Preliminary Oral

Purpose of Preliminary Oral

A Preliminary Oral is one of the two oral presentations involved in the Dissertation Process. There are two oral presentations involved in the Dissertation Process.

The Preliminary Oral, also known as, "prelims" or "proposal defense," is for you to formally present your research proposal to the academic community. Commonly, only your dissertation committee members will be present, although all members of the academic community are invited.

After the Preliminary Oral, students are advanced to status of "Doctoral Candidate."

Ideally, the oral is conducted with all committee members physically present at a Pepperdine University site. However, virtual orals have become the more standard practice. The Zoom virtual platform is used, specifically the faculty chairperson’s virtual room. This Zoom link is included in the formal announcement of the scheduled oral. Student must ensure that committee members have connection capabilities and have been provided with any presentation material prior to the actual oral.

Requirements for Holding Preliminary Oral
Requirements to hold the dissertation Preliminary Oral are:

• Minimum of two terms of registration with 791 with Chairperson (the Preliminary can be scheduled within the second term of 791 registration)

• Completion of research courses:

  • EdD: EDD 766 (Quantitative Methods); EDD 767 (Qualitative Methods); EDD 734 (Statistics).

  • PhD: EGLC 766 (Quantitative Methods); EGLC 767 (Qualitative Methods); EGLC 734 and PGLC 734 (Statistics). 

You must have chair approval in order to choose a date for your Preliminary Oral. Your chair will determine your readiness to present your proposal before you solicit support from committee members. Committee members generally take cues from the chair regarding your readiness, but they too may request additional time to review your manuscript before they agree to hold the Preliminary Oral.

Scheduling Your Dissertation Preliminary Oral

To get your Preliminary Oral officially scheduled and placed on the academic calendar; you "file" your proposal along with form P1 and an electronic copy of your TurnItIn results.

Please contact gsepeddissertations@pepperdine.edu when you are ready to file forms and documents to schedule your Preliminary Oral to present your proposal.

 Quick Guide for Dissertation Filing Process.pdf

Minimum Two-Week Filing Deadline for Preliminary Oral

In order to be approved to conduct a Preliminary Oral, you must complete and submit your proposal, TurnitIn report, and required form (P1) a minimum of 2 weeks in advance of your requested date.

Committee members need to have your proposal at least a week before your filing date. Check with your committee members regarding how much time they need to review your manuscript prior to their agreement (by signing P1) for scheduling the oral. Give yourself sufficient time to gather all electronic signatures in order to file on time.

Orals cannot be scheduled during term breaks.

Advancement to Doctoral Candidate Status

After the Preliminary Oral, the committee signs Form P2 (Preliminary Oral Completion) which indicates the outcomes of the Preliminary Oral. There are 4 possible outcomes:

1. The student passes with modifications, to be completed and resubmitted before they may continue.

2. The student passes with modifications, but they may continue to progress.

3. The student passes with no modifications, and they may continue progress.

4. The student does not pass the Preliminary Oral. 

If there are any requested changes from the committee, the chair summarizes these in a letter and informs the student. Following the Preliminary Oral, a copy of the proposal and Form P2 are maintained on file with the Dissertation Support Office.

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Congratulations! Upon passing your Preliminary Oral, you've advanced to Doctoral Candidacy. 

The title, "Doctoral Candidate" can be used instead of "Doctoral Student."
Two ways to indicate this advancement are:

• Jane Jones, Ph.D Doctoral Candidate, or

• Tom Smith, Ed.D. C. in Organizational Leadership