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Ph.D. Handbook

Contents

• Introduction
• Coursework
• Initial Registration
• Constructing the Plan of Study
• Minimum Requirements for the Ph.D. Plan of Study in Communication
• Completion of Coursework
• The Comprehensive Examination
• Requirements for the Comprehensive Examination
• Foundations Examination
• Procedure
• Sample Foundation Examination Questions
• Major Area Examination
• Procedure
• The Preliminary Dissertation Examination
• Procedure
• Dissertation
• Credit Requirements
• Time Limitation
• Research Assurances
• Composition and Appointment of the Dissertation Examining Committee
• The Dissertation and Defense
• Preparation of the Dissertation
• Defense of the Dissertation
• Before the Defense
• Procedure at the Defense
• After the Defense
• Access Rules in effect 1July 1997-15 August 1998
• Access Rules in effect Fall 1998 through Spring 1999
   

Introduction

This handbook has been designed to assist students in working their way through the institutional structure of the Ph.D. degree in the Communication Graduate Program (COMM) at the University of Maryland. These Regulations and Requirements take effect for students newly admitted to the Ph.D. program in Communication beginning Fall 1999. Students currently admitted to the Ph.D. program in Communication may adopt these rules for their degree by means of a letter submitted to the Graduate Director. This website constitutes the official rules and the program and we recommend that you print a copy of these rules as you matriculate into the program. The Handbook describes the elements of the Ph.D. degree program in Communication: (1) coursework, (2) the comprehensive examination, and (3) the dissertation.
 

Coursework

Initial Registration

This stage of the Ph.D. degree program extends from admission to the student's registration for the twelfth credit hour -- generally, the second semester for full-time students and the second or third semester for part-time students. During this stage the student will begin developing research skills and identify a probable specialization for concentrated study.

The Admissions Committee annually accepts students into the Communication doctoral program to begin their studies in the fall semester. During the spring or summer following admission, students need to register for classes in the fall. The first step should be a meeting with the Temporary Advisor recommended to the student by the Graduate Director. The Temporary Advisor is a member of the Graduate Faculty in Communication who can provide initial advice to an incoming student. Particularly for a student not yet under the supervision of an Advisory Committee, meeting with the Temporary Advisor is important to assure that the courses selected by the student will move the student toward his or her degree objective.

The paperwork of registration is relatively simple for graduate students. Some students complete it by mail, although this is not necessary. The most difficult part of initial registration may well be assembling the information and forms that come from various offices on campus. Upon their acceptance by the Graduate School, students should have received a welcome brochure including basic information on registration. To complete registration students also need a Schedule of Classes and a registration form with the Department's permission to register. The form may be obtained from the Registration Office at the Mitchell Building. The permission to register may be obtained by contacting 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 students also need to contact their Temporary Advisor before registration, most students from outside the area wait until they arrive on campus to register. (The information from the Graduate School may list a date in mid-August by which students must register. This date is only for registration by mail. Students may also register once they reach campus, but before classes begin.) Students who have received the forms necessary for registration should check with the Communication departmental office at (301) 405-6519. After first enrollment, students may 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 credits; a part time student for 3-6 credits. For new students, three Fall semester credits will be in COMM 700: Introduction to Graduate Studies in Communication. It is also a good idea for students to register for a course in their intended specialization. This introduces students to a faculty member who works in their disciplinary area. It also allows the student to evaluate his or her choice of specialization early in the program. Technically, graduate students are permitted to take any course in the Graduate School Catalog . However, not all courses will count toward the completion of the student's degree. The courses a student selects will satisfy degree requirements only if they become part of the plan of study eventually approved by the student's Advisory Committee. For this reason, students should consult with their Temporary Advisors prior to first registration.

Students should register for Spring semester during the preregistration period in October or November. Sometime during the first twelve hours it is a good idea for students to take a course outside Communication but related to their specialization; this may help in the cognate area selection process (required for the Ph.D. plan of study).

Constructing the Plan of Study

During the semester in which the student is registered for his or her twelfth hour, the student should construct a plan of study and have it approved. The following procedure is recommended.

