thesis completion plan

A PhD timeline for finishing quickly [Free Gantt Download]

Navigating the labyrinthine journey of a PhD program is no small feat.

From the day you step into your graduate program as a bright-eyed doctoral student, you’re immediately thrust into a complex weave of coursework, research, and milestones.

By the second year, you’ve transitioned from coursework to research, laying the groundwork for your dissertation—a pivotal component in your scholarly endeavour. 

Come the third year, you face the critical oral examination, a hurdle that could make or break years of hard work.

But how does one streamline this multifaceted journey? The answer lies in a well-planned PhD timeline.

This blog serves as an invaluable guide for any PhD student looking to complete their doctoral studies efficiently, walking you through each milestone from coursework to graduation.

How to Begin with the PhD Timeline Planning?

Planning your PhD timeline is an essential first step in your PhD program.

Success in any PhD program depends, to a large extent, on effective time management and keeping track of progress through a thoughtfully crafted PhD timeline. 

Start with outlining all your major requirements:

• coursework,
• dissertation,
• and the expected time needed for each task.

I also highly recommend factoring in failure time – give yourself a little bit of wiggle room for when things, invariably – go wrong. 

It’s crucial to remain realistic about the time you can commit daily or weekly while keeping long-term goals in mind.

Regular check-ins on your PhD timeline and supervisor will help you stay on track and allow you to adapt if necessary.

Adjustments may be needed as you progress through your PhD program, but having a timeline as a guide can make the journey less daunting and more achievable. 

Elements to include in a 3-year PhD timeline

The initial stage in this timeline typically involves coursework, often lasting one year, where the student engrosses themselves in advanced study in their chosen field.

Once the coursework is done (USA PhDs), they focus on proposing, conducting, and presenting their initial research.

By the end of the second year, most students should have a clear direction for their dissertation, a core component of the PhD process.

In this third and final year of the PhD timeline, the student focuses primarily on completing their dissertation, which involves collecting data, analyzing results, and organizing their research into a substantial, original, and cohesive document that contributes to contemporary knowledge in their field.

Regular reviews and modifications of the PhD timeline may also be necessary to accommodate various unpredictable circumstances, thus making this timeline both a guide and a flexible workplan.

It is a significant tool in successfully navigating the maze of becoming a PhD holder. 

Create Your PhD Timeline for a 3 year completion

Creating a timeline for a 3-year PhD program requires careful planning, as you’ll have multiple milestones and tasks to complete.

This timeline may vary depending on your specific field, institution, or country, but here is a general outline you can use as a starting point:

Free Gantt chart excel template

Here is a free template you can modify for your own research:

Example Gantt chart for a USA PhD

Here are some common steps involved in completing a PhD, which I’ll use to create the Gantt chart:

• Orientation and Coursework (Semester 1) : Familiarization with the university, department, and coursework.
• Coursework (Semester 2) : Continued coursework and possible teaching/research assistantships.
• Select Advisor and Research Topic : Usually done towards the end of the first year or the beginning of the second year.
• Preliminary Research : Initial research and literature review.
• Complete Coursework (Semester 3) : Wrap up any remaining required courses.
• Research Proposal : Develop a full research proposal including methodology.
• Qualifying Exams : Exams to transition from a Ph.D. student to a Ph.D. candidate.
• Begin Research : Start of actual research based on the approved proposal.
• Conduct Research : Data collection, experiments, and analysis.
• Intermediate Review : A review to assess the progress of the research.
• Write Papers : Start writing papers and possibly publishing in journals.
• Finalize Research : Final experiments and data analysis.
• Write Dissertation : Writing the actual Ph.D. dissertation.
• Dissertation Defense : Defending the dissertation before the committee.
• Graduation : Completing all requirements and graduating.

Example Gantt chart for a UK, European and Australian PhD

For Ph.D. programs outside the United States, especially in Europe and some other parts of the world, students often go straight into research without the need for coursework. Here are some common steps for such programs:

• Orientation : Familiarization with the university and department.
• Select Advisor and Research Topic : Usually done at the beginning of the program.

Wrapping up

The journey to earning a PhD is complex and demanding, filled with academic milestones from coursework to research to dissertation writing.

The key to a smooth and efficient doctoral journey lies in well-planned time management—a structured PhD timeline.

This blog serves as an invaluable guide, offering detailed tips for planning out each academic year in both U.S. and international PhD programs. It emphasizes the importance of starting with an outline of major requirements and factoring in “failure time” for unforeseen challenges.

For those looking to navigate their PhD journey in three years or beyond, having a flexible but comprehensive timeline can be the compass that guides them successfully through the academic labyrinth.

Whether you’re just starting out or already deep into your research, the principles and strategies outlined here can help streamline your path to that coveted doctoral hood.

Dr Andrew Stapleton has a Masters and PhD in Chemistry from the UK and Australia. He has many years of research experience and has worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow and Associate at a number of Universities. Although having secured funding for his own research, he left academia to help others with his YouTube channel all about the inner workings of academia and how to make it work for you.

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Write your thesis in 2 weeks: effective strategies for short-term thesis completion.

Embarking on the journey to write a thesis in just two weeks can be a daunting task, but with the right strategies and a solid plan, it is possible to complete this academic milestone successfully. This article provides a comprehensive guide to effective short-term thesis completion, offering practical advice on everything from laying the groundwork and managing time, to writing, revising, and preparing for submission. By following these strategies, students can navigate the intensive process with confidence and efficiency.

Key Takeaways

Develop a clear understanding of thesis expectations and requirements to ensure a focused approach to research and writing.

Create a detailed work plan and schedule, breaking down the thesis into manageable tasks with strict deadlines to maximize productivity.

Leverage time management tools and techniques to prioritize tasks effectively, and organize research materials for easy access and use.

Implement a robust drafting and revision process, incorporating feedback and peer review to enhance the quality of the thesis.

Understand the submission process, including formatting and defense preparation, to ensure a smooth completion and transition to post-submission stages.

Laying the Groundwork for Your Thesis

Understanding the expectations and requirements.

Before diving into the thesis writing process, it's crucial to grasp the full scope of expectations and requirements . This involves a comprehensive understanding of the academic standards and the specific guidelines set by your institution. Begin by reviewing the official requirements, which often include the expected structure, citation style, and the level of analysis or argumentation required.

To ensure you're on the right track, consider the following points:

The importance of integrating quantitative evidence and sophisticated arguments.

The necessity for information and technological literacy.

Familiarity with various formats for presenting your arguments, such as words, tables, or graphs.

Remember, a well-defined thesis is not just about the content; it's also about presenting it in a way that aligns with academic conventions and expectations.

Lastly, don't overlook the practical aspects of thesis preparation, such as understanding funding needs, proposal organization, and the timeline for completing each section of your work. These elements are just as critical as the intellectual components of your thesis.

Developing a Clear Thesis Statement

A clear thesis statement is the backbone of any compelling thesis. It should present your main argument straightforwardly , serving as a guide for both you and your readers. To ensure clarity and focus, your thesis statement should address a particular aspect of your topic, avoiding vagueness and over-generalization.

When crafting your thesis statement, consider the following steps:

Identify the core question your thesis aims to answer.

Reflect on the specific angle or perspective you bring to the topic.

Condense your argument into a single, concise sentence.

Test the specificity and clarity of your statement by asking for feedback.

Remember, a well-developed thesis statement not only provides direction for your research but also sets the stage for a persuasive and coherent argument.

Refining your thesis statement may require several iterations. Be prepared to revise it as your understanding of the topic deepens and as you receive input from advisors and peers.

Creating a Detailed Work Plan and Schedule

A well-structured work plan and schedule are crucial for the successful completion of your thesis within the ambitious timeframe of two weeks. Start by establishing a working schedule that includes daily goals and benchmarks to measure your progress. This will help you stay on track and adjust your plan as needed when you encounter obstacles.

Week 1-2 : Initial Research and Topic Refinement

Week 3-4 : Literature Review and Methodology Outline

Week 5-6 : Data Collection and Analysis

Week 7 : Drafting the Thesis Introduction

Week 8-9 : Writing the Main Body (Chapters/Sections)

Week 10-11 : Conclusion and Abstract

Week 12-13 : Revision and Peer Review

Week 14 : Final Edits and Formatting

Anticipate difficulties and be prepared to work with them. It's essential to remain flexible and adapt your schedule to the evolving nature of your research. Regularly assess your progress against the established benchmarks and adjust your plan accordingly.

Remember, the key to a successful short-term thesis completion is not just hard work, but also smart planning. By breaking down your tasks into manageable chunks and setting clear deadlines, you can maintain a steady pace and avoid last-minute panic.

Mastering Time Management and Organization

Prioritizing tasks and setting realistic deadlines.

To write your thesis in a mere two weeks, prioritizing tasks and setting realistic deadlines is crucial. Begin by identifying the most critical components of your thesis and allocate more time to these areas. Break down your thesis into smaller, manageable tasks and set deadlines for each. This approach ensures that you make consistent progress and don't become overwhelmed by the enormity of the project.

Week 1: Research and Outline

Week 2: Drafting and Revising

Remember, the key is to stay on track with the deadlines you set for yourself. Adjust your schedule as needed, but always aim to meet or beat your deadlines to maintain momentum.

By setting intermediate deadlines for each task, you create a sense of urgency and accountability, which can significantly enhance your focus and productivity.

Utilize the academic calendar to your advantage, as students are generally responsive to structured schedules. Incorporate weekly goals that align with your thesis milestones, ensuring that each week brings you closer to completion.

Utilizing Time Management Tools and Techniques

In the race against the clock to complete your thesis, embracing effective time management tools is crucial . One such technique is the Pomodoro Technique , which involves setting a timer for focused writing bursts followed by short breaks, enhancing your creativity and productivity.

