation, you may enroll through continuing registration.

After passing the preliminary examination -- select your dissertation advisor. If this selection represents a change in advisor, request that the Graduate Director approve your selection using the departmental form.

Prepare your dissertation prospectus in consultation with your adviser. Obtain necessary human subjects committee approval. Note that the departmental Human Subjects Review committee has guidelines and a fixed meeting schedule for this process.

After the adviser has approved the prospectus--request that the Dean of the Graduate School nominate your dissertation committee using the Graduate School form. Give the prospectus to your dissertation committee at least two weeks before your prospectus meeting.

After your committee approves the prospectus -- see that the Approval of Prospectus Form is signed and filed with the Graduate Director along with a copy of the approved prospectus.

The best person to direct the dissertation may well be your program adviser, but consider the selection carefully. The selection of the dissertation adviser is important. The adviser will provide you direction, review your work, and ultimately accept the quality of the work to recommend the dissertation to the committee. Generally, you should select the faculty member whose research most closely relates to your dissertation. The adviser must be more than a distant critic. The dissertation will be exposed to careful scrutiny and an adviser knowledgeable in the literature and methods of your specialization will avoid future problems. In addition, however, the adviser must be a faculty member whom you trust and with whom you can work closely. Discuss your project freely with those who might advise it. You should also feel free to discuss your choice of adviser with the Graduate Director.

Definitions
Dissertation -- the report of an original research project which demonstrates your ability to do independent research.
Dissertation Adviser -- the regular member of the graduate faculty with whom you will work most closely on the dissertation research.
Dissertation Committee -- the committee of the graduate faculty members who conduct the final oral defense of your dissertation. This committee consists of at least five faculty members, three of whom must be regular members of the graduate faculty, including your adviser and Dean's representative. The majority of the committee members must be from the Speech Communication department, including the dissertation advisor.
Dean's Representative -- a regular member of the graduate faculty from outside the Speech Communication department who is responsible for monitoring the process of the final oral defense of the dissertation.
Prospectus -- a presentation of your proposed dissertation researchdesigned to secure approval of the topic and plan of your dissertation by your dissertation committee.
Prospectus meeting -- a meeting in which the dissertation committee discusses your proposed research, suggests changes, and approves the topic and plan for the project.
Final Oral Defense -- the meeting, generally two hours in length, where you defend the conclusions of your dissertation in an examination conducted by the dissertation committee.

With your adviser selected, you are now ready to begin work on the prospectus. There is no standard format for a prospectus; the structure will vary depending on the character of the project. In general, though, every prospectus should (1) identify the disciplinary problem or question to be addressed in the research; (2) review previous research pertinent to the problem or question; (3) specify how the researcher will proceed in addressing the research problem or question; (4) provide a sketch of likely chapters in the dissertation; (5) furnish a bibliography of materials germane to the project.

Your adviser may have more specific suggestions about the structure of the prospectus including even a standard format that a dissertation using your method will follow. Be sure to discuss the format with your adviser.

During this time you also need to have your research approved by the Human Subjects Review Committee, if your research will involve human subjects. Current definitions of which projects are to be reviewed by this committee are quite broad although approval may be fairly routine if your intervention with humans is limited. You should check with the Chair of the Human Subjects Review Committee in the Department or College if you are not certain whether you need to seek approval and to determine the procedure by which you seek approval.

You may revise your prospectus several times. Your adviser will recommend changes with each version until the document achieves the quality appropriate for distribution to your dissertation committee.

You should select the dissertation committee in collaboration with your advisor. The committee consists of at least five faculty members including your adviser and a faculty member from outside the Speech Communication department who will be appointed as the Dean's representative. At least three of the committee members, including the Dean's representative, must be regular graduate faculty. Generally, the same faculty members who were members of your advisory and examining committees will comprise the dissertation committee. Sometimes, however, faculty with expertise in your dissertation subject are added to or substituted on this committee. Since these committee members will be reading and evaluating your work, you may wish to include only those faculty who have already seen some of your research work. Once you are satisfied with your selections, fill out the Graduate School form for Nomination of Thesis or Dissertation Committee and submit it to the Graduate Director for disposition.

Next, you should discuss your project with your dissertation committee. Schedule a two hour meeting to be held no sooner than two weeks after distributing the prospectus. The purpose of the prospectus meeting is to determine whether the topic and plan of the dissertation proposed in the prospectus should be approved. However, committee members may also wish to provide suggestions regarding the conduct of the proposed research. Unanimous committee approval of your prospectus constitutes approval of the dissertation topic and plan proposed. After approval of the prospectus, any substantial change in the topic or plan of the dissertation may require approval of the dissertation committee.

