Proposal

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​One semester after passing the qualifying examination, the student must submit a formal dissertation proposal (of about 10-15 pages with substantive bibliography) to his or her dissertation committee. The proposal should define the research question, demonstrate its significance to preservation studies and within the chosen area of concentration, provide a context for the project within the relevant published literature, outline the proposed research methods, and provide a timetable for conduct of the research and writing phases. After the proposal has been circulated to the dissertation committee, the committee will meet as a group with the student to discuss and refine the proposal. The student will normally make a formal illustrated presentation of the topic at this time. Students and faculties from related departments are invited to attend. Any dissertation proposals that involve human or animal subjects must follow the guidelines for approval of such proposals that exist in all Colleges and external institutions represented by the student’s doctoral committee. Dissertation committee members should sign the final copy of the approved proposal. A signed copy of the approved dissertation proposal should be forwarded to the PSP Director. Students who fail the dissertation proposal presentation will receive one additional opportunity to repeat the process and defend a new or modified dissertation proposal. ​