Dissertation Calculator  

Completing Your Thesis or Dissertation (ETD)

Step 1: Before Registering for Thesis or Dissertation Hours

Step 2: After Registering for Thesis or Dissertation Hours

Step 3: One Semester Before Final Semester

Step 4: Beginning of Final Semester

Step 5: Third Month of Final Semester (March, July, or October)

Step 6: Thesis or Dissertation Defense (Usually During Final Semester)

Step 7: Completing the Thesis or Dissertation Process

This guide is based on the original Dissertation Calculator at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Each stage will be modified during early 2012 to correspond with the procedures and appropriate offices at the University of Central Florida. In the meantime, use the original calculator to determine projected dates for each stage, the narrative for each stage provided by the University of Minnesota, and the links on the pages of this guide to update Minnesota's links.

While awaiting completion of this version of the Dissertation Calculator, see Completing Your Thesis or Dissertation (ETD) at UCF for the current steps.

(from University of Minnesota's Dissertation Calculator)

1. Understanding Expectations
2. Identifying your research questions
3. Developing a methodology or methodological framework
4. Surveying literature to position your research in your field
5. Establishing a dissertation committee
6. Writing a dissertation proposal
7. Creating a work plan
8. Creating a dissertation support network
9. Conducting research
10. Conducting a comprehensive literature review
11. Outlining & drafting chapters
12. Taking care of visual details (illustrations, tables, figures, graphics, etc.)
13. Reviewing, revising, & submitting your text for comments & initial approval
14. Creating defense draft & defending dissertation
15. Writing the abstract
16. Finalizing revisions
17. Submitting dissertation
18. Getting closure