After your committee has approved the prospectus, see that a signed Approval of Prospectus Form and copies of your approved prospectus and the Humans Subjects approval are filed with the Graduate Director. Upon approval of your prospectus by your dissertation committee, you are qualified to submit an Application for Admission to Candidacy for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (using Graduate School form). The Graduate Director will approve your application, provided that your Advisor has approved and that your file includes: (1) a completed Approval of Program of Study Form accompanied by your approved plan of study; (2) a completed Approval of Preliminary Examination Plan form accompanied by your approved preliminary examination plan; (3) a completed Results of Preliminary Examination Form (indicating a successful result) accompanied by copies of the answers to the written portion of the preliminary examination; (4) a completed Approval of Prospectus Form accompanied by a copy of the approved prospectus. Candidacy certifies that you have achieved a level of mastery over the knowledge in your chosen field and permits you to proceed to the original research project that is your dissertation. If you are on a teaching or research assistantship, you will be advanced a step in classification and entitled to additional compensation during subsequent semesters.

Return to the Contents of this Page

Stage 3B: The Dissertation Research

Timetable

In your last semester of work on the dissertation -- register in at least onehour of credit and check to see that you have registered in at least twelve (12) cumulative credits of dissertation research.

By the Graduate School's deadline for the semester in which you will finish your dissertation -- file a copy of the abstract of the dissertation and an Application for Graduation (Graduate School Form).

After your adviser has approved the dissertation text, and no later than thirty (30) days before the graduate school deadline for oral examinations -- distribute the text to your committee for their approval, either chapter by chapter or as one document depending on the preferences of your committee and adviser .

Your work on the dissertation will take from one to four years. (The graduate school requires that at least six months, and no more than four years, elapse between advancement to candidacy and a successful oral defense of the dissertation.) During this time you will be conducting your inquiry and preparing the text based on the inquiry.

Generally, this period of work will involve frequent meetings with your adviser structured around your preparation of written material. The process differs from most classroom or seminar contact with faculty. You will prepare material, discuss that material with your adviser, and revise the material based on the discussion. You may revise many times in a process which culminates in the adviser's approval. Occasionally you may also involve another member of the dissertation committee if his or her expertise would be helpful, but during this time the involvement of the committee is minimal. Do not expect your adviser to send your material to your committee until she or he is satisfied with the quality you have achieved. Some committee members may wish to review your research chapter-by-chapter, or stage-by-stage, as the research proceeds. Other committee members may wish simply to evaluate the text-as-a-whole. You and your adviser should determine which pattern is best for you, the adviser, and the committee member(s). Expect some times of frustration, perhaps even some times of doubt about your own abilities or about your adviser's judgement. These seem to be normal in projects with the magnitude of a dissertation. Your adviser's judgement, however, is honed through many years of research and working with dissertation committees. Material rushed to a committee risks the committee's rejection of your work. Your adviser's concern is to work with you to bring your project to an acceptable stature. The process can take time but is essential for you to complete the degree.

Your text must be prepared in the proper format and using proper form. Acquire theThesis & Dissertation Manual 1995 from the Graduate School. Speech Communication faculty will probably specify one of the standard style manuals -- Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, or the Chicago Manual of Style -- and may have additional style requirements for the text. Checking with your adviser specifically about style is a good idea.

In the first month of the semester in which you will finish the dissertation (the precise deadline is announced each year by the graduate school) you need to complete a 350 word abstract describing your dissertation project. This abstract along with the request for formal appointment of the dissertation committee should be forwarded through the Graduate Director.

After the adviser's approval that the text is ready for the committee, you should distribute the text to the committee at least 30 days before established graduate school deadlines for oral examinations. Members have two weeks to read the material and respond to the adviser with one of the following judgments: (1) the material is ready as presented; (2) the material is ready with changes indicated, (3) a meeting of the reading committee is requested to discuss the material, or (4) the material is disapproved. The adviser, the candidate, or any member of the committee may request a meeting of the full committee to discuss the material. Changes in text may, of course, be agreed to after discussion among the student, the adviser, and the committee member outside the full committee structure. Acceptance of the full text of the dissertation as ready for oral defense occurs unless there is more than one negative vote. Following receipt of such approval, the final oral examination may be scheduled.

Return to the Contents of this Page

Stage 3C: The Final Oral Defense

Timetable

After the committee has accepted the text of the dissertation for defense -- schedule a meeting of your dissertation committee for the final defense.

Immediately after your oral defense -- ensure that members of your committee sign the proper forms at the proper places, deposit the proper copies of the dissertation, and forward the Report of the Examining Committee (Graduate School form) to the Graduate School.

Once the text of the dissertation has met the approval of the adviser and been accepted by the committee, you will defend your research in the final oral defense. The committee may ask you to justify your findings in the face of challenges based on other research, your method, and your conclusions. The final oral examination normally takes two hours. The final oral defense is a meeting open to all members of the university community.