To systematically apply time management strategies, consider the following steps:

Embrace the Pomodoro Technique: Set a timer for focused writing bursts, then take short breaks.

Align with the academic calendar: Utilize inherent planning tools and respond to assignment deadlines.

Break down your thesis into subtopics: Treat each as an individual assignment to make consistent progress.

Remember, the key to effective time management is not just the tools you use, but also the consistency with which you apply them.

While tools like the Pomodoro Technique can boost focus and efficiency, integrating these strategies into a structured schedule can compound their effectiveness. By aligning with the academic calendar and treating each section of your thesis as a separate milestone, you can maintain momentum and stay on track.

Organizing Research and Resources Efficiently

Efficient organization of research and resources is pivotal for the successful completion of your thesis within a tight timeframe. Develop a systematic approach to managing your information, ensuring that everything you need is easily accessible and logically structured. Start by categorizing your resources into relevant topics and subtopics.

Similar articles

Cited by other articles

Links to NCBI Databases

Use tools like reference management software to keep track of your citations and bibliographies. For instance, EndNote 20 can streamline the process of organizing your literature review and managing your references. Additionally, consider using software like G*Power for statistical analysis planning, such as determining appropriate sample sizes.

By maintaining a clear and organized workspace, both physically and digitally, you can minimize distractions and enhance your focus, leading to more productive writing sessions.

Writing and Revising Your Thesis

Drafting your thesis with focus and efficiency.

When the time comes to draft your thesis , efficiency and focus are paramount. Begin by breaking down the thesis into manageable sections, each with a specific goal. This approach not only simplifies the writing process but also helps maintain a clear direction throughout your work.

Outline each chapter before writing.

Allocate time slots for each section.

Set daily goals for word count or pages.

Remember, the quality of your draft is as important as the pace at which you write. Aim for clarity and conciseness in your initial drafts to facilitate easier revisions later on.

Utilize the feedback from your advisors and peers to refine your draft. Incorporate their insights to strengthen your arguments and ensure that your thesis meets the required academic standards. By staying organized and adhering to your schedule, you can produce a comprehensive and well-argued thesis within the two-week timeframe.

Incorporating Feedback and Peer Review

Once you have a draft of your thesis, it's crucial to engage in the peer review process. Peer review acts as a critical checkpoint before finalizing your document. It's a time to receive constructive criticism and to view your work from a fresh perspective. To make the most of this phase, follow these steps:

Complete a second reading of your peer's draft to identify strengths and weaknesses.

Make comments on the margins, focusing on areas that can be improved.

Discuss potential problems and alternative strategies with your peers.

Incorporate changes into your draft based on the feedback received.

Remember, the goal of peer review is not to rewrite your thesis but to refine it. It's about polishing your work and ensuring clarity, coherence, and scholarly rigor.

After incorporating the initial round of feedback, consider seeking additional insights from faculty members or experts in your field. This can be done during later stages of the review process, where more specialized advice can be invaluable. Use the feedback to revise your grant proposals or thesis chapters, and prepare for subsequent discussions or presentations.

Strategies for Effective Revision and Editing

Effective revision and editing are crucial for refining your thesis and ensuring clarity and coherence. Develop a systematic approach to revising each section of your thesis to maintain a consistent quality throughout. Start by addressing the larger structural issues before focusing on sentence-level details.

Review the organization of your chapters and sections for logical flow.

Check for clarity in your arguments and the relevance of your data.

Ensure that your writing is concise and free of jargon.

Correct grammatical errors and check for proper citation formatting.

Remember, revision is not just about correcting mistakes, but also about enhancing the strength of your argument and the overall readability of your thesis.

Incorporate feedback from peers and advisors diligently. They can provide valuable insights that you might have missed. Use their comments to guide your revisions and consider creating a checklist to track changes.

Lastly, allow time for multiple rounds of editing. A rushed job can overlook subtle errors and weaken your thesis. Patience and attention to detail during this phase will pay off in the quality of your final submission.

Overcoming Common Obstacles

Addressing procrastination and motivation issues.

Procrastination and waning motivation are frequent challenges in the thesis writing process. Stay aware of your motivation levels and take proactive steps to rejuvenate them, ensuring you avoid burnout and maintain a steady workflow. To combat procrastination, consider the following strategies:

Break down your thesis into smaller, manageable tasks.

Set clear, achievable goals for each writing session.

Reward yourself for meeting targets to maintain motivation.

Use productivity tools to track progress and stay focused.

Remember, consistency is key. Regular short sessions are often more productive than irregular, lengthy ones.

It's also beneficial to understand that motivation fluctuates and it's normal to have periods of lower productivity. During these times, it's crucial to adjust your schedule and tasks to accommodate your current state, rather than forcing an unrealistic pace.

Managing Performance Anxiety and Stress

Completing a thesis in a short timeframe can often lead to heightened performance anxiety and stress . It's crucial to acknowledge these feelings and address them proactively. Here are some strategies to help manage stress during this intense period:

Recognize the signs of stress early and take action.

Break down tasks into manageable chunks to avoid feeling overwhelmed.

Engage in regular physical activity to reduce tension.

Ensure adequate sleep and nutrition to maintain energy levels.

Practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or meditation.

Remember, managing stress is not about eliminating it completely but learning to cope with it effectively. By incorporating stress management techniques into your daily routine, you can maintain a healthier state of mind and improve your overall productivity.

Additionally, workshops and support groups, like those offered by Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), can provide valuable skills and community support. For instance, CAPS' weekly sessions on topics such as 'Managing Performance/Test Anxiety' and 'Confidence Boost' can be instrumental in building resilience.

Staying Consistent and Maintaining Confidence

Maintaining a consistent work ethic and keeping your confidence high are crucial for the successful completion of your thesis in a short timeframe. Developing a routine and sticking to it can help you stay on track and avoid the pitfalls of procrastination. Regularly review your progress and adjust your schedule as needed to ensure you are meeting your goals.

Week 6: Confidence Boost

Week 7: Creating Consistency

These steps, as part of a structured program, can significantly aid in building the confidence and consistency needed for your thesis journey. Qualitatively, participants in similar programs have reported a notable increase in confidence and motivation, which can be attributed to the structured guidance and mentorship provided.

Remember, the journey of thesis writing is not just about the end product but also about the personal growth and empowerment you experience along the way.

Finally, make the most of your thesis supervision . Manage feedback effectively, plan your meetings strategically, and navigate any challenges with resilience. This approach will not only help you maintain consistency but also bolster your confidence throughout the thesis writing process.

Final Preparations and Submission

Formatting and preparing your thesis for defense.

As you approach the final stages of your thesis journey, formatting and preparing your thesis for defense becomes crucial. The visual presentation of your work should not be underestimated; it reflects the quality and professionalism of your research. To ensure your thesis meets the required standards, consult the comprehensive guidelines provided on the 'Preparing to Graduate' page, and familiarize yourself with the submission timeline available on the GEPA Dissertation/Thesis Submission page.

Start by reviewing the formatting guidelines specific to your institution.

Gather all necessary co-author permission letters if applicable.

Attend webinars and workshops, like the 'SPRING GRAD DISSERTATION/THESIS SUBMISSION & FORMATTING WEBINAR', to gain insights into the submission process and formatting nuances.

Remember, the earlier you start preparing the formatting of your thesis, the smoother the process will be. Proactive preparation can prevent last-minute hurdles and ensure you meet all submission deadlines.

Incorporate the advice from the PhD Dissertation Defense Slides Design : show why your study is important, emphasize your contribution, connect your projects, and tell a compelling story. Keep your slides concise to maintain the attention and interest of your audience.

Understanding Submission Deadlines and Requirements

Meeting the submission deadlines for your thesis is crucial to ensure a smooth completion process. Different institutions have varying deadlines, often tied to the end of the academic semester or specific dates within the subsequent semester. For instance, the Cornell Graduate School policy requires the thesis to be submitted within 60 days of the final exam.

It's essential to familiarize yourself with the specific deadlines and requirements of your institution. Full details are typically available on the graduate school's website, along with resources such as webinars and FAQs to guide you through the process.

To avoid any last-minute hurdles, here's a checklist to keep in mind:

Confirm the final submission date and time for your thesis.

Ensure that you have completed all necessary forms and applications by the due date.

Attend any mandatory submission and formatting webinars offered by your institution.

Schedule preliminary and final review appointments if required.

Remember, adhering to these guidelines is not just about meeting a deadline; it's about respecting the process and giving your work the professional presentation it deserves.

Post-Submission: What to Expect and Next Steps

After the submission of your thesis , a period of waiting begins. It's essential to understand what comes next and how to navigate the post-submission phase. Here's what you can generally expect:

Review and Feedback : Your thesis will undergo a review process, which may involve peer feedback. This is a critical time to be receptive to constructive criticism and ready to make necessary revisions.

Timeline Awareness : Be aware of the timeline for responses from your committee or funding agencies. Deadlines for submission often coincide with the end of the semester, but responses may come in the subsequent semester.

Preparation for Defense : If your program requires it, begin preparing for your thesis defense. This includes understanding the format, anticipating questions, and rehearsing your presentation.

Remember, the submission is not the end of your journey. Use this time to reflect on your work, consider potential improvements, and prepare for the next steps in your academic or professional career.

Finally, stay informed about the formalities. Full information on submission and formatting is typically available on your institution's 'Preparing to Graduate' page. A detailed timeline for the process can also be found on the relevant submission page. Keep these resources handy to ensure you meet all post-submission requirements.

In conclusion, writing your thesis in just two weeks is an ambitious endeavor that requires meticulous planning, unwavering dedication, and effective time management. By leveraging the strategies discussed in this article, such as setting clear goals, maintaining motivation, utilizing procrastination tools, and managing performance anxiety, you can navigate the intense period of thesis completion with confidence. Remember, consistency and well-being are crucial to sustaining focus and producing quality work under tight deadlines. While this guide provides a structured approach, it's important to tailor these strategies to your individual needs and circumstances. With the right mindset and tools, you can transform the daunting task of short-term thesis completion into a successful academic achievement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can i attend thesis preparation workshops if i'm defending in a future quarter.

