"The Dissertation"

I've finally completed a dissertation and here's my general opinion:

• "The dissertation" is unequivocally the bar that has always -- and will always -- prevent the vast majority of doctoral students from ever obtaining a regionally accredited doctoral degree.

The vast majority of doctoral students will never achieve their dream.

Now that that's out of the way, let's move into non-dissertation coursework that must be completed before a doctoral student is given the opportunity to embark on a dissertation.

Students can bemoan which specialization is best or they can quibble with professors about a grade in a class, but what they don't understand is that a mountain (the dissertation) is awaiting them -- and they're only equipped with one small shovel to move the mountain from here to yonder; so start digging as soon as possible. All the pre-dissertation coursework issues are minor anthills.

Recommendations for aspiring doctoral students:
1. Complete coursework quickly.
2. Choose a specialization quickly.
3. Get to the dissertation quickly because it's the mountain that stops most people.

 

Great advice. With so many master's programs not requiring a thesis, many doctoral students have no idea what's in store for them at the dissertation level. My advice has always been to begin thinking about the dissertation at the beginning of your program, not after the coursework phase.

To pursue a doctorate at most DL schools means merely to get admitted and begin doing coursework--something those applicants have done before. Because of that, it looks very straight-forward. Little do they know about the huge "mountain" ahead of them. Doing a dissertation is unlike any other aspect of one's schooling, except that doing a master's-level thesis can give some insight. Some. For those that have done them.

Our little program requires applicants to write a brief essay on their research intentions. This is done for two reasons: the university wants the applicant to begin thinking about the doctoral thesis from the outset, and the university wants to confirm whether or not it can supervise the applicant's intended research. In fact, our first year of coursework places heavy emphasis on further refining one's doctoral thesis ideas. Even in the second phase, where students are working their specialized modules, they're encouraged to continue reflecting and refining their research topics.

The dissertation should be a program-long, evolving process, not a project tacked on at the end.

Thanks so much to the OP, and congratulations are certainly in order!

 

I would also add in support of recommendation # 3:

Select a dissertation topic (area of research) that you are extremely excited and passionate about, and have a deep intense desire to pursue. This dissertation research area must be one that will make you jump out of bed early Saturday morning so you can continue with the research and writing, a topic that will make you rush home after a full day at the office so you can kiss the wife and kids, gulp down a quick dinner, and quickly get back to writing your paper before you call it a night. A dissertation topic that you welcome, and even solicit, inputs, ideas, and feedback from your peers, colleagues, advisors, faculty from other schools, and practitioners from industry that are involved in the research area. A dissertation topic that will keep your mind occupied and as you go through the work day at your office, and will be the first topic of conversation in your social gatherings.

The point is, if you do not have a deep emotional tie, an internal yearning for the dissertation topic, you will not complete it. You will fizzle out in the literature review jungle or the analysis web and give up, and join the vast majority of ABD doctoral students.

Just my opinion.

 

Good advice...as always

I am already thinking about the dissertation and I haven't enrolled yet!

I read somewhere (perhaps on the Chronicle Forum) that in addition to having your topic determined before you start your doctoral studies, that one should use every paper topic as a chapter idea for the dissertation. I'm not sure that that would work in every program or for every course but it's something to keep in mind.

Since I can't start my doctoral program yet, I am using the time to collect ideas for my research area(s) and will develop a dissertation abstract prior to enrolling. Part of my prep work is also talking to and learning from others who are ahead of me in the journey. Thanks Me Again.

And Me Again, are you done? Or do you have to defend? Is it time to break out the bubbly (champagne or sparkling juice)?

 

Thanks for the directions.
I am using that same attitude, just get it out of the way.
I will be done with the specialization pretty soon and will enter the research stage Jan 09.

Congratulations for getting the beast out the way!
It was a long journey I bet!

 

Congratulations! It's been a long haul.

 

Congratulations!

 

If is a DBA student enrolled before 01/01/2008, it was optional to defended it and it was grandfathered.

 

Congrats, Me Again...

I hope to aim toward doctoral studies in the Spring...

 

Congrats, and thanks for the good advice. I am doing my dissertation now, and I would echo what others have said:

1. Choose a topic you are truly interested in and passionate about.
2. Choose your area of interest as early as possible, and mold all your coursework around your interest area where possible.
3. Don't panic if your research idea 'morphs' into something different than you started with - this is a normal part of the learning.

Cheers...

 

The 31 year odyssey is over

Yes sir, it's completely over and it's reflected on college transcripts. Indeed, it's a terminal degree! It's the end! Just the thought of going back to college to get a second specialization makes me tired. <shudder> I'm completely done with collegiate-level schooling, except as an adjunct professor to impart some knowledge to all those other aspiring students who dream of obtaining their terminal degrees! LOL

We're seeing an explosion of holders of Bachelors and Masters degrees, but I seriously doubt that we'll ever see a significant explosion of those who hold regionally accredited Doctoral degrees. It's just not going to happen under the current dissertation-structure. However, we'll always have those with dreams of obtaining a doctorate and, hence, doctoral programs will be forever filled. But the dissertation is a dream crusher for 50 to 70% of those who get an opportunity to embark on it.

For me, the 31 year odyssey was filled with unique ups, downs, curves and roundabouts, but it's finally over. It's strange where the meandering stream-of-life eventually deposits us.

 

Congratulations, Dr. Again!

 

Maybe the Europeans and their no-coursework doctorates are onto something? ;-) I have never really understood the need for coursework at the doctoral level; aside from some courses or seminars in research methods and philosophies...

 

Congratulations Dr. Me Again! I really do know how you feel. Good thread. It is amazing what you get from the experience of scaling that mountain that is the dissertation. I feel fortunate that my program talked about the dissertation from day one. I agree with what people wrote about the coursework part of doctoral work. The real doctoral work is the dissertation phase. When I considered all of the topics I covered in my dissertation, it seemed like I had taken at least 4 independent studies. Best wishes, doc!

Dr. PatsFan

 

doctoral drop out rates

Is the drop out rate really that high? Ouch!

Tom

 

How long did the dissertation take you?

 

Wow, that's the first time anyone's called me doctor!

That's a good point because in many European doctoral programs, students jump directly into the dissertation. But how to they get a teaching specialization without specialized coursework?

It varies from school to school, but yes, it's that high.

About two years.

 

Congrats! What did your thesis cover?

 

"The dissertation" is it. Bottom line. Period. Regardless of what one's specialization is in (or how many specializations or degrees one has), the dissertation is the bread and butter of academia. It's simply that succinct. Have you ever thought about how the dissertation even came into existence? The genesis of who developed it -- and why?

 

I thought the devil created it to keep us preoccupied for over half of our lives only to earn the credential and die a few short years later.