Following completion of the defense, the dissertation committee will meet in closed session. Each member will indicate one of the following: (1) you have passed and she or he will approve the appropriate forms; (2) you have passed subject to specific requested changes and the appropriate forms will be signed following his or her approval that these changes have been satisfactorily made; (3) you have passed subject to specific requested changes which must be made, even though she or he has agreed to sign the forms immediately; (4) you must make changes and reassessment of the text (and perhaps reexamination) should follow completion of these changes; or (5) you have failed. You will be awarded the degree if no more than one member of your committee evaluates your work as failure. Obviously, your committee may request changes in the final draft of the dissertation either before or after the final oral examination. One of the most difficult assignments of your graduate work may be to make the requested changes following the oral defense after you believed your long project was complete. Such changes requested by the committee are necessary, however, before your adviser will approve the final form of the dissertation.

Completion of the final oral defense begins a blizzard of paperwork to receive the degree. Inquire at the Graduate School office during the first week of the semester in which you will graduate to receive the latest copies of all required forms. These forms include not only Graduate School forms, but also copyright matters and permission for reproduction of the dissertation. You may wish to discuss these matters with your adviser.

Some Questions about the Dissertation Phase

Q: May my dissertation adviser be someone who is not on the Speech Communication faculty?

A: No. But a faculty member in Speech Communication who is not a regular member of the graduate faculty, a former Speech Communication faculty member, a faculty member from another discipline, or even a faculty member from another university may serve as co-adviser with a regular member of the Speech Communication graduate faculty. If you have such plans, you should discuss them with the Graduate Director and with the Speech Communication faculty member who would serve as the co-adviser. Co-advisers must be appointed by the Dean of Graduate Studies after recommendation by the Graduate Director.

Q: May someone who is not on the graduate faculty at College Park serve on my committee?

A: Yes, but only as an additional member. Faculty who leave College Park may serve for twelve months as if they were faculty at College Park. After that time they must become co-advisers or be extra members of your committee. Faculty members who have left campus are immediately ineligible to be the Dean's Representative.

Q: How long is the prospectus? the dissertation?

A: There are no guidelines for the length of these documents. Prospectuses have ranged from 15-60 pages and dissertations have ranged from 150-600 pages. The scope of the project and the nature of the method are the biggest factors in determining length. Your adviser will provide assistance on this question.

Q: What happens if the prospectus is not approved?

A: Generally, the committee will, in fact, suggest changes in the prospectus rather than disapprove the prospectus. The committee may: (1) in the extreme, vote against letting you proceed with the topic you have selected, (2) request that changes in the prospectus be implemented and the meeting reconvened, (3) approve the prospectus with specified changes, or (4) approve the prospectus as you have presented it. Unanimous approval is required.

Q: Can I make changes in the dissertation's method or direction after the prospectus is approved?

A: Some changes in plans for the dissertation will probably be necessary as the project unfolds. All necessary changes agreed to by you and your adviser should be made. If those changes are major changes of direction or method, you should either reconvene your dissertation committee or discuss the changes with each member. There is no formal requirement for this, but remember that the committee has approved the topic and plan in the prospectus meeting. If you later change either of these basic elements, the committee may legitimately reject the dissertation or demand significant changes after you have completed it. Thus, basic changes of direction are best discussed with the committee.

Q: Must every member of my committee be present at my oral defense?

A: Yes.

Q: Does every member of the committee have to approve the dissertation for acceptance?

A: No. If there is only one negative vote the dissertation is accepted and you will be recommended for conferral of the degree. Two or more negative votes mean that you have failed the examination.

Q: When should I make changes in the text recommended by the committee?

A: The best advice is to make such changes before the final oral. A committee working with a clean text will find the task of evaluation easier since they are reviewing your best work. Remember, however, that the oral defense may result in additional changes.

Q: What happens if I fail the oral defense?

A: The committee must specify in detail and in writing to you, the Graduate Director, and the Dean of Gradate Studies the exact nature of the deficiencies in the dissertation and/or the oral defense. You are permitted one reexamination. Failure in this reexamination will result in termination of your status in the SPCM program.

Q: How crucial is meeting all deadlines in my final semester?

A: Absolutely crucial, if you are going to graduate during that semester. But in reality your completing the degree is far more important to you than the semester in which the degree is conferred. Most of the reasons for a deadline for your completion--potential job opportunities, expiration of your four years, promotions--are satisfied by a letter from your adviser or the Graduate Director certifying your completion of requirements. Your degree will then be conferred in the next University Commencement.

Q: How many copies of the final text of the dissertation should I make?

A: The graduate school will request that two copies be deposited in the library. In addition you will need to produce a minimum of three "hard-bound" copies of the dissertation: one for you, one for your adviser, and one for the department. Consult with your adviser about the need for additional copies.

Requirements effective: 1 July 1997