Health Professions Division Dissertation Guide

14 If during the dissertation process, the candidate perceives that a committee member, including the chair, may be hindering the progress of the dissertation, the candidate must communicate the concerns directly with the Program Director. It is then the responsibility of the Program Director to communicate with all parties involved to remediate the situation. In cases in which remediation is not possible with current committee members, the Program Director will advise the candidate about alternatives. In the event that a committee member, including the chair, is unable to serve, the Program Director will advise alternatives as well. Important Time Limits Candidates must complete all doctoral program requirements within 7 years from starting the PhD program. Failure to complete the requirements within the time frame may result in the candidate’s dismissal from the program. Candidates may petition for an extension of time for completing the dissertation only in the event of unforeseen extenuating circumstances, such as medical/health conditions or other long-term issues that may result in leave of absences from the program. Candidates may only have one extension during their doctoral education program at NSU. Time limit extension requests must be submitted in writing to the PhD Program Director. All appeals or waivers must be approved by the Program Director and the Dean. Dissertation Course The candidate is considered a PhD candidate after successfully completing the qualifying/comprehensive examination process. The candidate will enroll in dissertation as per program guidelines for each term until the dissertation report is complete. The candidate must demonstrate effort/progress in dissertation each term as determined by the committee chair. The PhD programs recommend that the committee chair requires the candidate to develop an agreed upon set of objectives to be completed at the beginning of each upcoming term. The candidate will report to the chair his/her progress or status by the end of each term. Regular communication between the chair and candidate is ensured by this dissertation process. Formal Dissertation Proposal The dissertation proposal (see format in this document) is the first formal aspect of the dissertation, which is brought before the entire doctoral dissertation committee for its approval. The candidate works closely with her/his committee chair, who will instruct the candidate about when to distribute copies to the other committee members for their review and comments. If a committee member’s suggested modifications are in conflict with the chair, there should be a committee discussion to clarify and resolve the conflicts, preferably with the candidate. However, the chair has the final say. The chair should discuss any unresolved conflicts with the PhD Program Director, who may assist with a resolution. The framework within which research will be conducted shows evidence of the candidate’s qualifications to pursue the research. Concepts and theories underlying the study are articulated; the problem is clearly stated; a specific, measurable goal is specified; a thorough literature review is presented; the methods for conducting the research are delineated; and a