College of Nursing - Dissertation Guide

4 collaboration with others in deriving answers and/or plagiarism is grounds for dismissal from the program. Once a student has successfully completed the comprehensive examination, the student may use the initials PhD(c). Course Registration and Grades Continuous Registration Continuous registration is required until the completion of the dissertation. A PhD candidate who has completed the required minimum 60 credits but who has not completed the dissertation must continue to enroll in NSG 7340 Dissertation. Such candidate will register for three credits per semester, each semester, until his or her dissertation chairperson has approved the final pre-edited dissertation manuscript. Leave of Absence Candidates may request a leave of absence from the program director. Candidates will need an approved written leave of absence to waive the continuous registration policy. No faculty or committee members’ time will be used regarding dissertation advising, review, approval or editing during an approved leave of absence. A leave of absence is granted on a semester-to-semester basis based on policies for excused absences. Grades Grades for the dissertation courses (NSG 7430) are pass/fail. The committee chairperson is responsible for entering a grade at the end of the semester. Committee chairpersons require that the candidate submit objectives and timeline for the term in writing at the beginning of each term. Failure to provide this communication with the dissertation chairperson or meet stated objectives may result in a failing grade for the semester. Ultimately, candidates are responsible for their pace and progress. Dissertation Completion of the dissertation is partial fulfillment of the requirements for completion of the PhD degree. Students are expected, with the assistance and approval of the dissertation committee chairperson, to select an appropriate topic of sufficient scope to demonstrate scholarly mastery of the program content and to make a meaningful contribution to nursing science. The dissertation is an original, rigorous research study carried out with substantial independence by the doctoral candidate. It represents a significant extrapolation from a base of solid experience or knowledge in the area of concentration. The dissertation significantly advances knowledge, improves professional practice or contributes to understanding in the field of study. Dissertation work is presented in a logical and understandable fashion. Originality, independence, and rigor deserve some explanation. Originality and independence mean that the research is conceived, performed, and documented primarily by the doctoral candidate. To be rigorous , the research work is characterized by strict accuracy and scrupulous honesty and presents precise distinctions among facts, implications, and suppositions. Rigor is achieved by using demonstrable facts when reporting procedures and results, by building on a foundation of facts when drawing conclusions, by specifying links to facts when inferring implications, by always bringing forward all relevant data, and by being both self- critical and logical in reporting. The dissertation must be of sufficient strength to be able to distill