McKay School of Education > CPSE > Ph.D Program > Research / Dissertations

PhD Program: Research Collaboration Teams and Doctoral Dissertations

Research Collaboration Team

All PhD students are expected to participate on a research collaboration team during each of the years prior to completing their dissertations. This team consists of  a group of faculty and graduate students who meet together regularly to collaborate on various research and theoretical projects. Students are expected to devote about three hours per week to research activities associated with their team. Headed by faculty members, research teams are created to give students research ideas and hands-on research experience. Working with these teams will also give students opportunities to present research at regional and national conventions and to publish in professional journals, as well as prepare them to successfully complete their doctoral dissertation. The research team serves as a support group during the dissertation process. Dissertation credit (CPSE 799R) is provided for this activity.

Graduate Advisor

At the beginning of their first fall semester, all students meet with their advisor, plan their program, and attend the research team headed by their advisor or another research team with needs and interests similar to their own.   Regular individual or team meetings with their advisor are expected.

Review of Literature

Students receive instruction in the process and mechanics of conducting and writing a literature review as part of their course Research Theory and Methods in Counseling Psychology (CPSE 750). Although they are required to submit a written literature review for this class, the actual literature search for the dissertation will be conducted as an independent review in close consultation with their dissertation chair/advisor. All students are expected to meet regularly with their advisor, who is responsible for approving the written literature review before it is submitted.

Dissertation Completion

Students are encouraged to write their dissertation prospectus during the following winter semester and be ready to formally defend this prospectus shortly after the end of the semester. A successful prospectus defense is required before internship applications may be submitted.

With ongoing support from their dissertation advisor and committee and their research team/dissertation support group, students can move ahead with data collection, data analysis, and  dissertation completion by the end of the following year.