How do I determine my dissertation topic?

Universities require that doctoral students prepare a disseration for several reasons. Because the dissertation serves as one of final hurdles prior to receiving a doctoral award, careful consideration should be given to choosing a topic. The dissertation highlights the student's ability to think critically, purposefully express a position on the selected topic, and defend that position. It allows the student to show his/her ability to perform a complex, challenging project without using other faculty as a crutch; UNC's Writing Center notes that the disseration "marks the transition from student to scholar." Ideally, a dissertation should broaden the knowledge of the academic community, not just rehash what has already been said.

External Links

• Wikipedia - Wikipedia offers a brief explanation of disserations and their purposes.
• UNC's Writing Center - This page provides a comprehensive analysis and explanation of dissertations and the steps involved in successfully completing this step in a graduate program.
• Suite101.com - This page provides a brief article highlighting some key elements in choosing a topic for your dissertation.