PhD in Public Affairs: Prospectus Review Process

Required only for students who completed Option A prelims.

Prospectus Review

• • The manner and timing of the research prospectus review depends upon the preliminary examination ("prelims") option chosen by the student. For students who complete prelims through Option A (comprehensive written and oral exams), the research prospectus is reviewed and approved after the student has successfully passed the preliminary oral examination. The procedures for this review and approval are described below. 

• For students who complete prelims through Option B, (paper/prospectus and oral defense) the prelim process itself constitutes the review and approval of the research prospectus.  

Prospectus Content

The research prospectus shall constitute a plan of research for a major, book-length thesis. The prospectus shall include at a minimum the following:

• • a statement and description of the research question(s) and objectives

• a placement of the proposed research within a theoretical and conceptual framework

• a well-developed plan for data collection and analysis that includes a description of the research methods to be used

• appropriate references and full citation of references

Prospectus Certification and Availability

• • The student’s advisor must certify in advance that the prospectus is ready for presentation. Such certification implies that in the judgment of the advisor, the student can successfully defend the work. This certification should be made to the PhD Director of Graduate Studies (DGS). If an advisor indicates the student is not ready, the reasons should be documented with the DGS.

  • A digital version of the prospectus should be sent to the DGS, Program Coordinator, and the final examination committee no later than one week prior to the defense date. No presentation will be allowed without a completed copy of the prospectus.

Prospectus Presentation, Defense, Discussion, and Evaluation

• • The student shall present and defend the prospectus to the final examination committee.

  • The oral defense will be scheduled no sooner than 7 days after submission of the prospectus.

  • The student will make a formal presentation of the prospectus, limited to 30 minutes. The formal presentation will be followed by a period of questions from the student’s committee.

  • The student’s committee will deliberate in private on the question of whether the student can proceed with the proposed research.

  • The committee’s approval is necessary on the Prospectus Defense Approval Form before the student may proceed with the research.