Tag Archives: dissertation

CAN YOU PROVIDE AN EXAMPLE OF A DOCTORAL PROGRAM THAT REQUIRES A DISSERTATION

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One type of doctoral program that traditionally requires the completion of a dissertation is a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program. PhD programs are research-focused doctoral degrees that are designed to produce scholars in a particular academic discipline or professional field. The overarching goal of PhD study is to contribute new knowledge and understanding to the field through original research. For this reason, completing a dissertation is a core requirement of most PhD programs.

The dissertation is the culminating project of a PhD program where students conduct extensive independent research and scholarly work under the supervision of faculty advisors and dissertation committee members. Through the dissertation, PhD candidates demonstrate their ability to identify a research problem or question within their field of study, conduct a comprehensive review of relevant literature, utilize appropriate research methods and analysis, and make an original contribution to the body of knowledge in the discipline. Dissertations generally take 1-3 years of full-time work to complete after coursework is finished.

The dissertation process consists of several formal steps. Students first develop a dissertation proposal outlining their research question or hypothesis, literature review, methodology, and anticipated findings. This proposal must be approved by the student’s dissertation committee before research can begin. Once approved, students move forward with conducting the proposed research and analysis. Throughout this stage, regular meetings are held with advisors to discuss progress and receive guidance.

Upon completion of the research and analysis, students write a lengthy dissertation manuscript presenting all elements of the completed research project. The written dissertation typically ranges from 150-300 pages in length and includes an introduction, literature review, methodology section, results/findings, discussion/conclusion, and references. After the written dissertation is submitted, students must then defend their work orally during a dissertation defense meeting with their committee. The committee will ask questions and evaluate the quality and rigor of the student’s independent research and written work.

Upon passing the defense, making any required revisions or corrections, and gaining final approval from the dissertation committee and graduate school, the PhD candidate will have completed all requirements for the doctoral degree. The dissertation demonstrates to degree granting institutions that PhD graduates have reached the level of expertise required to independently and creatively conduct worthwhile, publishable research within their specialized field of study. It is considered a hallmark of PhD education and signifies that a student has achieved a distinct level of expertise beyond a master’s degree.

There are many specific PhD programs across various disciplines that require completion of a dissertation as the capstone project. Some common examples of doctoral programs requiring a dissertation include PhD degrees in various sciences like Chemistry, Biology, and Physics. In the social sciences fields, programs such as Psychology, Sociology, Political Science, and Economics all typically require an original dissertation as the culminating experience. Dissertations are also standard components of PhD degrees in many humanities fields including Philosophy, History, English, and Communications. Professionally-oriented PhD programs in areas like Education, Nursing, Social Work and Business also generally necessitate completion of an independent research dissertation on a specialized topic within the given professional domain.

While dissertation requirements and formats vary some between individual doctoral programs and research topics, the multi-step process of developing a proposal, independently conducting original research using accepted methods, writing a lengthy manuscript, and defending the work publicly remains consistent across most academic PhD programs in the United States. The dissertation allows emerging scholars to make an authentic research-based contribution to their specialized field of study under the guidance of faculty experts before earning their doctoral degree. It is truly the pinnacle requirement demonstrating a student’s readiness to independently contribute to their discipline at the highest level as a credentialed PhD.

A dissertation is the defining component of most PhD programs across various academic disciplines in the United States. Through the rigorous multi-stage process of developing, conducting, writing, and publicly defending a substantial piece of original research, doctoral students complete the most complex and career-defining project of their education. Earning a PhD through successful dissertation work signifies that a graduate has reached the peak of expertise in their specialized academic or professional domain and is prepared to independently further advance their narrow field of study through future scholarship and research. The all-encompassing dissertation experience is truly the hallmark final step separating master’s and PhD education.

TYPE MY DISSERTATION CONCLUSION ON DEATH PENALTY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

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The death penalty has been a highly controversial issue throughout modern history. Supporters argue that it deters crime, correctly punishes the worst offenses, and protects society. Opponents maintain that it is an inhumane form of punishment that is cruel and unusual, irreversible if a mistake is made, distributed unequally, and supported through inherent bias and discrimination in the criminal justice system. This dissertation has thoroughly examined moral, practical and legal arguments on both sides of this debate.

While supporters claim the death penalty effectively deters murder rates by serving as an example of the ultimate sanction, the evidence does not conclusively prove this theory. Numerous empirical studies have found no correlation or have found a positive correlation between use of capital punishment and murder rates. Its deterrent effect is questionable considering that many other factors like imprisonment terms, probability of apprehension, the state of the economy, drug use, and demographics influence murder rates. The possibility of wrongful convictions threatens the rationale behind retribution and deterrence. While arguably few in number compared to valid convictions, the over 160 death row exonerations since the 1970s indicate that mistakes are made in the adversarial system. This reflects ongoing flaws that risk legalizing murder by the state.

The application of the death penalty also raises serious moral concerns regarding dignity, fairness, and inhumanity. Execution constitutes an intentionally imposed, irreversible denial of human dignity and life, violating fundamental human rights principles against cruel punishment. The lengthy process imposes mental suffering on inmates, while providing no benefit to victims’ families. The arbitrary nature of which killers receive death further erodes moral authority, since African American defendants are still more likely to be sentenced to death, especially for killing white victims. Income level and quality of legal defense also introduce unequal treatment. As the most severe sanction, it must be reserved for only the very worst crimes where the accused’s guilt and full culpability is certain without doubt. In practice, this high threshold is difficult for any legal system to meet in a wholly fair and impartial manner.

On the other hand, some arguments for retaining capital punishment deserve fair consideration. Certain very brutal murders that involve torture, multiple victims or the murder of children could reasonably merit society’s harshest punishment. Lethal injection as a method is designed to be humane and painless when carried out properly. For some, the death penalty’s enduring public support reflects a democratic consensus that deserves respect. Opinion polls also indicate public preferences may depend on other sentencing alternatives presented; support drops when life without parole is an option. Any policy that denies human dignity must be weighed very carefully in a civilized society that values due process and equal treatment under the law.

Upon considering all of these complex moral, legal and empirical issues, my view is that the risks and flaws inherent in the administration of the death penalty outweigh the potential benefits claimed by proponents. The concerns regarding wrongful convictions, unequal treatment, lack of clear deterrence, inhumanity, and erosion of due process standards cannot be dismissed or remedied. Even a single miscarriage of justice through a wrongful execution undermines the retributive aims of just deserts and outweighs all other practical considerations. Ultimately, the state should not be in the business of intentionally imposing the irreversible denial of life. The death penalty is an archaic and imperfect system that violates evolving standards of decency in a modern democracy that values dignity and rehabilitation over retribution at all costs. Given the lack of compelling evidence that it achieves legitimate social purposes better than available alternatives, the prudent course of action would be to abolish it in favor of life without parole sentencing in the most heinous murder cases. This conclusion maintains justice and community protection whilst avoiding the unacceptable moral risks inherent in state-sanctioned killing that cannot be reversed if errors are discovered later. A just, compassionate and progressive society should move on from using the premeditated and irreversible denial of human life as a form of punishment.