Completing all of the crucial steps to the dissertation process can be complicated. Time and task management will be key to your success. Review the suggested tasks and print out this checklist to assist you in your dissertation journey.
| Dissertation Checklist and Timeline | ||
|---|---|---|
| Student's Name: | ||
| Dissertation Process | # of Days | Due Date |
| Choose Dissertation Advisor | ||
| Choose Dissertation Committee with advisor approval on the Application to Candidacy Form | ||
Form Dissertation Process Support Groups with other students. Become familiar with the Graduate School of Education's Dissertation Guidelines. Formatting your dissertation using these guidelines from the start will save you time. | ||
| Identify defense deadlines. Develop timelines for following steps working backwards from these deadline dates. | ||
| Dissertation Proposal Draft to Advisor | ||
| Revision 1 | ||
| Revision 2 (if needed) | ||
| Revision 3 (if needed) | ||
| Final approval from advisor | ||
| Submit human subjects form to Institutional Review Board (IRB) if needed | ||
| Search for dissertation funding, e.g., Prof. Raimondi's grant writing course | ||
| Remaining course work, e.g., independent studies for dissertation parts (if any) | ||
| Schedule Proposal Defense (check with advisor's schedule first) | ||
| Dissertation Proposal Defense (announcement) | ||
| Submit GSE Dissertation Proposal Form w/Abstract & Timeline to chair's secretary | ||
| Revise Dissertation Proposal (if needed) | ||
| Collect Data | ||
| Dissertation Chapters Drafted | ||
| Prepare and submit conference proposals (optional) | ||
| Prepare and submit manuscripts to journals (optional) | ||
| Revise Chapter XX (as needed, number of days to be determined with advisor) | ||
| Revise Chapter XX (as needed, number of days to be determined with advisor) | ||
| Revise Chapter XX (as needed, number of days to be determined with advisor) | ||
| Revise Chapter XX (as needed, number of days to be determined with advisor) | ||
| Revisions to advisor (number of days to be determined with advisor) | ||
| Prepare, practice, and give conference talks (optional) | ||
| Dissertation Approved by Advisor | ||
| Dissertation Submitted to Committee and Wait for Comments | ||
| Dissertation Chapters Revised for Committee Members | ||
| Advisor and Committee Members Agreement to Schedule Defense | ||
| Dissertation Defense Scheduled (check with advisor's and members’ schedule first) | ||
| Dissertation Defense (announcement) | ||
| Dissertation Defense | ||
| Revisions to Dissertation 1 (# of days to be determined by advisor) | ||
| Revisions to Dissertation 2 (if needed, # of days to be determined with advisor) | ||
| Revisions to Dissertation 3 (if needed, # of days to be determined with advisor) | ||
| Final Approval by Advisor and Committee Members | ||
| Final Paperwork to UB Graduate School | ||
| Send Form to Dean's Office by May 1 to March in May Graduation | ||
| Total days: | ||
Check with Advisor's Availability Schedule prior to submitting drafts. Major Advisor is not available during: | ||