The Committee

Getting a Chair

Faculty with Endorsement to Serve as Dissertation Chair

Click here to see a list of faculty with endorsement to serve as a dissertation chair.  

Faculty have a variety of research interests and considerations for when they are able to take on additional students.

This list, Dissertation Chair Interests is updated periodically. Next version will be available in the Spring of 2024

 Dissertation Chair Interests AY 21-22 .pdf

The Process

Throughout coursework, the student considers possible areas for research and interacts with faculty about dissertation ideas. When the student wishes to formally register in Dissertation Research (ED 791, EDEL 791, EDOL 791, or PGLC 791), Form A1 is filed which requires:

1. The signature of the faculty member who will serve as chair

Students can register in 791 once they have completed the first two research courses: 766 Quantitative Methods and 767 Qualitative Methods. Each faculty chair provides a syllabus based on their practices for supporting you through the process. A standard 791 syllabus is available as an example here of what to expect from your chairperson.

Faculty serving as chair hold different doctoral degrees including PhD, EdD, or professional doctoral degrees such as the JD or PsyD. The primary consideration in selecting a chair should be focused on the working relationship between the student and the faculty. While selecting a chair based on content and/or method experience is common, it is not required, as other committee members can provide that expertise. Students needing help identifying a chairperson may consult with their Academic Program Chair and/or the Dissertation Advisory and Support Committee by sending an email to Dr. Kay Davis (kay.davis@pepperdine.edu). If a student needs to change their dissertation chair, a new Form A1 must be filed.

To file, the student must send the completed Form A1 to gsepeddissertations@pepperdine.edu

Forms

Form A1 - Dissertation Chairperson

Registration in 791 and Term Agreements

If you are registered in 791 Dissertation Research for any term, a Term Agreement is required.

The Term Agreement is your learning contract with your Dissertation Chairperson and is used to determine end-of-term Credit for Dissertation Research.

Fill out the "Dissertation Term Agreement Template" and submit using the "Term Agreements" link on the left toolbar.

If you have questions, reach out to your chairperson for guidance on what are reasonable expectations for the term.

Committee Structure Requirements

A minimum of two other faculty members in addition to the Chairperson, comprise the dissertation committee. When the student wishes to form their committee, Form A2 is filed which requires the signatures of the chair and committee members.

To file, the student must send the completed Form A2 to gsepeddissertations@pepperdine.edu.

Each committee member must possess an earned doctorate, awarded at least one calendar year from the time of committee formation, from an academically accredited institution. One of these two committee members must already be affiliated with Pepperdine University as a full-time or adjunct faculty member. One member may be an individual from outside of Pepperdine who can provide special expertise in content, theory, or methods. For non-Pepperdine committee members, the chair must provide a rationale for their inclusion on the committee using the provided space on Form A2. A resume or CV for the external committee member must accompany Form A2. Approval from the Dissertation Advisory and Support Committee is required for all non-Pepperdine committee members.

For PhD students, it is preferable that at least one of the committee members holds a PhD and that one committee member is from outside the Education Division.

Form A2 must be on file prior to filing for the Dissertation Preliminary Oral. Concurrent filing for Committee Formation and Preliminary Oral may create a delay in scheduling. Students and chairs are encouraged to file Form A2 four to six weeks before the anticipated date of the Preliminary Oral.

If a student needs to change the committee membership, a new Form A2 must be submitted for approval.