Dissertation Proseminar

(3 Credits)

This course is designed to prepare students for the dissertation, focusing primarily on the tasks involved in planning dissertation research. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the elements of a defensible dissertation proposal, with special attention given to the selection of a researchable topic, critical analysis and professional writing skills, and the application of knowledge about research methods to the chosen topic. Students will use the course to begin focusing on their topic of interest and to conceptualize how different research questions within that topic may be answered with appropriate methods. Mutual critique and discussion among students will be an important aspect of the course.