Negotiating Graduate School 2/e

Dr. Mark H. Rossman has been advising graduate students for his entire academic career of more than 30 years. He is Senior Faculty at Capella University and has served Capella University as Vice President for Academic Affairs and Associate Vice President for Residencies. He was Professor and former Chair of Education at Walden University and National Specialization Lecturer and Dissertation Advisor at Nova Southeastern University. He has been Professor of Education and Director of Graduate Studies at Ottawa University, Associate Professor of Adult Learning and Head of the Department of Higher & Adult Education at Arizona State University, and Assistant Professor and Head of Adult Education at the University of Massachusetts. He has chaired doctoral dissertation committees and master's thesis committees for more than 150 graduates and has served on 300+ graduate committees. His graduates have received recognition for outstanding dissertations at Capella University, Nova Southeastern University and Walden University. He has received two awards as an outstanding dissertation advisor. Among his other honors and awards are the Distinguished Service Award from the Commission on Adult Basic Education, a Certificate of Commendation from the Mountain Plains Adult Education Association, a Fellowship from the Salzburg Seminar in American Studies, recognition as a Visiting Scholar from the University of Kent in Canterbury, England, and a Master of Humane Letters honorary degree. He is the author or coauthor of 8 books, 10 evaluative reports, and 40 chapters or articles. He has produced one film, nine self-contained instructional modules, and two audiovisual tape curriculum units. He has served on the editorial boards of four professional associations and has presented 77 papers in 12 states and seven foreign countries.

Acknowledgements Overview 1. Can I Really Complete a Graduate Degree? How This Book Can Help You Why Am I in Graduate School? Three Categories of Learners Motivation Barriers to Learning Time Management Self-Directed Learning Becoming a Self-Directed Learner Need for Support 2. The Program of Study Financing Your Graduate Degree Am I in the Right Graduate Degree Program Defining the Program of Study Developing the Program of Study Know Yourself Controlling Frustrations 3. The Graduate Committee Roles of Committee Members Functions of the Graduate Committee Getting to Know Potential Committee Members Becoming Known by Potential Committee Members Choosing Your Committee Committee Member Selection Guide 4. The Comprehensive Exam The Comprehensive Examination Process Evaluating the Comp Purpose of the Comprehensive Exam Preparing for the Comprehensive Exam Taking the Comprehensive Exam: Tips for the Written Exam Tips for the Oral Exam 5. The Proposal and the Thesis/Dissertation Developing the Proposal The Thesis/Dissertation Connecting the Proposal to the Thesis/Dissertation Chapter One: The Problem Chapter Two: The Literature Review Chapter Three: The Methodology Chapter Four: Presentation and Analysis of Data Chapter Five: Summary, Conclusions, and Recommendations Concluding Thoughts 6. The Defense Understanding the Defense Preparing for the Defense What to Do at the Defense The Decision 7. Now What? Binding Your Thesis or Dissertation Copyrighting Your Work Publishing Your Work Making up Lost "Quality Time" Commencement Using the Title "Doctor" Avoiding Emotional Letdowns Put Your Degree to Work References and Selected Readings General Style Guides Guides to Writing a Proposal, Thesis, Dissertation, or Research Paper Researching and Writing in the Disciplines About the Author