Yes, attending thesis preparation workshops earlier can be beneficial for understanding the formatting and organization of your thesis or dissertation.

Is it possible to incorporate peer review feedback into my thesis within the two-week timeframe?

Yes, allocating specific time for incorporating peer review feedback into your schedule is crucial and can be managed within two weeks with focused effort.

How can a course-based approach assist in meeting thesis submission deadlines?

A course-based approach provides structure, sets intermediate deadlines, and integrates time management tools that align with academic calendars, aiding in timely completion.

Can I schedule a preliminary appointment for my thesis defense early on?

It is not recommended to schedule a preliminary appointment too early. It is more beneficial to have a complete and formatted thesis/dissertation before the appointment.

What are the deadlines for submitting my dissertation or thesis?

Submission deadlines vary by institution, but it's essential to understand and adhere to these deadlines well in advance to ensure timely submission.

How can I manage time effectively while writing my thesis in such a short period?

Utilize time management tools, create a detailed work plan with daily goals, and prioritize tasks to focus on the most critical aspects of your thesis first.

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Steps for Completing a Thesis

The process of developing and completing a thesis project may seem a bit daunting at first, so we’ve put together the following steps to help make this process manageable..

Ideally, you start this process in the term before your final year—for instance, if you plan to graduate in a spring term, you would start in previous spring term. That timeline gives you ample opportunity to find a faculty advisor, determine the range of your project, conduct research and write the thesis. Of course, some students work on a slightly different timeline, and if you have questions, please get in touch with your advisor. 

Suggested (but not required) timeline: Three semesters before you intend to graduate

Deciding the exact topic and scope of your thesis is often an ongoing process, but it is important to start with a particular vision for what you’d like to complete. It is equally important to find a faculty member to serve as your thesis advisor. Your faculty advisor will guide you through the thesis process and help you determine the focus and scope of your project.

Thesis projects frequently grow out of a paper or project that a student completed as part of an undergraduate course in English. For instance, you might decide to expand the original paper/project from a course that you’ve taken with your faculty advisor. Then, what started out as a 10-page research paper with five sources may evolve into a 50-page thesis that responds to and builds upon the work of some 20 scholars and critics. Your thesis advisor will help you determine what is appropriate for your particular project. 

Most students work with faculty members with whom they have taken classes and on topics that are in the faculty member’s area of interest. It is extremely rare for a student to have a thesis advisor with whom they have never taken a class or did not know prior to embarking on the project.

To inquire about a faculty member’s interest in directing your thesis, you might attend their office hours to speak about the proposed project or email them about the project. If you email them, you should remind them of the class(es) you took with them, describe the project that you’d like to undertake and offer to meet with them to discuss further, if the faculty member would like to do so. Please be aware that faculty members may be unavailable to direct theses for a wide variety of professional and personal reasons.

Suggested (but not required) timeline: Two semesters before you intend to graduate

Once you have a faculty advisor and a project idea, you should complete a thesis application. This application includes a summary of the proposed thesis project, your thesis advisor’s signature and the Undergraduate Program Manager’s signature.

The application must be submitted to the appropriate College of Arts and Sciences office no later than one term prior to the student's graduation term ; however, it is strongly recommended that students complete and submit the thesis application before they begin their thesis coursework.

Students who are not in Arts and Sciences Honors should see the “ Research Distinction ” section of College of Arts and Sciences website for application instructions.

Students who are in Arts and Sciences Honors should see the College of Arts and Sciences Honors Program website  for instructions.

Suggested (but not required) timeline: Enrolled in two credits per term for the semester prior to the one you intend to graduate and the semester that you intend to graduate

To graduate with research distinction, you must complete at least four credit hours of thesis coursework in English 4999 (or English 4999H for Arts & Sciences Honors students). Typically, students enroll in two credit hours in the autumn and in the spring of their senior year. Occasionally, other arrangements are made: For instance, some students enroll in thesis hours in the spring of their junior year and through senior year, or they may enroll for thesis hours over the summer, or they might complete all of the credit hours in a single term (this final scenario is not advised).

To enroll in thesis coursework, email the Undergraduate Program Manager Elizabeth Falter  (.44), cc-ing your faculty advisor, prior to the first day of the term.

Suggested (but not required) timeline: Two semesters (the one prior to the one you intend to graduate and the semester that you intend to graduate)

Most students work on their thesis over the course of an academic year. How that work develops very much depends on the exact project, and your faculty advisor will help you create a plan. Research projects involve identifying, (re)reading and analyzing primary texts, as well as collecting and considering scholarly work, theoretical concepts and/or archival material—plus, of course, writing and revising the thesis itself. Creative writing projects involve meticulous drafts and revisions of the manuscript.

Required timeline: The defense must be completed and the accompanying paperwork signed and turned into the appropriate College of Arts and Sciences office before 5:00pm on the last day of classes of your graduation term.

All students must participate in a one-hour defense of their thesis project after it is complete. The defense is run by your faculty advisor and is attended by a second English department faculty reader. Arts and Sciences Honors students must have a third faculty reader from another department. Your faculty advisor will help with identifying and asking these faculty members.

“Defense” is the traditional name, but a thesis defense is more of a discussion. Your faculty advisor and reader(s) will have read the thesis prior to the defense, and in the defense, they will ask you questions about your work and offer comments. The discussion often covers topics such as why you undertook this project, your process, the thesis content, potential areas for improvement and avenues for further exploration. If you have questions about the structure of your particular thesis defense, consult with your faculty advisor—they will make sure you know what to expect and that you are prepared for it.

After this discussion, the faculty members will confer to discuss the merits of the project and if they would like any revisions to be made. We strongly encourage you to upload a copy of your thesis to the university’s Knowledge Bank.

For Reference

Forthcoming..

The Thesis Process

The thesis is an opportunity to work independently on a research project of your own design and contribute to the scholarly literature in your field. You emerge from the thesis process with a solid understanding of how original research is executed and how to best communicate research results. Many students have gone on to publish their research in academic or professional journals.

To ensure affordability, the per-credit tuition rate for the 8-credit thesis is the same as our regular course tuition. There are no additional fees (regular per-credit graduate tuition x 8 credits).

Below are the steps that you need to follow to fulfill the thesis requirement. Please know that through each step, you will receive guidance and mentorship.

1. Determine Your Thesis Topic and Tentative Question

When you have completed between 24 and 32 credits, you work with your assigned research advisor to narrow down your academic interests to a relevant and manageable thesis topic. Log in to MyDCE , then ALB/ALM Community to schedule an appointment with your assigned research advisor via the Degree Candidate Portal.

Thesis Topic Selection

We’ve put together this guide  to help frame your thinking about thesis topic selection.

Every effort is made to support your research interests that are grounded in your ALM course work, but faculty guidance is not available for all possible projects. Therefore, revision or a change of thesis topic may be necessary.

• The point about topic selection is particularly pertinent to scientific research that is dependent upon laboratory space, project funding, and access to private databases. It is also critical for our candidates in ALM, liberal arts fields (English, government, history, international relations, psychology, etc.) who are required to have Harvard faculty direct their thesis projects. Review Harvard’s course catalog online ( my.harvard.edu ) to be sure that there are faculty teaching courses related to your thesis topic. If not, you’ll need to choose an alternative topic.
• Your topic choice must be a new area of research for you. Thesis work represents thoughtful engagement in new academic scholarship. You cannot re-purpose prior research. If you want to draw or expand upon your own previous scholarship for a small portion of your thesis, you need to obtain the explicit permission of your research advisor and cite the work in both the proposal and thesis. Violations of this policy will be referred to the Administrative Board.

2. Prepare Prework for the Crafting the Thesis Proposal (CTP) Course or Tutorial

The next step in the process is to prepare and submit Prework in order to gain registration approval for the Crafting the Thesis Proposal (CTP) tutorial or course. The Prework process ensures that you have done enough prior reading and thinking about your thesis topic to benefit from the CTP.

The CTP provides an essential onramp to the thesis, mapping critical issues of research design, such as scope, relevance to the field, prior scholarly debate, methodology, and perhaps, metrics for evaluating impact as well as bench-marking. The CTP identifies and works through potential hurdles to successful thesis completion, allowing the thesis project to get off to a good start.

In addition to preparing, submitting, and having your Prework approved, to be eligible for the CTP, you need to be in good standing, have completed a minimum of 32 degree-applicable credits, including the statistics/research methods requirement (if pertinent to your field). You also need to have completed Engaging in Scholarly Conversation (if pertinent to your field). If you were admitted after 9/1/2023 Engaging in Scholarly Conversation (A and B) is required, if admitted before 9/1/2023 this series is encouraged.

Advising Note for Biology, Biotechnology, and Bioengineering and Nanotechnology Candidates : Thesis projects in these fields are designed to support ongoing scientific research happening in Harvard University, other academic institutions, or life science industry labs and usually these are done under the direction of a principal investigator (PI). Hence, you need to have a thesis director approved by your research advisor  prior  to submitting CTP prework. Your CTP prework is then framed by the lab’s research. Schedule an appointment with your research advisor a few months in advance of the CTP prework deadlines in order to discuss potential research projects and thesis director assignment.

CTP Prework is sent to our central email box:  [email protected]  between the following firm deadlines:

• April 1 and June 1 for fall CTP
• September 1 and November 1 for spring CTP.  
• August 1 and October 1 for the three-week January session (ALM sustainability candidates only)
• International students who need a student visa to attend Harvard Summer School should submit their prework on January 1, so they can register for the CTP on March 1 and submit timely I-20 paperwork. See international students guidelines for more information.

