Dissertation Support and Resources for Doctoral Students
The process of preparing and writing the dissertation can be daunting, but also quite exciting. Marquette University offers valuable resources and support throughout the dissertation process to help you be successful in your academic journey. Below you will find helpful information on finding and accessing research, using citation software, academic calendars and university processes, places to study, writing and presentation supports, as well as health and wellness resources.
Doctoral students will work with their dissertation advisor to plan and prepare for the dissertation process. The dissertation advisor is a doctoral student’s main point of contact about the dissertation, including progress, breakthroughs, and challenges. Doctoral dissertation advisors will guide and mentor students through the doctoral program’s requirements, process for submitting the doctoral qualifying exam (DQE), advancing to doctoral candidacy, assembling your committee, submitting your outline and proposal, dissertation directives, and dissertation defense.
DOCTORAL PROGRAM FORMS AND DIRECTIONS
Doctoral students approaching the dissertation phase of their academic programs should familiarize themselves with the required Doctoral Program Forms and Directions tab on the Graduate School’s forms page. Doctoral students and their dissertation advisors will be required to adhere to the University academic calendar deadlines and processes.
FINDING AND ACCESSING RESEARCH
Looking for research but not sure where to get started? Reach out to the Raynor Memorial Libraries subject specialists for help or schedule a research consultation. The Raynor Memorial Libraries provides you with access to texts, journals, e-publications, sample dissertations, and more!
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Research consultations
Need assistance with a research project or instruction on how to use a specific database or research source? Request an in-person or virtual appointment with one of the library’s specialists.
SUBJECT SPECIALISTS/LIAISONS
Subject specialists/liaisons
Each subject, program, and college has a subject specialist/liaison who can assist you with finding materials in your subject area. Find your liaison and make an appointment with them today.
GRADUATE STUDENT'S GUIDE TO LIBRARIES
Graduate student's guide to libraries
Includes featured texts to assist you through the doctoral experience, writing your literature review, and the dissertation process as well as links to library resources and trainings.
RESEARCH GUIDES BY SUBJECT AND CONTENT AREA
Research guides by subject and content area
View research guides by subject. Search tools include articles, books, survey data, encyclopedia and content guides, and helpful subject area websites.
ARCHIVAL COLLECTIONS, MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY
Archival collections
The Department of Archival Collections and Institutional Repository houses manuscripts, rare books, and Marquette University records, as well as extensive digital collections and Marquette's institutional repository. Accessing the archives is by appointment only.
ACCESSING DISSERTATIONS, THESES, AND PROFESSIONAL PROJECTS
Dissertations, theses, and professional projects
Seeing samples of dissertations, theses, and professional projects can help you gain insight into the structure, format, and expected level of research within your field, as well as to help you understand current research trends, methodologies, and potential gaps of knowledge in your field.
E-PUBLICATIONS AT MARQUETTE
E-publications at Marquette
Browse and access digital research and scholarship by units, journals, data sets, projects and grants, conferences, dissertations, theses, and more.
Interlibrary loan
Need a text that is not available at Marquette? Request through interlibrary loan.
RESEARCH AND COMPLIANCE
The Office of Research Compliance (ORC) provides support for students for research involving human subjects, animal subjects, radioisotope use and research with recombinant DNA (rDNA). The ORC assists researchers with navigating research regulations, provides educational programming and supports collaboration with other research institutions.
Students must meet with their advisor to determine if their planned research needs to be reviewed and approved by the Office of Research and Compliance.
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Human Subjects (IRB)
The Marquette University Institutional Review Board reviews and approves research involving human subjects under the jurisdiction of the university. All research activities involving human subjects conducted by Marquette faculty, staff and students must be approved by the Marquette IRB prior to any study-related activities taking place.
Animal Care and Use
The Marquette University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) oversees the university’s animal programs, facilities and procedures, ensuring the appropriate care, use and humane treatment of animals being used for research, testing and education. The IACUC serves as a resource to faculty, investigators, technicians, students, staff and administrators, providing guidance in fulfilling the obligation to plan and conduct all animal use procedures with the highest scientific, humane and ethical principles.
Biosafety and IBC
The IBC is responsible for reviewing research involving recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules, toxins, pathogens, and/or transgenic animals conducted at or sponsored by Marquette for compliance with the NIH Guidelines and Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories, and approving those research projects that are found to conform with the regulatory agencies.
Device Safety
Human subjects research or educational activities involving the physical interaction of human beings with manufactured devices (a) that have not been commercially obtained by the university or (b) that have been modified by university personnel or students for use are subject to the device safety review process as guided by UPP 2-3.
CITATION SOFTWARE, RESOURCES, AND GUIDES
Learn more about citation software, resources, and guides to selecting and using citation software to effectively organize, track, and properly cite sources in your research papers.
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Citation software
Marquette offers account and support assistance for RefWorks, EndNote, Mendeley, and Zotero.
Citation style guides
This guide includes sample citations, style guides & other writing resources for APA, MLA, ACS, AMA, APSA, ASA, Chicago/Turabian, CSE/CBE, NLM, and Harvard Style.
ACADEMIC CALENDAR AND DEADLINES
All doctoral graduate students are responsible for adhering to dates and deadlines found in the Marquette University Academic Calendar, Graduate Bulletin, and on the Graduate School website.
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Academic Calendar
University dates and deadlines which includes doctoral-related deadlines for submitting dissertation the outline, announcement of public defense, defense deadline, and submission to ProQuest.