1. The student should select his or her Program Advisor. The Program Advisor must be a faculty member in Communication and a Regular Member of the Graduate Faculty of the University (on the types and qualifications of membership in the Graduate Faculty, see the Graduate School Catalog). Also, it is prudent for the student to choose someone whose research interests are stimulating and with whom the student can work. The Program Advisor may later serve as the student's Dissertation Advisor, so this possibility should be considered in the selection decision. Once the student has determined the faculty member with whom he or she would like to work, the student should approach the faculty member about serving as Program Advisor. To secure appointment of a Program Advisor, students should complete a Request for Appointment of Program Advisor (departmental form) and submit it to the Graduate Director for review and approval. A change of Program Advisor may be requested at any time.
2. Once the Program Advisor has been appointed, the student should discuss with him or her the appointment of an Advisory Committee. This committee consists of at least four members, including the Program Advisor. At least three members of the Advisory Committee must be Regular Members of the Graduate Faculty of the University and a majority must be from Communication. To secure appointment of an Advisory Committee, students should complete a Request for Appointment of Advisory Committee (departmental form) and submit it to the Graduate Director for review and approval. A change in the Advisory Committee may be requested at any time.
3. The student is now ready to prepare the plan of study. The student should begin by informing the Program Advisor about the student's current thinking on the area of dissertation research. Neither a specific research question, nor even a specific topic area is required at this point. But the student does need a general idea of the research tradition to which the dissertation will contribute.
4. Next, the student should consider the elements that will comprise the Comprehensive Examination. The Comprehensive Examination tests the student's familiarity with disciplinary foundations, a major area of specialization, and the student's preparation to undertake the dissertation project.
5. Based on these decisions, the student is ready to begin selecting the courses that will offer preparation for the Comprehensive Examination and the dissertation research. Generally the student should consult the list of courses in the Graduate School Catalog to find courses that will provide preparation for the work ahead. Students may select courses at universities other than the University of Maryland as part of the plan of study (the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area is an important venue for such courses). However, before proposing courses outside the University as part of the plan, the student should consult the Graduate School Catalog and carefully examine the regulations and restrictions governing acceptance of courses from other institutions (including whether such courses are subject to tuition remission for students on a fellowship or an assistantship). In deciding which courses are needed as preparation for the Comprehensive Examination and the dissertation, the student should consider not only courses that he or she will take in the future but also courses from previous academic degrees, and the first twelve hours of registration at Maryland. If the student's earlier coursework in Communication was limited, the student should expect the plan of study to include up to 30 additional credits to provide important background knowledge in the discipline. Course selections should be organized using the departmental Ph.D. Plan of Study form (departmental form). A preliminary draft of the proposed plan of study should be submitted to the Program Advisor. The Program Advisor will go over the plan and suggest deletions and/or additions.
6. Next, the student's plan should be compared with the minimum requirements for the Communication Ph.D. plan of study below. The student should make certain that all requirements are met. Any exceptions to the Ph.D. minimum requirements for the plan of study must be approved according to the procedure for securing exemptions from regulations.
7. After the student has developed the plan of study, copies should be circulated to all members of the Advisory Committee. A meeting to discuss the plan should be arranged no less than two weeks after the committee receives the plan. The Advisory Committee will approve the plan once it is satisfied that the plan will prepare the student properly for the Comprehensive Examination and the dissertation. Approval of the plan of study by the Advisory Committee must be unanimous.
8. After securing approval of the plan of study, the student should submit to the Graduate Director a completed Approval of Plan of Study (departmental form) accompanied by the approved plan. The Graduate Director will check to see that minimum requirements have been met and, if they have, finally approve the plan and add it to the student's graduate file.

Minimum Requirements for the Ph.D. Plan of Study in Communication

The Ph.D. 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 plan of study, which must be approved unanimously by the Advisory Committee, will specify the required courses. The plan must meet or exceed the following minimum requirements:

1. All students must successfully complete COMM 700. (3 hours)  The department requires that this course be taken in the student's first semester in the program.
2. All students must successfully complete a minimum of six hours in a cognate area outside the department. (6 hours). The cognate is selected to contribute to the student's dissertation research. Generally, the cognate area will fall within a single academic discipline. However, a cognate area may be constructed from a combination of courses in more than one discipline, if the student can demonstrate that the cognate area is coherent and relevant to the dissertation research and if the Advisory Committee unanimously approves.
3. All students must complete 12 hours of courses in methods.  To satisfy this requirement students must complete one of the following sequences: (a) COMM 702 and 703 (for students selecting this sequence, prerequisite courses such as COMM 600 and courses prerequisite to COMM 702 may not be used to satisfy the requirement); (b) COMM 711 and 712; or (c) COMM 714 and 715.  The other six hours may be drawn from courses within or outside the department, and must be approved by the advisory committee as appropriate preparation for the dissertation area.  (12 hours)
4. All students must successfully complete at least 15 additional hours in an area of specialization. (15 hours)
5. Students must remain in good standing within the graduate program.

Successful completion of courses requires a grade of B or better. Students who have successfully completed COMM 700, 702, 703, 711, or 712 prior to their entry into the Ph.D. program in Communication shall be considered to have met the plan of study requirement for the specific course(s) successfully completed.

Completion of Coursework

For several semesters, the student will complete the courses specified by the plan of study. During this time there is little paperwork associated with courses, except for changes in the plan of study. There are several reasons why the plan of study might change. Courses that the student planned to take may not be offered. New or visiting faculty may offer courses that the student did not know would be offered. A special interest may lead the student to undertake a special topics course. In some cases the student's interests may change.

