This dissertation format consists of submitting three related publications/manuscripts, plus integrative Introduction and Discussion chapters, to meet the dissertation requirement.  A key advantage of the 3-paper dissertation is that it requires writing concise publication-length and publication-quality papers, as opposed to lengthy discourses that are not valued in academia. This option is available, along with the traditional dissertation.

  • A “3-paper” dissertation consists of 3 related publication-quality manuscripts consisting of empirical studies.  The second year project could be considered for inclusion as one of the three studies, if approved by the student’s guidance committee or dissertation committee.
  • Only one of the 3 papers can be completed, under review, or accepted for publication prior to the proposal defense. The proposed methods and analysis for at least 2 of the 3 papers must be presented at the dissertation proposal meeting to the full dissertation committee, and approved by that committee, before analysis begins. Once the proposed methods and analysis for these papers have been approved by the dissertation committee, the student should obtain IRB approval or documentation that it does not meet IRB criteria for involving human subjects before analysis begins (IRB Requirements for JDP Students).
  • Papers (excluding the one paper that can be accepted for publication/published prior to the proposal defense) can be submitted for journal review before the final dissertation defense only with the prior review and written approval of all dissertation committee members.
  • At least one paper must be accepted for publication/published and the other two papers under review prior to final approval by the JDP Co-Directors (BEFORE June 30 of graduation year).
  • The work published in each of the three papers must be based on work begun, performed and completed while a student in the JDP.
  • Student must be first author (i.e., the major contributor) on all publications.
  • In the final dissertation document, there must be a comprehensive introduction, similar to that found in a traditional dissertation, that precedes the three papers. Following the three papers, there must be a discussion that ties all three papers together in a meaningful way.

Approved by Steering Committee Spring 2011; Revisions Approved by Steering Committee May 31, 2019

Updated 5/28/2021