Your research advisor will provide feedback on your prework submission to gain CTP registration approval.  If your prework is not approved after 3 submissions, your research advisor cannot approve your CTP registration.  If not approved, you’ll need to take additional time for further revisions, and submit new prework during the next CTP prework submission time period for the following term (if your five-year degree completion deadline allows).

3. Register and Successfully Complete the Crafting the Thesis Proposal Tutorial or Course

Once CTP prework is approved, you register for the Crafting the Thesis Proposal (CTP) course or tutorial as you would any other course. The goal of the CTP is to produce a complete, well-written draft of a proposal containing all of the sections required by your research advisor. Creating an academically strong thesis proposal sets the foundation for a high-quality thesis and helps garner the attention of a well-respected thesis director. The proposal is normally between 15 to 25 pages in length.

The CTP  tutorial  is not a course in the traditional sense. You work independently on your proposal with your research advisor by submitting multiple proposal drafts and scheduling individual appointments. You need to make self-directed progress on the proposal without special prompting from the research advisor. You receive a final grade of SAT or UNSAT (failing grade).

The CTP for sustainability is a three-week course in the traditional sense and you receive a letter grade, and it must be B- or higher to receive degree credit for the course.

You are expected to incorporate all of your research advisor’s feedback and be fully committed to producing an academically strong proposal leading to a thesis worthy of a Harvard degree. If you are unable to take advice from your research advisor, follow directions, or produce an acceptable proposal, you will not pass the CTP.

Successful CTP completion also includes a check on the proper use of sources according to our academic integrity guidelines. Violations of our academic integrity policy will be referred to the Administrative Board.

Maximum of two attempts . If you don’t pass that CTP, you’ll have — if your five-year, degree-completion date allows — just one more attempt to complete the CTP before being required to withdraw from the program. If you fail the CTP just once and have no more time to complete the degree, your candidacy will automatically expire. Please note that a WD grade counts as an attempt.

If by not passing the CTP you fall into poor academic standing, you will need to take additional degree-applicable courses to return to good standing before enrolling in the CTP for your second and final time, only if your five-year, degree-completion date allows. If you have no more time on your five-year clock, you will be required to withdraw.

Human Subjects

If your thesis, regardless of field, will involve the use of human subjects (e.g., interviews, surveys, observations), you will need to have your research vetted by the  Committee on the Use of Human Subjects  (CUHS) of Harvard University. Please review the IRB LIFECYCLE GUIDE located on the CUHS website. Your research advisor will help you prepare a draft copy of the project protocol form that you will need to send to CUHS. The vetting process needs to be started during the CTP tutorial, before a thesis director has been assigned.

4. Thesis Director Assignment and Thesis Registration

We expect you to be registered in thesis soon after CTP completion or within 3 months — no later. You cannot delay. It is critical that once a research project has been approved through the CTP process, the project must commence in a timely fashion to ensure the academic integrity of the thesis process.

Once you (1) successfully complete the CTP and (2) have your proposal officially approved by your research advisor (RA), you move to the thesis director assignment phase. Successful completion of the CTP is not the same as having an officially approved proposal. These are two distinct steps.

If you are a life science student (e.g., biology), your thesis director was identified prior to the CTP, and now you need the thesis director to approve the proposal.

The research advisor places you with a thesis director. Do not approach faculty to ask about directing your thesis.  You may suggest names of any potential thesis directors to your research advisor, who will contact them, if they are eligible/available to direct your thesis, after you have an approved thesis proposal.

When a thesis director has been identified or the thesis proposal has been fully vetted by the preassigned life science thesis director, you will receive a letter of authorization from the Assistant Dean of Academic Programs officially approving your thesis work and providing you with instructions on how to register for the eight-credit Master’s Thesis. The letter will also have a tentative graduation date as well as four mandatory thesis submission dates (see Thesis Timetable below).

Continuous Registration Tip: If you want to maintain continued registration from CTP to thesis, you should meet with your RA prior to prework to settle on a workable topic, submit well-documented prework, work diligently throughout the CTP to produce a high-quality proposal that is ready to be matched with a thesis director as soon as the CTP is complete.

Good academic standing. You must be good academic standing to register for the thesis. If not, you’ll need to complete additional courses to bring your GPA up to the 3.0 minimum prior to registration.

Thesis Timetable

The thesis is a 9 to 12 month project that begins after the Crafting the Thesis Proposal (CTP); when your research advisor has approved your proposal and identified a Thesis Director.

The date for the appointment of your Thesis Director determines the graduation cycle that will be automatically assigned to you:

Once registered in the thesis, we will do a 3-month check-in with you and your thesis director to ensure progress is being made. If your thesis director reports little to no progress, the Dean of Academic Programs reserves the right to issue a thesis not complete (TNC) grade (see Thesis Grading below).

As you can see above, you do not submit your thesis all at once at the end, but in four phases: (1) complete draft to TA, (2) final draft to RA for format review and academic integrity check, (3) format approved draft submitted to TA for grading, and (4) upload your 100% complete graded thesis to ETDs.

Due dates for all phases for your assigned graduation cycle cannot be missed.  You must submit materials by the date indicated by 5 PM EST (even if the date falls on a weekend). If you are late, you will not be able to graduate during your assigned cycle.

If you need additional time to complete your thesis after the date it is due to the Thesis Director (phase 1), you need to formally request an extension (which needs to be approved by your Director) by emailing that petition to:  [email protected] .  The maximum allotted time to write your thesis, including any granted extensions of time is 12 months.

Timing Tip: If you want to graduate in May, you should complete the CTP in the fall term two years prior or, if a sustainability student, in the January session one year prior. For example, to graduate in May 2025:

• Complete the CTP in fall 2023 (or in January 2024, if a sustainability student)
• Be assigned a thesis director (TD) in March/April 2024
• Begin the 9-12 month thesis project with TD
• Submit a complete draft of your thesis to your TD by February 1, 2025
• Follow through with all other submission deadlines (April 1, April 15 and May 1 — see table above)
• Graduate in May 2025

5. Conduct Thesis Research

When registered in the thesis, you work diligently and independently, following the advice of your thesis director, in a consistent, regular manner equivalent to full-time academic work to complete the research by your required timeline.

You are required to produce at least 50 pages of text (not including front matter and appendices). Chapter topics (e.g., introduction, background, methods, findings, conclusion) vary by field.

6. Format Review — Required of all Harvard Graduate Students and Part of Your Graduation Requirements

All ALM thesis projects must written in Microsoft Word and follow a specific Harvard University format. A properly formatted thesis is an explicit degree requirement; you cannot graduate without it.

Your research advisor will complete the format review prior to submitting your thesis to your director for final grading according to the Thesis Timetable (see above).

You must use our Microsoft Word ALM Thesis Template or Microsoft ALM Thesis Template Creative Writing (just for creative writing degree candidates). It has all the mandatory thesis formatting built in. Besides saving you a considerable amount of time as you write your thesis, the preprogrammed form ensures that your submitted thesis meets the mandatory style guidelines for margins, font, title page, table of contents, and chapter headings. If you use the template, format review should go smoothly, if not, a delayed graduation is highly likely.

Format review also includes a check on the proper use of sources according to our academic integrity guidelines. Violations of our academic integrity policy will be referred directly to the Administrative Board.

7. Mandatory Thesis Archiving — Required of all Harvard Graduate Students and Part of Your Graduation Requirements

Once your thesis is finalized, meaning that the required grade has been earned and all edits have been completed, you must upload your thesis to Harvard University’s electronic thesis and dissertation submission system (ETDs). Uploading your thesis ETDs is an explicit degree requirement; you cannot graduate without completing this step.

The thesis project will be sent to several downstream systems:

• Your work will be preserved using Harvard’s digital repository DASH (Digital Access to Scholarship at Harvard).
• Metadata about your work will be sent to HOLLIS (the Harvard Library catalog).
• Your work will be preserved in Harvard Library’s DRS2 (digital preservation repository).

By submitting work through ETDs @ Harvard you will be signing the Harvard Author Agreement. This license does not constrain your rights to publish your work subsequently. You retain all intellectual property rights.

For more information on Harvard’s open access initiatives, we recommend you view the Director of the Office of Scholarly Communication (OSC), Peter Suber’s brief introduction .

Thesis Grading

You need to earn a grade of B- or higher in the thesis. All standard course letter grades are available to your thesis director. If you fail to complete substantial work on the thesis, you will earn a grade of TNC (thesis not complete). If you have already earned two withdrawal grades, the TNC grade will count as a zero in your cumulative GPA.

If you earn a grade below B-, you will need to petition the Administrative Board for permission to attempt the thesis for a second and final time. The petition process is only available if you are in good academic standing and your five-year, degree-completion deadline allows for more time. Your candidacy will automatically expire if you do not successfully complete the thesis by your required deadline.

If approved for a second attempt, you may be required to develop a new proposal on a different topic by re-enrolling in the CTP and being assigned a different thesis director. Tuition for the second attempt is calculated at the current year’s rate.

If by not passing the thesis you fall into poor academic standing, you’ll need to take additional degree-applicable courses to return to good standing before re-engaging with the thesis process for the second and final time. This is only an option if your five-year, degree-completion deadline allows for more time.

The Board only reviews cases in which extenuating circumstances prevented the successful completion of the thesis.

Harvard Division of Continuing Education

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How to Write a Master's Thesis: A Guide to Planning Your Thesis, Pursuing It, and Avoiding Pitfalls

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Part 1: Initial Considerations

Who needs to write a master’s thesis.

Thesis writing is one of the more daunting challenges of higher education. That being said, not all master's students have to write a thesis. For example, fields that place a stronger emphasis on applied knowledge, such as nursing, business, and education, tend to have projects and exams to test students on the skills and abilities associated with those fields. Conversely, in disciplines that require in-depth research or highly polished creative abilities, students are usually expected to prove their understanding and independence with a thesis.