Making changes in the plan of study is fairly simple. The student should fill out a Request for Change in Plan of Study (departmental form) and circulate it among the committee of record. If the change requested is minor, it will probably be approved immediately. If the change requested is major, or if a committee member wishes to discuss the change with the full committee, then a meeting of the committee is required.

Major changes in the direction of the plan of study should be considered carefully, but students should not be reluctant to make changes, if their interests have evolved. Of course, major changes may imply revisions in coursework or even a new advisor. Changing advisors is common in such circumstances and is expected by faculty members. Since course choices are oriented toward the student's specific research interests, changes in interests may require coursework different from that originally planned. As a result, a redirection of the student's research interests will probably result in the student's having to take coursework beyond the original plan of study.

Students have five years from their admission to pass the Comprehensive Examination and advance to candidacy. For this reason, part-time students should carefully monitor their progress toward satisfying degree requirements lest they find themselves running out of time to complete the Comprehensive Examination. The faculty recommends that students take at least six (6) credits each Fall and Spring semester.

As indicated in the foregoing, successful completion of the plan of study requires that the student earn a grade of "B" or better in every course within the plan. If a student earns a grade lower than "B" in an explicitly required course (i.e., COMM 700 and either COMM 702 or 703 or otherwise COMM 711 or 712), then the course must be retaken until a grade of "B" or better is earned. If a student earns a grade lower than "B" in some other course within the plan, then the student may (a) retake the course until a grade of "B" or better is earned or (b) request that the plan of study be changed to replace or exclude the course.

Deficient grades can lead to a review of a student's academic progress.

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The Comprehensive Examination

The comprehensive examination tests the student's overall command of his or her specialty in Communication and its relationship to contextual knowledge. The examination is the faculty's opportunity to certify the student's knowledge and indicate the student's readiness to proceed with the independent research of the dissertation. Although coursework should assist in the student's preparation for the components of the examination, the examination itself is neither defined nor restricted to material covered in the student's coursework. Rather it is organized around identified areas of study within the Communication discipline.

Requirements for the Comprehensive Examination

The Comprehensive Examination is administered in three parts distributed through the student's progress toward the degree:

1. The Foundations Examination (4 hour examination). This is a written examination only and it is normally taken during the first two semesters of work. The Foundations Examination is offered twice a year (once during Fall semester and once during Spring semester). A three-member committee of the graduate faculty administers the examination, giving identical examinations to all students taking the examination in a given semester. The committee evaluates the examination by blind review. Students who fail the examination on the first attempt may take it one more time during a subsequent semester. Students who pass the examination as part of their Master's program at University of Maryland, College Park, are not required to take it again.
2. The Major Area Examination (4 hour examination). This examination is normally taken after completing basic courses in the student's area of study (possibly within the first 40 credits of graduate level coursework, including M.A. courses). The major area is selected by the student and the Program Advisor, then approved by the Advisory Committee. It represents the division of the discipline with which the student identifies his or her disciplinary interest (e.g., history of rhetorical theory, intercultural communication, political communication). The Major Area Examination is prepared by one or more Advisory Committee members assigned the task by the committee. The form and format of questions within each element of the examination are determined by the examiner(s) who prepare(s) the question(s). Questions may be "open book" and/or "take home," even requiring use of the library or computer facilities, if specified by the examiner(s). Unless the Advisory Committee specifies otherwise in the examination plan, the examination will be "closed book" and taken on campus under supervised conditions. More than one student may be administered the same examination questions, if more than one student is taking the examination in a given semester. The written examination is followed by a two hour oral examination conducted by the Advisory Committee.
3. The Preliminary Dissertation Examination(6 hour examination plus prospectus). This examination is normally taken after all coursework is completed and may be taken only after the subject area of the dissertation is chosen. The Dissertation Project Committee shall meet and design a Preliminary Dissertation Examination that demonstrates the student's mastery of knowledge required to complete the dissertation project. The Preliminary Dissertation Examination involves the following:
• Dissertation Area Examination. This examination tests the student's knowledge of the theory and literature that informs the subject area of the dissertation, including material from the cognate area if appropriate. The examination is prepared by one or more Dissertation Project Committee members assigned by the committee. The form and format of questions within each element of the examination are determined by the examiner(s) who prepare(s) the question(s). Questions may be "open book" and/or "take home," even requiring use of the library or computer facilities, if specified by the examiner(s). Unless the Dissertation Project Committee specifies otherwise in the examination plan, the examination will be "closed book" and taken on campus under supervised conditions. More than one student may be administered the same examination questions if more than one student is taking the examination in a given semester. Oral questions related to this examination may be asked as part of the dissertation prospectus meeting.
• Methods Examination. This examination tests the student's knowledge of the general methods from which the specific method of the dissertation will be drawn. The examination is prepared by one or more faculty members assigned by the Dissertation Project Committee. The form and format of questions within each element of the examination are determined by the examiner(s) who prepare(s) the question(s). Questions may be "open book" and/or "take home," even requiring use of the library or computer facilities, if specified by the examiner(s). Unless the Dissertation Project Committee specifies otherwise in the examination plan, the examination will be "closed book" and taken on campus under supervised conditions. More than one student may be administered the same examination questions if more than one student is taking the examination in a given semester. Oral questions related to this examination may be asked as part of the dissertation prospectus meeting.
4. Dissertation Prospectus. The dissertation prospectus provides evidence of originality of the student's dissertation project and the student's ability to engage in independent research. There is no standard format for a prospectus; the structure will vary depending on the character of the project and the role of the prospectus in the Preliminary Dissertation Examination. In general, though, every prospectus is expected to (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.

