EDU-M 710B: Mentoring: Develop a Dissertation Topic II

Overview

In this second PAR cycle, you will go through a series of exercises aimed at helping you uncover and refine topics and questions related to your dissertation. To do this, you will be working with both your cohort group and your mentor professor. In addition, you will develop a personal policy options brief (PPOB)and use this tool to determine your personal strategy for being able to successfully navigate the challenges of completing a doctorate.

You will determine a number of viable dissertation topics. Working closely with your mentor professors and engaging in discussions with your cohort, you will progress from this baseline to develop a preliminary outline of your dissertation topics that are: a) in line with your personal and professional goals, and b) have been explicitly selected to develop projects that meet JIU's rigorous dissertation requirements within a three-year period.

Course Topics

• Characteristics of a Good Dissertation Topic
• Finding and Refining Potential Dissertation Topics
• Selection of a Dissertation Topic
• Dissertation Components and Timetable
• Personal Policy Option Briefs

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

In this course, you will complete the second cycle of participatory action research that results in the following:

• Decide upon a rough outline of your dissertation topic.
• Complete a personal policy option brief (PPOB) in which you analyze the potential challenges and strategies to overcome them – personally, professionally, and with your topic – in order to complete your dissertation in three years.
• Complete a journal reflection and discussion with your mentor regarding your chosen dissertation topic.

Required Texts
EDU-M 710B texts are available from the JIU/MBS bookstore