This document provides advice and guidance for doctoral students on navigating the dissertation process. It outlines the typical timeline for a doctoral program, from admissions through coursework, exams, and dissertation. It emphasizes that the dissertation is the most challenging part, and students often lose sight of needing to complete it to graduate. The document then lists the "Top Ten" tips, including making progress your responsibility, creating a research file and cohort for support, selecting a strong committee, attending defenses, prioritizing writing over research, and recognizing that "ABD" is not a title but a status to be avoided.

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Surviving the
Doctorate
Department of Learning
Technologies

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Doctoral Timeline
Admissions Coursework
(Time depends on
the student)
Qualifying
• Portfolio
• Examination
Dissertation
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How Long Will It Take Me?
Coursework is easy. The dissertation is the
tough part. No one hassles you to write
each week, or turn-in homework, or gives
you a grade at the end of the
semester. Please remember the following
however:
You will not graduate without completing your
dissertation!
. . . Many students lose sight of this fact!
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The Top
Ten List
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#10: YOUR Problem
You are responsible for both
completing courses and
making progress on your
dissertation.
The Chair will not, and cannot,
push you to complete your
doctoral studies.

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#9: Create a Research File
Your research file will
help you study for the
comprehensive
examination and will
help create a literature
review structure.

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#8: Create a Cohort

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#7: A Good Committee
This is the single most
important selection in
your doctoral process.

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#6: Attend Defenses
Take the opportunity to
attend at least five
proposal and
dissertation defenses
prior to defending your
dissertation.

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#5: Your Major Professor
You and the Chair must
talk and come to a
compromise before
talking to other
committee members.

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#4: Take more Classes
Take advantage of research, statistics
and measurement classes.
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The statistics, research, and
measurement courses that you
complete, as a requirement of
the degree program, may not
sufficiently prepare you for your
dissertation.

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#3: Make a Schedule
Plan from the end
to the beginning.

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#2: Writing NOT Researching
You must write!
At least 3-5 hours a week
should be spent WRITING!

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#1ABD
Is
Not
A
Titlewww.sageperformance.com/drjeffallen

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The Dissertation
Defense
Is a celebration
of your success

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Dr. Jeff M. Allen
Jeff.Allen@unt.edu
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