The Dissertation Project Committee may waive either the Dissertation Area or the Methods Examination, but only if the committee attests that the dissertation prospectus will certify the student's knowledge in the dissertation area or in general methods. The Dissertation Project Committee may also authorize that the Dissertation Area Examination and/or the Methods Examination may be fulfilled through the preparation of papers that may then become chapters of the dissertation. The Preliminary Dissertation Examination is concluded by a dissertation prospectus meeting of two hours in which questions may be asked about any of the elements of the examination.

Foundations Examination

The Foundations Examination is offered at the end of the 6th week of the Fall and Spring semesters. Students may take the examination in any semester; however, students intending to undertake the examination must notify the Graduate Director by the end of the fifth week of the semester. The Graduate Director notifies students of examination results and completes the Results of Foundations Examination form for each student.

Procedure

Students may create answers to the Foundations Examination by handwriting or typing at a computer. In either case, when the examination is concluded, unrefined answers should be photocopied and turned over to the Graduate Director. Students then prepare a refined version of the answers for review by the Foundations Examination Committee. The refined version must be typewritten and may be corrected for spelling and grammar. Deletions and insertions in the unrefined answers may be represented in the refined version. However, the substance of answers may not be changed. Anything that is added to the refined version that is not contained in the original, unrefined version must be contained within pointed brackets (e.g., <addition>). Students must submit refined versions of answers to the Graduate Director by 12:00 P.M. on the Monday following the administration of the Foundations Examination.

The members of the Foundations Examination Committee apply two standards in evaluating the examination:

1. The student demonstrates foundational knowledge of communication.
• The student can articulate basic principles and concepts within the communication discipline.
• The student can integrate foundational principles and concepts and demonstrates an understanding of relationships among them.
2. The student demonstrates foundational skills for graduate study.
• The student can formulate a claim and generate support for it.
• The student can relate reading on specific subject matter to general questions of knowledge.
• The student can identify assumptions in reading material and critique those assumptions.
• The student can demonstrate a sense of method and an appreciation of its role in the acquisition of knowledge.

The Foundations Examination is evaluated anonymously (insofar as possible) by the Foundations Examination Committee. A majority of the committee must vote "pass" in order for the student to pass the Foundations Examination unconditionally. If a student passes conditionally or fails, the Foundations Examination Committee will inform the Graduate Director of the deficient portion(s) of the examination and any specific actions required of the student before passing or retaking the examination. The student will be notified of this information in writing by the Graduate Director. Students who fail the examination on the first attempt may take it one more time during a subsequent semester.

Sample Foundation Examination Questions

1. Define "communication." Explain and justify why you have included each of the clauses which make up your definition.
2. Isolate one problem current in the literature of communication. Identify the problem, define the issues within it, and discuss the various positions which mark debate on the problem.
3. Justify communication study as a unique discipline. What does communication contribute to general knowledge? Your answer should reveal some thinking on what justifies the label "discipline," and how particular knowledge relates to a more general concept of "knowledge."
4. Think back over the readings that have been a part of your last year and a half of study of communication. Which two of these readings have been most important in shaping your understanding of communication? Justify your choices.

Major Area Examination

The major area examination is supervised by the Advisory Committee. Its purpose is to test the student's understanding of the division of the discipline with which the student identifies his or her disciplinary interest . Accordingly, the content of the major area must represent a division of the communication discipline (e.g., history of rhetorical theory, intercultural communication, or political communication). The major area is selected by the student in consultation with the Program Advisor and upon approval by the Advisory Committee. The major area examination is prepared by one or more faculty members designated as examiner(s) by the Advisory Committee.

Procedure

The major area examination may be undertaken during any Fall or Spring semester. At least four weeks prior to the examination, a student intending to undertake the examination must submit to the Advisory Committee a Major Area Examination Plan (departmental form). The plan must specify (1) the major area at stake in the examination, (2) the date of the proposed examination, (3) the faculty member(s) who will serve as examiner(s) and, where the examination involves multiple examiners, the sub-area(s) for which each examiner is responsible, (4) the conditions of the examination for each examiner and/or question (e.g., "closed book," "take home," or "research paper") along with the due date(s) for answers to questions not taken under closed book conditions, and (5) the Advisory Committee member (s) responsible for proctoring each closed book element of the examination and/or accepting the student's submission(s) related to examination elements not taken under closed book conditions. The Advisory Committee will review this plan and during this review the committee may revise the plan according to its judgment. Approval of the plan requires a majority vote of Advisory Committee members. Once a plan has been approved by the Advisory Committee, an Approval of Major Area Examination form (departmental form) must be submitted to the Graduate Director for review. Upon the approval of the plan by the Graduate Director, the written portion of the examination may proceed.