What's Your Goal?

Do you want to write a thesis? The process is a long one, often spanning years. It's best to know exactly what you want before you begin. Many people are motivated by career goals. For example, hiring managers may see a master's degree as proof that the candidate is an expert within their field and can lead, motivate, and demonstrate initiative for themselves and others. Others dream of earning their doctorate, and they see a master's degree as a stepping stone toward their Ph.D .

No matter what your desired goal is, you should have one before you start your thesis. With your goal in mind, your work will have a purpose, which will allow you to measure your progress more easily.

Major Types of Theses

Once you've carefully researched or even enrolled in a master's program—a feat that involves its own planning and resources —you should know if you are expected to produce a quantitative (which occurs in many math and science programs), qualitative (which occurs in many humanities programs), or creative (which occurs in many creative writing, music, or fine arts programs) thesis.

Time and Energy Considerations

Advanced degrees are notoriously time and energy consuming. If you have a job, thesis writing will become your second job. If you have a family, they will need to know that your thesis will take a great deal of your attention, energy, and focus.

Your studies should not consume you, but they also should not take a back seat to everything else. You will be expected to attend classes, conduct research, source relevant literature, and schedule meetings with various people as you pursue your master's, so it's important to let those you care about know what's going on.

As a general note, most master's programs expect students to finish within a two-year period but are willing to grant extra time if requested, especially if that time is needed to deal with unexpected life events (more on those later).

Part 2: Form an Initial Thesis Question, and Find a Supervisor

When to begin forming your initial thesis question.

Some fields, such as history, may require you to have already formed your thesis question and to have used it to create a statement of intent (outlining the nature of your research) prior to applying to a master’s program. Others may require this information only after you've been accepted. Most of the time, you will be expected to come up with your topic yourself. However, in some disciplines, your supervisor may assign a general research topic to you.

Overall, requirements vary immensely from program to program, so it's best to confirm the exact requirements of your specific program.

What to Say to Your Supervisor

You will have a supervisor during your master's studies. Have you identified who that person will be? If yes, have you introduced yourself via email or phone and obtained information on the processes and procedures that are in place for your master's program? Once you've established contact, request an in-person meeting with him or her, and take a page of questions along with you. Your questions might include:

• Is there a research subject you can recommend in my field?
• I would like to pursue [target research subject] for my thesis. Can you help me narrow my focus?
• Can you give me an example of a properly formatted thesis proposal for my program?

Don't Be Afraid to Ask for Help (to a Degree)

Procedures and expectations vary from program to program, and your supervisor is there to help remove doubt and provide encouragement so you can follow the right path when you embark on writing your thesis. Since your supervisor has almost certainly worked with other graduate students (and was one at some point), take advantage of their experience, and ask questions to put your mind at ease about how to write a master’s thesis.

That being said, do not rely too heavily on your supervisor. As a graduate student, you are also expected to be able to work independently. Proving your independent initiative and capacity is part of what will earn you your master's degree.

Part 3: Revise Your Thesis

Read everything you can get your hands on.

Whether you have a question or need to create one, your next step is simple and applies to all kinds of theses: read.

Seek Out Knowledge or Research Gaps

Read everything you can that relates to the question or the field you are studying. The only way you will be able to determine where you can go is to see where everyone else has been. After you have read some published material, you will start to spot gaps in current research or notice things that could be developed further with an alternative approach. Things that are known but not understood or understood but not explained clearly or consistently are great potential thesis subjects. Addressing something already known from a new perspective or with a different style could also be a potentially valuable project. Whichever way you choose to do it, keep in mind that your project should make a valuable contribution to your field.

Talk with Experts in Your Field (and Don't Be Afraid to Revise Your Thesis)

To help narrow down your thesis topic, talk to your supervisor. Your supervisor will have an idea of what is current in your field and what can be left alone because others are already working on it. Additionally, the school you are attending will have programs and faculty with particular areas of interest within your chosen field.

On a similar note, don't be surprised if your thesis question changes as you study. Other students and researchers are out there, and as they publish, what you are working on can change. You might also discover that your question is too vague, not substantial enough, or even no longer relevant. Do not lose heart! Take what you know and adjust the question to address these concerns as they arise. The freedom to adapt is part of the power you hold as a graduate student.

Part 4: Select a Proposal Committee

What proposal committees are and why they're useful.

When you have a solid question or set of questions, draft a proposal.

You'll need an original stance and a clear justification for asking, and answering, your thesis question. To ensure this, a committee will review your thesis proposal. Thankfully, that committee will consist of people assigned by your supervisor or department head or handpicked by you. These people will be experts who understand your field of study and will do everything in their power to ensure that you are pursuing something worthwhile. And yes, it is okay to put your supervisor on your committee. Some programs even require that your supervisor be on your committee.

Just remember that the committee will expect you to schedule meetings with them, present your proposal, respond to any questions they might have for you, and ultimately present your findings and thesis when all the work is done. Choose those who are willing to support you, give constructive feedback, and help address issues with your proposal. And don't forget to give your proposal a good, thorough edit and proofread before you present it.

How to Prepare for Committee Meetings

Be ready for committee meetings with synopses of your material for committee members, answers for expected questions, and a calm attitude. To prepare for those meetings, sit in on proposal and thesis defenses so you can watch how other graduate students handle them and see what your committee might ask of you. You can even hold rehearsals with friends and fellow students acting as your committee to help you build confidence for your presentation.

Part 5: Write Your Thesis

What to do once your proposal is approved.

After you have written your thesis proposal and received feedback from your committee, the fun part starts: doing the work. This is where you will take your proposal and carry it out. If you drafted a qualitative or quantitative proposal, your experimentation or will begin here. If you wrote a creative proposal, you will now start working on your material. Your proposal should be strong enough to give you direction when you perform your experiments, conduct interviews, or craft your work. Take note that you will have to check in with your supervisor from time to time to give progress updates.

Thesis Writing: It's Important to Pace Yourself and Take Breaks

Do not expect the work to go quickly. You will need to pace yourself and make sure you record your progress meticulously. You can always discard information you don't need, but you cannot go back and grab a crucial fact that you can't quite remember. When in doubt, write it down. When drawing from a source, always create a citation for the information to save your future self time and stress. In the same sense, you may also find journaling to be a helpful process.

Additionally, take breaks and allow yourself to step away from your thesis, even if you're having fun (and especially if you're not). Ideally, your proposal should have milestones in it— points where you can stop and assess what you've already completed and what's left to do. When you reach a milestone, celebrate. Take a day off and relax. Better yet, give yourself a week's vacation! The rest will help you regain your focus and ensure that you function at your best.

How to Become More Comfortable with Presenting Your Work

Once you start reaching your milestones, you should be able to start sharing what you have. Just about everyone in a graduate program has experience giving a presentation at the front of the class, attending a seminar, or watching an interview. If you haven't (or even if you have), look for conferences and clubs that will give you the opportunity to learn about presenting your work and become comfortable with the idea of public speaking. The more you practice talking about what you are studying, the more comfortable you'll be with the information, which will make your committee defenses and other official meetings easier.

Published authors can be called upon to present at conferences, and if your thesis is strong, you may receive an email or a phone call asking if you would share your findings onstage.

Presenting at conferences is also a great way to boost your CV and network within your field. Make presenting part of your education, and it will become something you look forward to instead of fear.

What to Do If Your Relationship with Your Supervisor Sours

A small aside: If it isn't already obvious, you will be communicating extensively with others as you pursue your thesis. That also means that others will need to communicate with you, and if you've been noticing things getting quiet, you will need to be the one to speak up. Your supervisor should speak to you at least once a term and preferably once a week in the more active parts of your research and writing. If you give written work to your supervisor, you should have feedback within three weeks.

If your supervisor does not provide feedback, frequently misses appointments, or is consistently discouraging of your work, contact your graduate program advisor and ask for a new supervisor. The relationship with your supervisor is crucial to your success, especially if she or he is on your committee, and while your supervisor does not have to be friendly, there should at least be professional respect between you.

What to Do If a Crisis Strikes

If something happens in your life that disrupts everything (e.g., emotional strain, the birth of a child, or the death of a family member), ask for help. You are a human being, and personal lives can and do change without warning. Do not wait until you are falling apart before asking for help, either. Learn what resources exist for crises before you have one, so you can head off trauma before it hits. That being said, if you get blindsided, don't refuse help. Seek it out, and take the time you need to recover. Your degree is supposed to help you become a stronger and smarter person, not break you.

Part 6: Polish and Defend Your Master's Thesis

How to write a master’s thesis: the final stages.

After your work is done and everything is written down, you will have to give your thesis a good, thorough polishing. This is where you will have to organize the information, draft it into a paper format with an abstract, and abbreviate things to help meet your word-count limit. This is also where your final editing and proofreading passes will occur, after which you will face your final hurdle: presenting your thesis defense to your committee. If they approve your thesis, then congratulations! You are now a master of your chosen field.

Conclusion and Parting Thoughts

Remember that you do not (and should not) have to learn how to write a master’s thesis on your own. Thesis writing is collaborative, as is practically any kind of research.

While you will be expected to develop your thesis using your own initiative, pursue it with your own ambition, and complete it with your own abilities, you will also be expected to use all available resources to do so. The purpose of a master's thesis is to help you develop your own independent abilities, ensuring that you can drive your own career forward without constantly looking to others to provide direction. Leaders get master's degrees. That's why many business professionals in leadership roles have graduate degree initials after their last names. If you already have the skills necessary to motivate yourself, lead others, and drive change, you may only need your master's as an acknowledgement of your abilities. If you do not, but you apply yourself carefully and thoroughly to the pursuit of your thesis, you should come away from your studies with those skills in place.

