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University of Washington Information School

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Doctorate in Information Science

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Proposal Defense

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  4. Proposal Defense

Purpose

The purpose of the dissertation proposal defense is to assure that your plan of researching your proposed research question is complete and holds academic merit. Students work closely with their supervisory committees in determining the composition of the dissertation proposal and in writing the proposal.

Process

At least six weeks prior to the dissertation proposal defense, the candidate contacts Student Services to confirm the members of their supervisory committee. This would include the addition of a non-University of Washington external faculty member if previously agreed upon.

The candidate schedules a date, a time, and a room for the dissertation proposal defense. The candidate also submits details regarding the dissertation proposal defense to the iSchool web calendar, the PhD program chair, and Student Services.

At least two weeks before the scheduled proposal defense date, the final written proposal must be submitted to all members of the supervisory committee. The voting members of the committee, in consultation with the student, determine the length and outline the structure of the defense.

The proposal defense is a public event. However, the deliberations of the supervisory committee are private. The supervisory committee records an official decision using the dissertation proposal defense form.

Once the proposal has been defended and accepted, the candidate is cleared to finish writing the dissertation. The candidate submits one paper copy and one PDF version of the dissertation proposal to Student Services.

More Information

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News

Illustration of a light shining on documents shaped in the form of city buildings

Researchers shed light on city governments' data

Wednesday, January 18, 2023
The idea grew out of a disagreement. Eva Maxfield Brown was an undergraduate student six years ago at the Information School. She was paying close attention to a controversial issue before the Seattle City Council to allow a new NBA arena...
Read more
Julius Cecilia

Informatics student inspired to improve health care

Monday, January 9, 2023
Julius Cecilia has found it hard to watch his sister, who has life-threatening food allergies, end up in the hospital repeatedly. He wanted to find a way to make life easier for her and for other people who suffer from similar...
Read more

Events

Feb 6
 
1:00-4:00PM

iSchool Career Fair 2023

Husky Union Building
Feb 13
 
12:00-1:00PM

MLIS Prospective Student Information Session

Zoom / Online
Feb 14
 
12:30-1:30PM

Women in Tech Workshop

Online
Feb 16
 
3:00-4:00PM

Informatics Program Overview for Current UW Seattle and Transfer Students

Zoom / Online
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Box 352840 - Mary Gates Hall, Ste. 370
Seattle, WA 98195-2840
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