Where the conditions of one or more elements of the Major Area Examination are "closed book," students may create answers to examination questions by handwriting or typing at a computer. In either case, when the examination is concluded, unrefined answers should be photocopied and turned over to the examination proctor. Students then prepare a refined version of the answers for review by their Advisory Committee. The refined version must be typewritten and may be corrected for spelling and grammar. Deletions in unrefined answers may be omitted in the refined version; likewise, insertions in the unrefined answers may be added. But the substance of answers in the unrefined version may not be changed. Anything that is added to the refined version that is not contained in the original, unrefined version must be presented within pointed brackets (e.g., <addition>). Students must submit refined versions of answers to the examination proctor within one week from the date of the examination.

When all answers to questions in the Major Area Examination have been completed and/or refined, the entire set of questions and answers must be duplicated and submitted to all members of the Advisory Committee. Within two weeks of receiving the examination questions and answers, each member of Advisory Committee should notify the Program Advisor whether the answers are of sufficient quality to proceed to the oral portion of the examination. If the members of the Advisory Committee determine that the answers are of sufficient quality to proceed, then the oral examination may be scheduled. However, if the Advisory Committee determines that the written portion of the examination is not of sufficient quality to proceed, they may require retaking of the written portion of the examination prior to an oral (this constitutes a failure in the student's initial undertaking of the examination). If an oral examination is scheduled, the Program Advisor formally notifies the other committee members of the time and place of the oral examination.

The oral examination is based upon (but may go beyond) the written examination and is generally two hours in length. Upon completion of the oral part of the examination, the Advisory Committee will determine whether the student has (1) passed, (2) passed conditionally, or (3) failed the Major Area Examination. This determination is communicated to the Graduate Director using the Report of the Advisory Committee on the Major Area Examination (departmental form). If the student passes conditionally or fails, the committee will inform the student and Graduate Director in writing of the deficient portion(s) of the examination and any specific actions required of the student before passing or retaking the examination. This may include additional courses to be taken, books to read, papers to be written, or any other action that the committee considers appropriate. Students who fail the examination on the first attempt may take it one more time during a subsequent semester.

The Preliminary Dissertation Examination

The purpose of the Preliminary Dissertation Examination is to test the student's mastery of knowledge required to complete the dissertation project. Within the Preliminary Dissertation Examination, the student's preparation for engaging in dissertation research is evaluated in connection with the specific field area of the dissertation, the general method to be applied in the dissertation, and a prospectus describing the proposed dissertation project.

The Preliminary Dissertation Examination is supervised by the Dissertation Project Committee. Accordingly, this committee must be formed before a student may plan for and proceed with the Preliminary Dissertation Examination. The Dissertation Advisor should be selected first. The best person to supervise the dissertation project may well be the Program Advisor, but the selection should be considered carefully. The Dissertation Advisor guides the student through the Preliminary Dissertation Examination and the process of writing the dissertation. Generally, a student should select the faculty member whose research most closely relates to his or her dissertation. The simple reason for this is that such a faculty member is knowledgeable in the literature and methods of the student's chosen specialization; accordingly, he or she can help the student work efficiently and avoid problems as the student prepares for the Preliminary Dissertation Examination and pursues dissertation research. Still, it should not be overlooked that the Dissertation Advisor must be a person in whom the student can trust and with whom the student can work closely. All students should discuss their project freely with departmental faculty who might supervise such projects. Students should also feel free to discuss their choice of Dissertation Advisor with the Graduate Director. Students may secure appointment of the Dissertation Advisor by completing a Request for Appointment of Dissertation Advisor (departmental form) and submitting it to the Graduate Director for review and approval. A change of Dissertation Advisor may be requested at any time.

The Dissertation Advisor must be a Regular Member of the University of Maryland Graduate Faculty, a member of the Department of Communication, and is the ex officio Chair of the Dissertation Project Committee. Once the Dissertation Advisor has been selected, the student should consult him or her about the membership of the Dissertation Project Committee. Although the Dissertation Project Committee is a creature of the Communication Graduate Program (and therefore appointed by the Graduate Director), it should mirror the composition of the committee that will eventually evaluate the dissertation , namely the Dissertation Examination Committee (which is appointed by the Graduate Dean). Accordingly, the Dissertation Project Committee must include at least five members of the Graduate Faculty of the University (additional committee members must also belong to the Graduate Faculty ). Of these members at least three must be Regular Members of the Graduate Faculty, including the Dissertation Advisor and a tenured faculty member from a graduate program other than COMM (who should have some background or interest related to the student's research). The only other requirement for the Dissertation Project Committee is that a majority of its members must be faculty in the Department of Communication. Students may secure appointment of the Dissertation Project Committee by completing a Request for Appointment of Dissertation Project Committee (departmental form) and submitting it to the Graduate Director for review and approval. A change of Dissertation Project Committee may be requested at any time.

