Preparing a Disseration Prospectus

Catalog description

The dissertation prospectus is a requirement for successfully completing the Ph.D. in political science. The goal of this class is to help students write a draft of a dissertation prospectus. To that end, we will cover what the components of a successful dissertation prospectus are, how to identify interesting and feasible research questions, and how to develop workable theoretical and/or empirical strategies for answering those questions. The course will also cover other professional development topics that will be important for conducting many students’ dissertation research, including providing constructive feedback, working with mentors, applying for external funding, and conducting research with human subjects.