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Dissertation Proposal Review

DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS
THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT

Submission:
The dissertation proposal should be submitted before preparation of the dissertation is well underway.  Failure to present the proposal early may result in effort wasted on the dissertation.  The dissertation proposal must be submitted for review not fewer than six months before the expected date of degree completion.  The proposal should not be submitted before the Ph.D. Plan of Study has been fully approved.

Required are:        (1) an accurate title (2) A CONCISE statement including (a) the purpose, importance, and novelty of the study; (b) methods and techniques to be used; and (c) availability and location of research facilities; (3) a selected bibliography.

The proposal should be as BRIEF as possible without sacrificing completeness.  A statement of from SIX to TWELVE pages is usually sufficient.  Proposals of unnecessary length are discouraged since reviewers lack time to read them.

The proposal should be typed and double spaced.

Complete the yellow “Dissertation Proposal” forms in triplicate, have all copies signed by your advisory committee, and staple one copy to the front of each of the three copies of the proposals. When approved by all members of the student’s advisory committee, the three signed copies are to be forwarded to Prof. Lanse Minkler the Dissertation Proposal Coordinator of the Department of Economics. 

Review:
The Proposal Review Coordinator will assign the proposal to two reviewers from outside the advisory committee.  The external reviewers will receive a copy of the proposal.  They will evaluate the proposal by attending an oral presentation and discussion to which the entire Department will be invited. The reviewers will consider the following in deciding whether to recommend approval of the proposal:

  • Is the proposal well-organized and well-argued?
  • Does the proposal describe a project of appropriate scope?
  • Does the student demonstrate a knowledge of the subject and an understanding of the proposed method of investigation?
  • Does the student show awareness of the relevant research by others?
  • Does the student consider how the proposed investigation, if successful, will contribute to our knowledge of economics?

The Proposal Review Coordinator will inform the student, the major advisor, the Director of Graduate Studies, and the Department Head of the results of the review process.  The Department Head’s signature on the Proposal will confirm that the results of the review were favorable.  A copy of the approved proposal shall be delivered to the Graduate School when the review process has been completed.