Procedure

The elements of the Preliminary Dissertation Examination may be undertaken during any Fall or Spring semester. At least four weeks prior to beginning any element of the examination, a student intending to undertake the examination must submit to the Dissertation Project Committee a Preliminary Dissertation Examination Plan (departmental form). The plan must state whether the dissertation area examination, the general methods examination, or both are to be waived or not waived by the Dissertation Project Committee. Further, for any element not waived, the plan must specify (1) the dissertation area and/or general methods at stake in the examination(s), (2) the date(s) of the proposed examination(s), (3) the faculty member(s) who will serve as examiner(s) and, where the examination involves multiple examiners, the areas and/or sub-area(s) for which each examiner is responsible, (4) the conditions of the examination for each examiner and/or question (e.g., "closed book," "take home," or "research paper") along with the due date(s) for answers to questions not taken under closed book conditions, and (5) the Dissertation Project Committee member (s) responsible for proctoring each closed book element of the examination and/or accepting the student's submission(s) related to examination elements not taken under closed book conditions. Finally, the plan must set a tentative date by which the dissertation prospectus will be distributed the members of the Dissertation Project Committee for consideration. The Dissertation Project Committee will review this plan and during this review the committee may revise the plan according to its judgment. Approval of the plan requires a majority vote of Dissertation Project Committee members. If an approved plan involves waiver of the dissertation area examination and/or the methods examination, the plan must contain a statement wherein the Chair of the Dissertation Project Committee confirms that a majority of members of the Dissertation Project Committee have attested the dissertation prospectus will certify the student's knowledge in the subject(s) of the examination(s) waived. Once a plan has been approved by the Dissertation Project Committee, an Approval of Preliminary Dissertation Examination Plan (departmental form) must be submitted to the Graduate Director for review. Upon the approval of the plan by the Graduate Director, the written portion of the examination may proceed.

Where the conditions of one or more elements of the Dissertation Area and General Methods Examinations are "closed book," students may create answers to examination questions by handwriting or typing at a computer. In either case, when the examination is concluded, unrefined answers should be photocopied and turned over to the examination proctor. Students then prepare a refined version of the answers for review by their Dissertation Project Committee. The refined version must be typewritten and may be corrected for spelling and grammar. Deletions in unrefined answers may be omitted in the refined version; likewise, insertions in the unrefined answers may be added. But the substance of answers in the unrefined version may not be changed. Anything added to the refined version that is not contained in the original, unrefined version must be presented within pointed brackets (e.g., <addition>). Students must submit refined versions of answers to the examination proctor within one week from the date of the examination.

When all answers to questions in the Dissertation Area and General Methods Examinations have been completed and/or refined and when the dissertation prospectus has been completed, the entire set of questions, answers, and prospectus must be duplicated and submitted to all members of the Dissertation Project Committee. Within two weeks of receiving this set of materials, each member of the Dissertation Project Committee will notify the Dissertation Advisor whether the examination answers and prospectus are of sufficient quality to proceed to the prospectus meeting. If the members of the Dissertation Project Committee determine that the answers and prospectus are of sufficient quality to proceed, then the dissertation prospectus meeting may be scheduled. However, if the Dissertation Project Committee determines that the answers and/or prospectus are not of sufficient quality to proceed, they may require reperformance of one or more elements of the Preliminary Dissertation Examination prior to a prospectus meeting (this constitutes a failure in the student's initial undertaking of the examination). Once a dissertation prospectus meeting has been scheduled, the Dissertation Advisor formally notifies the other committee members of the time and place of the meeting.

The dissertation prospectus meeting is based upon (but may go beyond) the examination answers and prospectus and it is generally two hours in length. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Dissertation Project Committee will determine whether the student has (1) passed, (2) passed conditionally, or (3) failed the Preliminary Dissertation Examination. Passing the Dissertation Area and General Methods Examinations requires that a majority of the Dissertation Project Committee vote "pass" on the student's overall performance in the examination. In the case of the dissertation prospectus, passing requires unanimous approval by the Dissertation Project Committee. The committee's determination is communicated to the Graduate Director using a Report of the Dissertation Project Committee on the Preliminary Dissertation Examination (departmental form). If the student passes conditionally or fails, the committee will inform the student and Graduate Director in writing of the deficient portion(s) of the Preliminary Dissertation Examination and any specific actions required of the student before passing or retaking the examination. This may include additional courses to be taken, books to be read, papers to be written, or any other action that the committee considers appropriate. Students who fail the examination on the first attempt may take it one more time during a subsequent semester.

