What is a dissertation proposal defense?
Before you write your dissertation, you put your research idea in front of faculty and colleagues and ask for their suggestions and approval before you embark on the actual study. You put forth your research objection, how you plan to achieve it, your research methodology and what will you ultimately expect to see in terms of results or practical solutions. This is called a proposal and you defend it in from of an audience of faculty and fellow doctoral students. Among the faculty will be your Dissertation Committee members – three from your department and one from your field of minor. There will be a Dissertation Chair who heads this committee. The Dissertation Committee can be different from the Advisory Committee (that approves of your coursework).