A final thought regarding collaboration: all theses have a section for acknowledgements. Be sure to say thank you to those who helped you become a master. One day, someone might be doing the same for you.

Image source: Falkenpost/Pixabay.com 

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Understanding and solving intractable resource governance problems.

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Planning the timeline and progress of your doctoral dissertation (or Masters/undergraduate thesis)

One of my PhD students lamented this week with me that she had a lot to juggle (taking children to and from schools and to and from activities, etc.) and that she needed a strategy to make her research move forward. I had been planning to write this blog post for a while, since this is the one question I get asked the most by doctoral students (“ how do I plan my unstructured time over the summer ” being the other one).

Do you have one like this but for dissertations? From how to pick your topic to how to plan your chapters or something similar? 🙂 — Mariana Miguélez (@Scherezadda) March 27, 2018

I had to rush to get this blog post done because my student is 2 years away from the deadline her university has imposed for her thesis defence, which is why I sat down with her last night to show her how I do things. I have two other PhD students at exactly the same stage (2 years to defense) so I figured I might as well finish this blog post.

While I’ve suggested that people read one (or more) of the books that I’ve digested myself (check my Writing a Doctoral Dissertation page), one of the main things I teach my students is how to apply backcasting techniques to develop a project plan . I was trained as a project manager, and I worked in that capacity for a number of years, so I understand exactly the kind of work that needs to be done to develop good project plans.

There are a few resources for students, which I mentioned on Twitter earlier today (October 5th, 2018), many of which are listed in the thread that will appear if you click anywhere on the tweet shown below. Thanks to everyone who responded to my query, though I think many of them were professors describing their own process, which is not the same as having a doctoral dissertation (ONE GOAL) to finish in X number of years. My students are doing theirs in the 3 papers’ model, which is a bit closer to the day-to-day life of a professor, but still, the trajectory is quite different. Anyhow, here are some recommendations (click on the tweet to expand the entire thread).

Everyone: one of my PhD students today asked me how to plan her day/week/month/time table. Can you tweet me your process before I tweet/thread mine? Thanks! (I'm off to dinner because I've already written 460 words). — Dr Raul Pacheco-Vega (@raulpacheco) October 3, 2018

The core planning strategy I would thus recommend doctoral, masters and undergraduate students is to engage in a combination of Gantt Chart Design and project backcasting techniques .

The Gantt chart is a technique I learned in graduate school when I took project management courses. This is a hypothetical Gantt chart for my doctoral student, covering about 15 months.

What I suggested to her was to use backcasting techniques to plan backwards from her goal (PhD thesis defense) to intermediate goals. This post explains how I backcast a project https://t.co/wAmyejeoa0 since her dissertation is a 3-papers one, I suggested she uses that model. — Dr Raul Pacheco-Vega (@raulpacheco) October 5, 2018

For Gantt Chart templates, you can see Dr. Emma Sheppard’s here.

Project planning for research students https://t.co/ku7shfB5uL excellent template by @DrESheppard which may be of interest to students from undergrad, Masters and PhD levels. pic.twitter.com/ujQVlYocH7 — Dr Raul Pacheco-Vega (@raulpacheco) September 3, 2018

Here is another resource that you can use to create Gantt Charts.

To do Gantt charts you can use Excel or Microsoft Project (which is how I learned to do them), or Visio (which has been bought by the evil company and is now Microsoft Visio). I liked this detailed approach that uses connectors between milestones and tasks https://t.co/xVjNmM1q7c — Dr Raul Pacheco-Vega (@raulpacheco) October 5, 2018

Hugh Kearns and Maria Gardiner have lots of resources on their site, and have published books on this as well.

I just realised @ithinkwell and @ithinkwellHugh have excellent FREE templates on their website https://t.co/Q859jNiM6Q for PhD students to plan their trajectories, etc. #PhDChat (thanks, Maria and Hugh!) — Dr Raul Pacheco-Vega (@raulpacheco) October 5, 2018

Dr. Patrick Dunleavy’s book “ Authoring a PhD ” is incredible and really does help students who are planning their PhD process. I recommend it to my own doctoral students.

And of course I would be remiss if I forgot to recommend Dr. Ellie Mackin Roberts (my coauthor for a forthcoming book on research planning) and her website. Ellie has A TON of downloadable printables for you to plan your own research. She is fantastic.

Both for doctoral students AND for post-PhD folks, my coauthor Dr. @EllieMackin has an entire website for research planning https://t.co/unXMqmaf2Z she offers FREE downloadable printable templates that you can use to plan your own research. — Dr Raul Pacheco-Vega (@raulpacheco) October 5, 2018

In the end, the process I recommended to my students and that I do myself is – set a target defense date and then work backwards and plan tasks, activities, and intermediate goals. For example, I have asked my students to plan submission dates for their 3 papers (to be sent to journals) and then schedule fieldwork and data analysis accordingly. This process has worked well, and I hope my description of the process will help my students and others!

In a subsequent blog post I’ll describe how to go from long-term goals (submit paper X by Y date) to daily tasks. That blog post will definitely apply to doctoral students and post-PhD folks.

If you liked this blog post, you may also be interested in my Resources for Graduate Students page, and on my reading notes of books I’ve read on how to do a doctoral degree.

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By Raul Pacheco-Vega – October 6, 2018

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About Raul Pacheco-Vega, PhD

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https://www.vitae.ac.uk/doing-research/doing-a-doctorate/completing-your-doctorate/writing-and-submitting-your-doctoral-thesis/structuring-your-thesis

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Structuring your thesis

Time spent thinking about and planning how you will structure your thesis is time well spent. Start to organise the material that you have already written into folders relating to each chapter. The following techniques may help you to decide upon a structure.

• Discuss the structure with a colleague, explaining it as a continuous story you're trying to write 
• Use visual techniques like mind-mapping
• Create a storyboard for your thesis. This tells the ‘story' of the thesis in a small number of panels that mix text and pictures
• Sort index cards with key ideas into a coherent structure
• Use post-it notes with key ideas on a whiteboard to make connections with lines and colours.

Analysing existing theses is a good starting point to get an idea of typical structures in your field. Theses will usually contain most or all of the following sections:

• Acknowledgements
• Contents page(s)
• Introduction
• Literature review (sometimes within the introduction)
• Materials/sources and methods (can be part of every chapter if these are different per chapter)
• Themed topic chapters
• Discussion or Findings
• Conclusions
• Your publications

Once a rough structure is sketched out, it is a good idea to assign each chapter a likely word length and, if possible, a deadline for a first draft.

Writing preferences

People have different preferences in terms of writing. Think about the approach that will work best for you. For example here are two examples of writing preferences. 

Planning writers tend to have a highly structured approach to writing and if this is your approach you may find the following tips helpful.

• Under each chapter heading define a series of sections
• Break these into sub-sections and keep breaking these down until you are almost at the paragraph level
• You can now work methodically through this set of short sections
• Check completed sections or chapters agree with your plan

Generative writers prefer to g et ideas down on paper and then organise them afterwards. If this approach suits you try the following approach.

• Choose a chapter and just start typing
• Then you need to do some work to impose a structure
• Summarise each paragraph as a bullet point
• Use this summary to gain an overview of the structure
• Re-order the writing and strengthen the structure by adding sub-headings and revising what you have written to make the argument clearer

Reviewing your structure

As your research and writing develop you will want to revise and rework your structure. Try to review do this on a regular basis and amend plans for future chapters as you become more aware of what the thesis must contain.

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Writing your dissertation - making an action plan

Posted in: dissertations

Action stations!

Every successful route to completion of a dissertation begins with a practical and workable action plan. Your action plan is a vital tool to help you stay focused, on track and motivated throughout your journey. It is highly likely your supervisor will ask you to make a plan, so that she/he can advise on time frames, targets and goals, and so on.

Before you begin to plot your write-up plan, you need to know when, where, how, and with what or whom you will do your research, and how you will collect and analyse your data.

You need to think about how long it will take you to collect and collate your data and research, and then build that into overall time frames.

Planning your write-up

Then, once you have worked out how much time you will need for data collection, you can then devise your write-up plan.

Use the following rules to help you:

• Write about a page a day.
• Work backwards from at least two weeks before the submission date to calculate when you need to start your writing. (A page is about 500 words, so, for example, if your dissertation is 15,000 words long, you will need at least 30 days to do the writing.)
• Leave two or more weeks at the end for editing and proofreading.
• Include interim achievable targets to help you stay focused and on track.
• Work on different sections - and if you get bogged down switch from one to another.
• Ask a close friend to read it bit by bit and provide feedback on clarity, accuracy and appropriacy.
• Build in meetings slots with your supervisor. Make sure these are strategically placed to catch possible problems at different stages of the write up, or sections of your dissertation.
• Use time-management tools to help you stay on track, e.g. a Gantt chart, or a planning app on your phone.
• Once you have devised your plan, stick to it... It's there for a reason!

Remember it may take you up to three times longer than you expect to write up your dissertation, so build this contingency into your schedule.

Hopkins, D. and Reid, T., 2018. The Academic Skills Handbook: Your Guid e to Success in Writing, Thinking and Communicating at University . Sage.

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How to Manage Your PhD Timeline for Smoother Research Completion

It’s finally happening! The university has sent you an acceptance letter for the PhD program you had applied to. Getting into a doctoral program is not an easy task, and the speculations around it of being one of the toughest courses can’t be denied either. However, despite it being a daunting journey, one can smoothly sail through by managing the PhD timeline smartly. So sit back and read this article to plan your Ph.D. research timeline in an effective and hassle-free manner.

Table of Contents

Why Should You Draw a Ph.D. Timeline?