Upon successful completion of the Preliminary Dissertation Examination, students 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 this application, provided that the Dissertation Advisor has approved and that the student's graduate file includes: (1) an approved Request for Appointment of Program Advisor and Advisory Committee form; (2) a completed Approval of Plan of Study Form accompanied by the approved plan of study; (3) a completed Results of the Foundations Examination form (indicating a successful result), (4) a completed Approval of Major Area Examination Plan form accompanied by the approved major area examination plan; (5) a completed Report of the Advisory Committee on the Major Area Examination (indicating a successful result) accompanied by copies of the answers to the written portion of the major area examination; (6) an approved Request for Appointment of Dissertation Advisor/Dissertation Project Committee form; (7) a completed Approval of Preliminary Dissertation Examination Plan form accompanied by the approved preliminary dissertation examination plan; (8) a completed Report of the Dissertation Project Committee on the Preliminary Dissertation Examination (indicating a successful result) accompanied by copies of the answer(s) to any written element(s) of the Preliminary Dissertation Examination and the approved dissertation prospectus. Advancement to Candidacy certifies that the student has achieved a level of mastery over the knowledge in his or her chosen field and permits the student to proceed to the original research project that will inform his or her dissertation. Teaching and research assistants are advanced to a new pay classification upon advancement to candidacy.

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Dissertation

The conventions governing the dissertation are, for the most part, rules and regulations of the Graduate School. Accordingly, students should familiarize themselves thoroughly with the requirements for the Ph.D. degree published in the Graduate School Catalog. Of particular importance are the rules and regulations concerning dissertation credits, time limitation, research assurances, composition and appointment of the Dissertation Examination Committee, and the defense of the dissertation.

Credit Requirements

The Graduate School requires that every student seeking a Ph.D. degree must register for a minimum of 12 semester hours of dissertation credits; accordingly, during the Ph.D. program each student must register for at least 12 credits of COMM 899 (these credits are in addition to credits in the plan of study). Moreover, even after a student has satisfied the dissertation credit requirement, it is necessary that the student be registered for one or more credits each Fall and Spring semester until the degree is awarded.

Time Limitation

After admission to candidacy, students have four years to complete the dissertation and final examination. A one year extension after this time limit is possible, but only upon approval of the student's Dissertation Advisor, the Graduate Director, and the Graduate School.

Research Assurances

If a student's dissertation research involves human subjects, the research must be approved by the COMM Human Subjects Review Board and/or the University's Institutional Review Board. Such research assurances must be approved prior to the initiation of any dissertation-related research and the student must provide approvals to the Graduate School at the time he or she nominates the Dissertation Examining Committee.

Composition and Appointment of the Dissertation Examining Committee

As indicated above, the committee that evaluates the dissertation is appointed by the Graduate Dean. According to Graduate School requirements, a Dissertation Examining Committee includes at least five members, all of whom must be members of the University of Maryland Graduate Faculty. At least three members of the committee must be Regular Members of the University of Maryland Graduate faculty, including the committee Chair and the Graduate School Dean's Representative--a faculty member from a graduate program other than COMM who should have some background or interest related to the student's research. To these stipulations, COMM adds two requirements: the Chair of the Dissertation Examining Committee must be the student's Dissertation Advisor and a majority of the members of the Dissertation Examining Committee must be faculty in Communication. Usually the faculty member proposed for nomination as the Dean's Representative is the cognate area faculty member from the Dissertation Project Committee. Students should consult with their Dissertation Advisors regarding the composition of Dissertation Examining Committees, then propose the committees to the Graduate School Dean using the Nomination of Thesis/Dissertation Examining Committee form (Graduate School form; note that this form must be approved by the Dissertation Advisor and the Graduate Director prior to submission to the Graduate School). The nomination of a Dissertation Examining Committee should reach the Graduate School at least six weeks before the date of the expected dissertation defense. The dissertation defense cannot be held until the Graduate School Dean approves the composition of the Dissertation Examining Committee.

The Dissertation and Defense

Preparation of the Dissertation

The dissertation is an original project that demonstrates the student's ability to engage in independent research. Work on the dissertation may 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.) Generally, this period of work involves frequent meetings between the student and the Dissertation Advisor, all structured around preparation of written material. The process differs from most classroom or seminar contact with faculty. The student prepares material, discusses that material with the Dissertation Advisor, and revises the material based on the discussion. The student may revise the dissertation many times in a process that leads to the Dissertation Advisor's approval of the work. Occasionally, a student may also involve another member of the Dissertation Examining Committee, but usually during the preparation of the dissertation, the involvement of the committee is minimal.

The dissertation must be presented in the format described in the Graduate School's Thesis and Dissertation Manual (a copy of the manual may be obtained from Campus Reprographics, The Media Express, Room 0100, Reckord Armory, for a minimal charge). For matters not settled in the Thesis and Dissertation Manual, the Dissertation Advisor will suggest (or perhaps require) a standard manual of style; examples here include the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, and the Chicago Manual of Style.

