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Procedural Process and Timeline

Note: This timeline is based on the standard 6-credit enrollment per term (summer, fall, winter). This is just meant as a guide and is subject to change based on individual circumstances.

Summer-Fall -Spring of Year 1

  • Learn a lot! Pick a research topic before summer.

Summer – Year 2

  • Start your literature review in EDSU 918
  • Learn about the IRB process

Fall Year 2

  • Complete CITI Training for IRB – the training is part of EDSU 905 – Research Methods I
  • Pick a Committee Chair by November 1st and complete the Chair Selection Form

Spring Year 2

  • Pick your full committee by March 1 and complete the Supervisory Committee Selection Form
  • Complete your IRB proposal with survey/interview questions approved by your committee and submit it for review by IRB board by May 1.
  • Have a FULL COMMITTEE MEETING. Prior to this full committee meeting, send your full committee a draft of your IRB proposal and your Chapters 1-3 (even if they are rough).
  • Complete your first three chapters for your Dissertation Proposal and submit to committee prior to the proposal meeting with your full committee.
  • Set a date for your Prospectus Defense and have a full committee meeting in which you share your proposal and prospectus materials.
  • Establish bi-weekly meetings with your Dissertation Chair
  • Complete your Prospectus and Proposal Defense Form after successful completion of defense

Summer Year 3

  • Collect data for your study

Fall Year 3

  • Analyze data in EDSU 906 – Research II
  • Continue to revise literature review, research methods (if appropriate)
  • Continue to write on the data and findings of your study
  • Continue to have bi-weekly meetings with your dissertation chair
  • Have a minimum of one all committee meeting in which you present your early findings

Spring Year 3

  • Complete Dissertation
  • Continue regular meetings with your chair and a minimum of one all committee meeting, in which you provide a full draft of your dissertation prior to your full committee meeting.
  • Complete Dissertation Announcement Form and submit to graduate office 2 weeks prior to defense
  • After your defense, your chair submits the Complete Dissertation Defense Form, with a unanimous decision by the committee.
  • Your dissertation warrant is signed by your Chair, who passes it on to the Director of the program, the Chair of the department and the Dean of the College.

Year 1

  • Summer 1
    • EDSU 919
    • EDSU 900: Complete Artifact #1; Graduate Student Biography
  • Fall 1
    • EDSU 908: Complete Artifact #2
    • EDSU 820
  • Spring 1
    • EDSU 810
    • EDSU 904: Complete Artifact #3; First Year Experience Concept

Year 2

  • Summer 2
    • EDSU 918: Complete Artifact #6; Qualifying Literature Review
    • EDSU 919: Competency #1: Present Concept Poster & written narrative
  • Fall 2
    • EDSU 905: Complete Artifact #4 & Artifact #5; Problem Statement Paper & Significance of Study
    • Elective or EDSU 920
  • Spring 2
    • EDSU 920: Complete Artifact #7; Dissertation Proposal (Ch. 1-3) & Committee Approval
    • Elective

Year 3

  • Summer 3
    • EDSU 919: Competency #3: Dissertation Prospectus Presentation
    • Elective
  • Fall 3
    • EDSU 906
    • Elective
  • Spring 3
    • Complete Artifact #8; Dissertation and Competency #4; Dissertation Oral Presentation
    • Elective

Required Artifacts

  • Artifact #1: Graduate Student Biography (EDSU 900)
    • Final biography will be posted on the UWSP website.
  • Artifact #2: Process Paper (EDSU 908)
    • Process paper that will be graded as part of EDSU 908, a version of which will be included in your dissertation.
  • Artifact #3: First Year Experience Concept Poster (EDSU 904)
    • Not included in your dissertation, however concepts expressed in this poster should lead into your area of focus for the remainder of your studies and track your first-year experiences and learning.
    • Presented at the summer residency (EDSU919) during SUMMER 2
    • As part of this artifact, you will write a narrative explanation of your poster for EDSU 919.
  • Artifact #4: Problem Statement Paper (EDSU 905)
    • Process paper that will be graded in EDSU 905 and revised/published as part of your dissertation.
  • Artifact #5: Significance of Study Statement (EDSU 905)
    • Part of your dissertation; the completed artifact should reflect a relatively polished understanding of the significance of your study.
  • Artifact #6: Qualifying Literature Review Paper (EDSU 918, EDSU 920)
    • Part of your dissertation; your qualifying literature review (with at least one strand or theme) will be included in your dissertation’s overall literature review.
    • A passing grade in EDSU 918 indicates successful completion of a first draft, that will be revised and published as part of EDSU 920.
  • Artifact #7: Dissertation Proposal (EDSU 905, EDSU 920)
    • Components/a version of your proposal will be integrated into your dissertation where appropriate (e.g., Chapter 1-3).
    • Chapter 1 will be completed in EDSU 905, with Chapters 2 and 3 completed as part of EDSU 920 and your proposal draft completed by SPRING 2.
  • Artifact #8: Dissertation (EDUC 920)
    • Your final dissertation is five chapters.
    • Your final dissertation will go through a publication process, either through UWSP or ProQuest

Required Professional and Scholarly Competency Demonstrations:

  • Competency #1: First Year Experience Concept Poster Presentation, with written explanation of poster submitted as part of EDSU 919 (EDSU 919, SUMMER 2)
  • Competency #2: Dissertation Prospectus Oral Presentation (EDSU 919, SUMMER 3)
  • Competency #3: Dissertation Proposal Defense, Ch. 1-3 (via telepresence to committee)
  • Competency #4: Dissertation Oral Defense (via telepresence to committee & public defense)

Key Terms and Definitions