A PhD journey is laid with several milestones that come as you proceed. Thus, drawing a timeline preemptively helps researchers stay away from the last-minute terror of submissions, presentations, committee meetings, viva, etc. Furthermore, creating a timeline and adhering to it makes you a better learner and instills discipline in you.

How to Begin with the PhD Timeline Planning?

While creating a well-structured timeline, you must ask these questions to yourself and to your supervisor:

• What are the important steps of a PhD program?
• How many projects do you have to work on?
• What are the technical milestones for developing a protocol?
• What are the risks associated?

What to Do Before Creating Your PhD Timeline?

Obtaining a doctoral degree is a process of completing of required credits, passing the qualification test for submitting a doctoral thesis, writing and submitting a thesis, and final viva voce.

Follow these steps as you create your PhD Timeline :

• Attend the program orientation to understand specific graduation requirements
• Make a list of technical events such as conferences, committee meetings, PhD viva voce , presentations, qualification examination, etc.
• Manage your PhD timeline term-wise or month-wise
• Make a list of events on priority-basis

Step-wise Guide to Create Your PhD Timeline

Let’s take a detailed look at the steps required for a PhD. It is important to know what each step entails and what the deadline is for each of it. Generally, all universities have strict graduation requirements. A doctoral student is expected to complete a minimum number of credits to qualify as a PhD candidate. However, in some cases, a master’s degree is required for the doctoral program, and if you have obtained a master’s degree, you may be awarded a doctoral degree only through a research course without taking additional credits.

Here are 8 major milestones of a PhD program:

Milestone 1: Through consultation with your advisor, check whether there are any special graduation requirements other than the university and department that you may have to complete as part of your program.

Milestone 2: The supervisory committee must be formed within one year of the doctoral program and must have at least one meeting to plan the successful conclusion of a research project. In addition to the advisor, at least two other university professors are required to be members of this committee. Doctoral students must receive advice on how the doctoral program is progressing through regular meetings of the committee.

Milestone 3: In the second year of the doctoral program, you must pass a comprehensive exam which is known as the PhD qualifying examination . It is an oral presentation and oral exam of approximately 2 hours in front of 6-7 professors, essentially including one non-university professor, members of the Supervisory/Supervisory Board, and two other professors from your university and your advisors. Upon passing this exam, the PhD student’s status changes to PhD candidate. This makes him/her eligible to receive the doctoral degree.

Milestone 4: After that, by presenting the thesis and participating in conferences, the doctoral student must conduct his doctoral research in-depth and be recognized for it.

Milestone 5: When the curriculum requirements are met, the deadline for completing the doctoral thesis is determined through consultation with the advisor, and this is approved by the guidance committee.

Milestone 6: As a prerequisite before appearing for PhD viva, discuss the completed thesis with your advisor and select PhD external examiners related to the research field.

Milestone 7: Once the external expert/s reviews and approves the value, logic, and results of the doctoral thesis, the doctoral office allows the PhD candidate to take the thesis defense as the next course. In this defense, PhD candidates must pass a 2.5-3-hour oral examination based on their thesis in front of the doctoral examination panel.

Milestone 8: After receiving approval from the attending professors on the doctoral examination panel, submitting the final thesis, and applying for the doctoral degree, you will finally graduate with your PhD degree.

To download the PhD Timeline Template, click here !

Key takeaways.

Don’t get discouraged when someone shares their anecdotes of surviving a cumbersome PhD journey. Everyone applying for a doctoral program meets obstacles along the way; however, setting a proper timeline and following it diligently will only make your journey smoother than the rest. Do your best in accordance with your conscience, your mission as a learning scholar, and the regulations of your university. Wishing you a successful academic life with this PhD timeline . Let us know how you plan to soar through your PhD in the comments section below.

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Dissertation Checklist and Timeline

Completing all of the crucial steps to the dissertation process can be complicated. Time and task management will be key to your success. Review the suggested tasks and print out this checklist to assist you in your dissertation journey.

• Wihi guide for students
• How to use Wihi
• Phase 1: Creating a topic proposal

Phase 2: Creating a thesis plan

• Phase 3: Making a thesis cooperation agreement
• Phase 4: Working on your thesis
• Phase 5: Finishing and evaluating a thesis

Once your topic proposal has been accepted and you have been assigned a thesis supervisor, you need to write a more detailed and expanded version of your topic proposal: a thesis plan. Instructions for a thesis plan can be found from the thesis manual . Send your thesis plan through Wihi to your thesis supervisor. The supervisor will accept your thesis plan, or ask that you make changes to it.

At all phases of the Wihi process, you can create different tasks and schedules for yourself in Wihi. The purpose of the assignments is to help you and your thesis supervisor to understand the process of your thesis. Tasks can include, for example, "acquiring a knowledge base," "making a survey," "contacting interviewees," etc. When the task is done, and you make a note of it in Wihi, your thesis supervisor also receives the information. Assignments can only be created and marked as done by the student, not the supervisor. Wihi also asks for timetables for completing the different stages (1/3-3/3). This, too, is important to outline, as the schedule helps the supervisor to outline the student’s thesis completion goals. The given schedules do not affect when the thesis will finally be completed, i.e., the final implementation schedule may deviate from them.

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Master's Thesis Plan Form

Master’s Thesis Plan Information

Students completing a written thesis as part of their Master’s degree program must submit this form so that their record can accurately reflect their plan and associated requirements. Students pursuing a thesis plan will also register for Master’s thesis hours as appropriate and complete a thesis defense. Work closely with your department to determine the minimum and maximum thesis credit hour requirement for your degree.

The form should be submitted as early as possible in a student’s career, and at the latest should submit it by the deadline to apply to graduate for the semester in which the student plans to earn the degree.  Deadlines  and  thesis information  can be found on the Graduate School’s website. 

Note that students completing an art practices MFA creative thesis, music thesis project, or dance MFA project do not submit a written thesis and need not complete this form.

Endorsements Needed

The graduate program must endorse the form.

Information Needed 

Students will provide their name, CU e-mail address, student ID, and select their program on the landing page.  On the form, the student should read and sign the form indicating that their master’s degree will include the submission of a written thesis.

Submission & Routing Information

Students will receive notification upon submission, and the Master’s thesis plan form will be sent to the graduate program for endorsement.  After review by the Graduate School, the student and program will receive notification. 

Additional instructions here .

Student Information

Department of History

• Thesis Submission

In this section

Regulations, appointment of examiners, the submission process, submission regulations, early submission.

All of the regulations governing the preparation, submission, and examining of your thesis (for MA by Research, MPhil and PhD) can be found in the ‘Doctoral College's Guide to Examinations for Higher Degrees by Research’ via the link below.

Guide to Examinations for Higher Degrees by Research Link opens in a new window

As you get closer to the submission of your finished thesis, your Supervisor will discuss with you the appointment of your Examiners.

Two Examiners will be appointed, one an Internal Examiner who is usually a member of staff in the Warwick History Department, and an External Examiner, who will be based at another institution. The Internal Examiner may have been involved in your progress during your studies, for example they may have been one of the Assessors for your Upgrade in Year 1, but the External Examiner will not normally have had any involvement in your work previously.

The nomination of your Examiners is ultimately the responsibility of your Supervisor, who makes the recommendation. The form is then checked by the History Director of PG Research before submission to the Doctoral College for consideration. It is the University Doctoral College, not the Department that ultimately appoints your Examiners.

Ideally the Doctoral College should receive your completed Nomination of Examiners Form at least one month before you intend to submit.

Students should complete Part 1 of the form and then forward to supervisor(s) for completion of Part 2. To allow for time for supervisors and the History Director of Postgraduate Research to sign the form, students should aim to complete part one of the form two months before intended submission.

If you are not able to submit the completed Nomination of Examiners Form one month before thesis submission, you can still submit your thesis but there may be a delay in the thesis being dispatched to your examiners.

Students and supervisors will be contacted once the Examiners have been approved.

From the outset of your studies in Year 1, you should have a clear plan for the completion of your thesis, with a submission date that you are working towards. This plan needs to be regularly reviewed and revised, and must always be realistic and practical.

Once ready to submit, an electronic version of your thesis, together with completed Thesis Submission Declaration Form (Form 3) should be submitted to the Doctoral College via the online form .

Your thesis must meet the University requirements for presentation

Presentation of the Thesis Link opens in a new window

The Doctoral College guide to examinations has a wealth of information to help make your submission as smooth as possible.

The FAQ page answers lots of questions covering the entire submission process, including information from embargos to pass lists.

Students should refer to the presentation and referencing section of the PGR Handbook for details of how to avoid plagiarism and further advice on formal requirements, style and proofreading.

An Early Submission Form for a Research Degree Link opens in a new window should be completed when a research student intends to submit their thesis for examination more than one month before the end of their fee-paying registration.

In addition, if the research student wishes to submit earlier than the times specified below, a statement from the student explaining the reasons for this request should be attached to the form.

PhD (full or part-time) - 5 months

MPhil (full or part-time) - 4 months

Master’s degree by Research (full or part-time) - 2 months

Students should be advised that it is University policy that where a student submits early for a research degree, the full fee covering the minimum period of registration for the degree will still be charged (i.e. there will be no reduction or remittance in the fee paid).

Students who are funded by one of the UK Research Councils or in receipt of University funding should also be advised that where they submit early, this may result in the early termination of their maintenance grant from the relevant Research Council or the University.

Please find more information about Early Submission here .

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10 Steps for Successful Project Completion (Templates Included)

Project planning, execution, monitoring and controlling are often the focus of project management. Even project initiation gets attention, but project completion is usually mentioned as an afterthought.

That’s a mistake. Every phase of a project is important. Project completion is more than delivering on time, within budget and meeting quality expectations. Here are 10 steps that will lead to successful project completion.

What Is Project Completion?

Project completion is the final phase of a project’s life cycle, which starts with initiation and moves through planning, execution, monitoring and controlling to project completion. The project reaches completion when all the activities are finalized and the project is delivered to the client or stakeholder.

