The Dissertation can be written in the traditional book format or it can be composed of 3 papers of publishable quality that are related to one another. The traditional format develops an argument throughout the dissertation and provides details and findings of the research done by the student, with each chapter building on previous chapters. The three‐paper format includes an introductory and a concluding chapter that preface and draw from all 3 papers, respectively, but each paper should be able to stand‐alone. While it is not required that any of the 3 papers are submitted or accepted for publication at the time of the Dissertation defense, many students will have submitted at least 1 of their 3 papers before defending the dissertation.
The Students should consult with their Dissertation Chair and committee members to determine which format is most appropriate. The anticipated format will be proposed in the Prospectus, and this should be discussed and agreed to within the context of the Prospectus defense.
Students often ask whether a traditional or 3‐paper format takes longer, but there is no consistent answer to this question. The length of time spent on the dissertation project varies considerably (depending on primary data collection versus secondary data analysis, funding availability, employment issues, etc.), and while most students complete their dissertations within two or three years after advancing to candidacy, neither format hastens or delays the timeline to graduation.