Once the student's Dissertation Advisor has approved the dissertation for distribution, and no later than thirty (30) days before the Graduate School deadline for oral examinations, the dissertation should be submitted to the Dissertation Examining Committee for review. Members have two weeks to read the material and respond to the Dissertation Advisor with one of the following judgments: (1) the dissertation is ready for oral defense; (2) the dissertation is ready for oral defense with specific changes (as indicated by the member), (3) a meeting of the Dissertation Examining Committee is requested to discuss the dissertation, or (4) the dissertation is not ready for oral defense. The Dissertation Advisor and the student may also request a meeting of the Dissertation Examination Committee to discuss the dissertation. The Dissertation Examining Committee is said to have reached agreement that the dissertation is ready for oral defense when no more than one member withholds agreement. When agreement has been reached that the dissertation is ready for oral defense, the final oral examination may be scheduled.

Defense of the Dissertation

Before the Defense

The Graduate School requires that doctoral defenses be publicized in the student's graduate program at least five working days prior to the defense. Accordingly, at least five working days prior to the defense the student must see that the oral examination on the dissertation is announced. At a minimum, the announcement must (1) include the student's name and the title of the dissertation, (2) identify the Dissertation Advisor, (3) identify the room and beginning time of the defense, and (4) indicate the date of the notice. The announcement should be placed in conspicuous places around the department (see the Graduate Director for information on program conventions for announcements). Omission of proper notice for the dissertation examination may nullify an otherwise successful defense.

Procedure at the Defense

Oral defenses must be attended by all members of the Dissertation Examining Committee. Moreover, the defense must be open to University of Maryland Graduate Faculty. Should a last-minute change in the constitution of the Dissertation Examining Committee be required, the change must be approved by the Dean of the Graduate School in consultation with the Graduate Director and the Chair of the Dissertation Examining Committee (namely, the Dissertation Advisor). The Chair of the Dissertation Examining Committee selects the time and place for the examination.

At the beginning of the meeting the student will be permitted to present briefly a summary of the dissertation, emphasizing the important results and giving an explanation of the reasoning that led to the conclusions reached. After the presentation, there will be an opportunity for questioning by members of the Dissertation Examining Committee. The Chair will invite questions in turn from each member of the committee. The questioning may continue as long as the Dissertation Examining Committee feels that it is necessary and reasonable for the proper examination of the student. Usually the defense lasts around two hours.

When questioning has been completed, the student and any others who are not members of the Dissertation Examining Committee will be asked to leave the room and the Dissertation Examining Committee will discuss whether or not the dissertation (including its defense) has been satisfactory. The Committee has the following options:

To accept the dissertation without any recommended changes and sign the Report of Examining Committee.

To accept the dissertation with recommendations for changes and, except for the Chair, sign the Report of the Examining Committee. The Chair will check the dissertation and, upon his or her approval, sign the Report of Examining Committee.

To recommend revisions to the dissertation and not sign the Report of Examining Committee until the student has made the changes and submitted the revised dissertation for the Dissertation Examining Committee's approval. The Dissertation Examining Committee members sign the Report of Examining Committee if they approve the revised dissertation.

To recommend revisions and convene a second meeting of the Dissertation Examining Committee to review the dissertation and complete the defense.

To rule the dissertation (including its defense) unsatisfactory. In that circumstance, the student will have failed the examination.

Following the defense, the Chair, in the presence of the Dean's Representative, must inform the student of the outcome of the defense. The Chair and the Dean's Representative will both sign a statement indicating which of the above alternatives has been adopted. One copy of this statement will be included in the student's graduate file, another copy will be given to the student.

According to Graduate School policy, the student passes the defense if one member refuses to sign the Report, but the other members of the Dissertation Examining Committee agree to sign, before or after the approval of recommended changes. Two or more negative votes constitute the student's failure to meet the dissertation requirement. In cases of failure, the Dissertation Examining Committee must specify in detail and in writing the nature of the deficiencies in the dissertation and/or the oral performance that led to failure. This statement is to be submitted to the Graduate Director, the Dean of the Graduate School, and to the student. A second defense may be permitted if the student is in good standing at the time of the proposed second defense. A second defense requires the approval of the Graduate Director and the Dean of the Graduate School. If the student fails this second defense, or if a second defense is not permitted, the student's admission to the graduate program is terminated.

After the Defense

Following final approval of the dissertation by the Dissertation Examining Committee, the student should make certain that the Report of the Examining Committee (Graduate School form) is properly filed with the Graduate School. After approval of all changes required by the examining committee, the student must prepare at least five copies of the dissertation on acid-free paper. The graduate school will request that two copies be deposited in the library. In addition, a mininum of three of these copies should be "hard bound": one for the student, one for the adviser, and one for the department. Students should consult with the adviser about the need for, and binding options for, additional copies of the dissertation.
 
 

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