3.1.6.2 Prospectus
The Prospectus marks the formal transition from program-level evaluation to dissertation-level mentorship. The purpose of the Prospectus is for the student to define, present, and defend the scope and plan of the dissertation research, receive substantive feedback from the Dissertation Committee, and establish an agreed-upon framework for completing the dissertation. An approved Prospectus serves as a working agreement between the student and the Dissertation Committee regarding the planned dissertation research.
Students are encouraged to publish their research throughout the program, even before the prospectus meetings. Inclusion of a maximum of two previously published manuscripts in the dissertation is permitted, contingent on their approval during the Prospectus Defense by the Dissertation Committee. Dissertation manuscripts are held to a high standard and, in some cases, may not be approved by the Dissertation Committee. Therefore, it is strongly advised that students and their mentors discuss dissertation manuscript strategies and advancements regularly and update the dissertation committee on the plan and progress. By the time of the Prospectus Defense Meeting, the third dissertation project should only be in its initial planning stages. This strategic timing allows the Committee to offer meaningful input and feedback on the study design.