There are many key activities to the project completion phase, from verifying that all the project’s deliverables meet executions and are accepted by stakeholders, to completing all project documentation and doing a post-mortem to identify what went right and what didn’t. The project is then transferred to the stakeholders and the project’s team efforts are recognized.

Organizing project documentation and final activities can be done more efficiently with the same project management software used to plan, execute and control the project. ProjectManager is award-winning project and portfolio management software that has unlimited file storage to hold all project documentation and make it easy to track. Using Gantt charts helps to see the percentage complete for all activities, which helps to ensure that all contractors have been paid and teams have moved on to other projects. Plus, add notifications to ensure payments are delivered on time. Get started with ProjectManager today for free.

What Is a Project Completion Report?

A project completion report is a document that provides an overview of the project and is created to provide stakeholders with a project summary. Included in the project completion report are the original project goals and objectives as well as statements showing how the project met those goals and objectives.

The performance of the budget and schedule are also summarized in the project completion report. For example, did the project deliver on time, within budget and meet the quality expectations of the client? There’s also a section that specifically addresses client satisfaction. Proof that clients have received deliverables, invoices, project files and communications and more are also part of the project completion report.

This is the last project deliverable and is used to elicit feedback from stakeholders and used to improve future project performance. The project manager creates it to determine project success for senior management. This closes the project, releases project resources and communicates final information to stakeholders.

What Is a Project Completion Certificate?

A project completion certificate is a legal document that states the project has been completed as contracted. These are more commonly found in construction projects , where there are many regulations and bylaws that are set by the local municipal body and the project needs to be in compliance with them. It is provided after the inspection of the building project. It is important for getting an income tax rebate on home loans, to sell or occupy a property and more.

Project Completion Checklist

Because project completion is just as important as the other phases of the project life cycle, it should get the same attention one puts into planning , execution, etc. It’s easy to think that with the project delivered all work is done. But many loose ends need to be tied before the project can be archived and truly done. Check off the items on this list to ensure project completion is complete.

Review the Project Success Criteria

The success criteria that should be reviewed at project completion include the cost, time and scope, but aren’t restricted to the classic iron triangle. Also in review should be if the quality expectations have been met, stakeholder and team satisfaction, resource utilization, control and risk management.

Ensure All Project Deliverables Were Produced

The project will have a final deliverable, but there’s a number of smaller deliverables that need to be created throughout the project life cycle first. The client or stakeholder should sign off on each deliverable. At project completion, a review of all these deliverables should be made to ensure they have been produced.

Conduct Post Project Evaluations

The project closure stage is also a time to reflect on what went well and what didn’t. These evaluations will look at the overall effectiveness of the project and analyze the results. It helps to identify areas where improvements can be made and then apply these lessons learned to future projects.

Make a Project Completion Report

Many of these steps will be compiled in a summary called a project completion report, usually created by the project manager. This project report will note the project objectives and what the team accomplished as well as highlight any of the lessons learned. Recommendations for improving processes in future projects are listed and the team and sponsors are thanked. This project completion report is then distributed to the project team, customers and stakeholders.

Write a Project Completion Certificate

As noted above, the project completion certificate is a legal document that’s commonplace for construction projects. It states that the construction of the project or property has been completed to the satisfaction of the approved building plan.

Close Contracts

All contracts issued over the life cycle of a project must be completed and signed off on. This is important as it determines if the work described in the contracts was completed as defined. All the tasks and terms of the contracts must be closed before the project completion phase can be done.

Archive Project Documentation

All project documentation should be archived as it can help direct future projects. This includes all contracts, proposals, the business case, charter, scope statement, schedule, budget estimate, project management documents, surveys, status reports , checklist and emails.

Make Final Payments

Everyone must be paid for their work during the project completion phase. This is only if the suppliers, vendors, contractors, subcontractors, et al., have met their contractual obligations, including resolving any problems, making repairs, completing punch list items, etc.

Have a Post-Mortem Meeting

A post-mortem meeting is a business process in which the project team, project manager and stakeholders review and evaluate the project results. The information that’s codified in the above project evaluation is gathered in this process where everyone is expected to speak honestly and discuss where the project could have been better.

Release the Project Team

While not an official process, the project team must be released from the concluding project so they’re free to be assigned to other projects. But this process can include suppliers, contractors and other partners who should be notified that the project has been completed, confirm any final payments or obligations and release them to work on other projects.

Project Completion Template

There are a lot of details to keep track of when in the project completion stage. All of them are important. To make sure that nothing slips through the cracks, use our free project closure template for Word .

The free project completion template is fully customizable so users can add or delete items as they see fit. It comes with space to provide everything from project documentation, project plan, signoffs and lessons learned, among many other critical items.

More Project Completion Templates

Project completion involves many things. While the project completion template covers a lot of ground, other templates can help flesh out some of its parts. ProjectManager has over 100 free project management templates for Excel and Word that cover every project phase. Here are a couple more free templates that can help with project completion.

Lessons Learned Template

One of the more important parts of the project completion phase is the post-mortem or project evaluation. Use this free lessons learned template for Excel to provide a guide to gather all the pertinent information about the project and zero in on where there is room for improvement.

Project Review Template

Another tool to help evaluate and track specific metrics to figure out if the project achieved its desired results in the free project review template for word. There’s a place to define the project’s goals and objectives, risk and issues, project staffing and resources, success criteria and much more.

How ProjectManager Helps With Project Completion

These free templates are helpful in the project completion process, but they need to be used with project management software. ProjectManager is award-winning project and portfolio management software that has unlimited file storage to keep all project documentation, including templates, at the fingertips of the project manager, team and stakeholders. But that’s only the beginning. There are also features that can help manage resources and costs in real time and report on this and more by tracking project key performance indicators (KPIs).

Manage Resources and Monitor Costs

Before releasing the team, project managers must ensure they’ve completed all their tasks. They also have to monitor costs to ensure that the project is meeting its budget constraints. This and more can be done by toggling over to the real-time dashboard or portfolio dashboard if managing multiple projects. Here live data is captured and displayed on easy-to-read graphs and charts that show project metrics, such as time, cost, workload and more. There’s no time-consuming or complicated setup required as with lightweight alternatives. Project managers can get an instant status report whenever they want.

Make Project Reports in Minutes

Dashboards provide a high-level overview, but project completion also needs more detail. To get deeper into the data use customizable reports that can be generated with only a keystroke. Get reports on status, portfolio, timesheets, workload, variance and more, all of which can be filtered to focus on only the data that’s important for the project completion report. These reports can all be shared across multiple platforms, which makes it easier to deliver reports to stakeholders how they prefer to get them.

Related Project Completion Content

Project completion is part of the larger project life cycle. A lot more can be said about the end of a project and how it fits within the context of everything else needed to deliver a successful project. For those interested, below are a handful of related articles that have been published on our site that go into the subject of project completion more deeply.

• Best Project Management Software: Free & Paid Options Ranked
• 12 Essential Project Reports
• Project Documentation: 15 Essential Documents
• 5 Steps to Project Closure (Checklist Included)
• What Is the Project Life Cycle?

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Congratulations to Korrie Grant for successfully defending her MA thesis titled “Learning to Walk in a Good Way: A White Occupier’s Path to Decolonizing Criminology”.

The TRC (2015) and National Inquiry (2019) call on settler-Canadian educators, researchers, students, and criminal justice system members to address the genocides against Indigenous peoples. This thesis explores how criminology can work with and for Indigenous peoples in research, what a decolonizing lens in criminology might look like, and how the discipline can walk in the good way in addressing the MMIWG. Between 2018-2024, I participated in 20 workshops, conferences and lectures and 14 conversational dialogues to explore these subjects. I then employed Absolon’s Flower Petal Framework to frame what I learned. This experience showed me settlers need to: learn where we have come from to embrace the teachings to walk in the good way; understand where we are to see the siloed stories and experience transformative learning for reconciliation (TL4R); and act in alignment with Indigenous resurgence to work on the ‘next now’ for the next seven generations.

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Top 10 Scholar 2024: Zoli Smith

In Her Own Words . . . 

Reflecting on my academic journey at Spelman, the experiences that have been most pivotal to my success include my involvement in the Women of Excellence and Leadership at Spelman (WELS), my participation in SpelReads, and the completion of my honors thesis. Being a part of WELS provided me with invaluable leadership and professional training, enhancing my skills and deepening my understanding of diverse values and perspectives. This was crucial for my aspirations to foster inclusive environments professionally. My engagement in SpelReads, where I guided fellow students and contributed to literacy efforts, honed my mentoring abilities and community service skills, underscoring the importance of service and education in my personal mission to empower and uplift communities. Completing my honors thesis was a major academic endeavor that provided me with advanced skills in statistical data analysis and data management. This rigorous academic work not only demonstrated my capability to conduct complex research but also prepared me for future studies in public health and epidemiology. 

Post-graduation, I plan to pursue a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology. This decision stems from my deep commitment to advancing public health and reducing health inequities, particularly in underserved communities. My academic and professional experiences have prepared me to delve deeper into epidemiology and public health research, where I aim to implement policies to improve healthcare outcomes globally.

As I embark on this next journey, the wisdom I would share with my past self just starting at Spelman would be to trust the process. I would tell myself to be open to all experiences, as every class, every interaction, and every challenge is an opportunity to learn and grow. I would emphasize the importance of resilience and patience, as the path to achieving big goals often comes with setbacks that are merely setups for greater successes. Lastly, I would advise myself to actively seek mentorship and build a supportive network, as these relationships can be invaluable in navigating both academic and professional landscapes.

These experiences have profoundly shaped my aspirations for the future, providing a strong foundation for my continued educational pursuits and my professional goals in public health and diversity initiatives.

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