Documents
R 'Us
R 'Us
The final paper produced at the end of a doctoral degree that explains the research done and its results and conclusions.
Dissertation
This group is created to make sure that research programs are being conducted ethically and humanely if humans are involved. It applies research ethics to a project’s methods and proposed topics to ensure that their strict code of ethics is being adhered to. The role and requirements of this group can vary from institution to institution.
IRB (Institutional Review Board)
This is an important piece of your application package. You’ll want to ask professors, mentors, employers or anyone who can speak to your goals, achievements, character and potential to give the admissions committee insight about you from those who have worked with you as a student and/or an employee.
Letter of Recommendation
A comprehensive price of enrollment at a university including living expenses, this is calculated by the school so your individual amounts could be higher or lower depending on spending habits. This may be calculated differently depending on living on campus, in an off-campus apartment or commuting.
Cost of Attendance (COA)
This is a postgraduate degree pursued after a bachelor’s degree. It typically takes between one and three years to complete depending on the program and field of study, and often requires some research component resulting in a thesis or research project as a final requirement.
Master's Degree
This document outlines the student’s research, methods, statement of problem or issue, research approach, expected results and cited references. It’s usually presented to a professor, research committee or a potentially future funding agency.
Research Proposal
The exit exam for degree completion reviewed by a graduate committee. It may include presenting on a project, a summary of acquired skills, a research study, a report, etc. The student must present and support with evidence their work to a committee. It is a complex process of specific protocols that must be adhered to and that vary depending on the program.
Defense or Oral Exam
This simply means you have completed all required doctorate coursework, but have not written and defended your dissertation.
ABD (All But Dissertation)
A form of graduate employment that can include teaching or research support for faculty, grants, or labs. These usually come with several benefits such as tuition remission, monthly living stipends, and health insurance.
Graduate Assistantship
The highest earned academic degree in U.S postsecondary education; they typically take four or more years to complete, and usually require the completion of a research and/or capstone paper.
Doctorate or Doctoral Degree
This is the final document supporting a student’s original statement and research conducted throughout the master’s degree program. The completion and acceptance of it marks the successful conclusion of a student’s master’s degree.
Thesis
At this stage, a student must present their work to assure that their plan of researching their proposed research question is complete and holds academic merit. Students work closely with their supervisory committees in determining the composition of the document or presentation submitted during this stage.
Proposal Defense or Oral Exam
The amount of time a graduate student has to complete his or her degree program from the time of admission into graduate school.
Time-to-degree
This term refers to someone who holds the Ph.D. (or M.D., other doctorate or the equivalent) and goes to a university, research center, industrial business or other institution with the purpose of engaging in research or participating in advanced training programs.
Post doc (Post Doctoral Fellow)
A faculty group that advises the student on academic matters and is usually the examining group for the doctoral comprehensive exam and/or oral defense.
Committee (Dissertation or Thesis)
A document usually 1-2 pages in length describing an applicant’s interest in the program, the applicant’s qualifications, and future goals. This is used as an opportunity to share information that is not evident in transcripts (e.g. life situations leading to bad grades, etc.).
Statement of Purpose or Personal Statement
Oral or written (or both) exam that is administered at both the master’s and doctorate level by the academic home department to discover if the student’s knowledge of the subject areas of study is sufficient to advance to the thesis or dissertation writing stage.
Qualifying or Comprehensive Exam
An outline or plan of coursework to be taken to fulfill the requirements of a doctoral degree. May include transfer credits from a previous master’s degree or graduate work and must be approved by the doctoral committee.
Program of Study
The individual responsible for the preparation, conduct, and administration of a research grant, cooperative agreement, training or public service project, contract, or other sponsored project.
Principal Investigator (PI)
The academic tradition of guaranteeing continuing employment to faculty members who have demonstrated a high level of performance in the areas of research, teaching, and service.
Tenure
A detailed document highlighting a person’s professional and academic history; it's the "life" of their work. It usually includes work experience, achievements and awards, scholarships and grants, completed coursework, research projects, and publications.
CV or Curriculum Vitae
The final stage in a master's or doctoral education, which primarily involves conducting research and writing the thesis or dissertation.
Candidacy
An official ceremony celebrating the completion of a doctoral degree program, the highest level of educational achievement. Each institution has a unique item for this ceremony. At many institutions' commencement ceremony, doctoral students receive this from their faculty advisers.
Hooding
These positions are recognized nationally as a means to acknowledge and support outstanding graduate students in pursuit of their advanced degree objectives, typically provide without a commensurate service requirement. At many institutions, this financial support can include residential tuition rates, stipends, and health insurance, and vary widely by their purpose, selectivity, duration and support level. Funds may come from either internal or external sources. Some types of these positions include; pre-doctoral, dissertation, traineeships, and institutional.
Graduate fellowships
This faculty member is the group spokesperson responsible for communicating with the student on a regular basis. The student should have no uncertainty concerning the person with whom to deal in the day-to-day preparation of the major study and dissertation or thesis.
Committee Chair