Graduate Bulletin
Contains information regarding the academic calendar, admissions, degree requirements, fees, regulations and course offerings. Prospective and current graduate students are responsible for all information contained in this bulletin that is pertinent to graduate study and their specific field.
DISSERTATION DEFENSE SCHEDULE
Dissertation Defense Schedule
Tips for preparing and defending your dissertation, as well as listed public dissertation defenses which doctoral students are welcome to attend.
PHD DEGREE COMPLETION DEADLINES
Ph.D. Degree Completion Deadlines are published each semester. Deadlines are applicable to all doctoral students planning to defend and graduate in the published timeline term.
PUBLISHING YOUR DISSERTATION AT MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY
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THESIS AND DISSERTATION ONLINE SUBMISSION
Thesis and Dissertation
Online Submission Find detailed information on ProQuest guidelines on formatting for digital submission, publishing, copyrighting, binding, and more.
NEED A QUIET PLACE TO STUDY?
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Graduate Carrels
Carrels are available for graduate students by application in the Raynor Memorial Libraries. In case you are not aware of what a carrel is, it’s a designated “mini” office that you can reserve for the semester. It has locking capabilities so you can leave items in as needed.
Graduate Study Room
A dedicated room in Raynor Memorial Libraries, R134, offers grad students their own place to work and study. The room, located on the north wall of Raynor's first floor, is equipped with wireless, a large worktable, a large digital display and a white-board wall.
SUPPORT SERVICES AVAILABLE TO DOCTORAL STUDENTS
You are not alone in this academic journey. Marquette University offers academic coaching, digital scholarship assistance, writing support, and presentation preparation. Reach out to a specialist, they are happy to help and support you on your academic journey.
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Academic Resource Center
Coughlin Hall, Room 125
(414) 288-4252
The Academic Resource Center offers academic coaching to graduate students. The coaching curriculum goes beyond offering a menu of study skills. The emphasis of the coaching curriculum is to focus on effective time management that establishes routines, builds willpower, lowers stress, and helps students retain their cognitive energy for academic work. While academic coaches can provide specific study skill training (i.e. reading comprehension, effective note-taking, etc.), the curriculum focuses more on learning theory and how the brain works. If you are interested in receiving academic coaching, please email academicsupport@marquette.edu and identify yourself as a graduate student in your initial email. Upon receiving the email, Marquette's academic coaching staff will schedule a meeting with you.
Digital Scholarship and Programs
Raynor Memorial Library
raynordms@marquette.edu
(414) 288-7253
Digital Scholarship and Programs in Raynor Memorial Libraries helps graduate and undergraduate students, faculty, and staff use technology for their academic careers and research. Whether you are making your first website, creating a podcast, developing a digital humanities project, designing a conference poster, or want to display your data, Digital Scholarship and Programs has the tools and advice available to help you get your work out into the world.
Digital Scholarship and Programs also offer consultation and advice for everyone on using digital tools. You can see the tools we recommend and get access to our services here.
DISSERTATION WRITING WORKSHOP
Dissertation Writing Workshop
The Graduate School offers a weeklong doctoral dissertation writing camp for students to dedicate time to write and research, come together in community, and work toward the completion of their dissertations. Faculty facilitators are present to assist, offer consultation, and monitor progress.
MIC Speaker's Lab
Johnston Hall 504
The MIC Speaker’s Lab can help you in all aspects of presentation development from brainstorming ideas and organizing content to practicing effective delivery and creating visuals. In addition, trained student experts will serve as your coaches, teaching you breathing techniques, positive self-talk and visualization exercises to help you stay calm and centered during your speech. You can also receive feedback on your visual aids like PowerPoint presentations, handouts, charts, and visualizations.
Schedule an appointment to receive feedback or to practice your individual or group presentation.
WRITING CENTER, NORMAN H. OTT MEMORIAL
Norman H. Ott Memorial Writing Center
Raynor Memorial Library, Room 240
(414) 288-5542
The Ott Memorial Writing Center employs trained graduate and undergraduate tutors to work with graduate students at all stages of their academic work, from first-year masters students writing seminar papers to post-docs working on articles for publication. We work with writers at any stage of the writing process to understand new genres of writing, organize and explain complex material, incorporate and document sources effectively, develop conference posters and presentations, and prepare a manuscript for submission. We also work with grad students on the writing they often need to do related to teaching: writing assignments, letters of recommendation, and much more.
Because many graduate students benefit from more structure and encouragement as they work through a large project (like a dissertation or master’s thesis) we invite grad students to participate in the Writing Accountability Partners (or WrAP) Program. This program matches you with a tutor who will ask you to set goals for your semester, help you to break those goals into achievable practices and weekly commitments, and offer accountability on a weekly basis.
We offer appointments in person and online (via a Teams-like interface provided by the Ott’s WCOnline scheduling software). Visit us at Marquette.edu/writingcenter or email us at writingcenter@marquette.edu for more details on the WrAP Program or any of our services.
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Researching and writing a dissertation is challenging and mentally demanding. Be sure to take care of yourself. Get plenty of rest, find balance in your schedule, eat healthy, and exercise. Marquette University also offers a variety of health and wellness services to support you when you need it most.
Checkout STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES for a comprehensive list of student health and wellness services available to you.
HELPFUL GUIDES AND ARTICLES ON THE DISSERTATION PROCESS
The Chronicle of Higher Education: The Completion Agenda
Cassuto, L. (2018, May 28). On the Dissertation: How to Write the Introduction. The Chronicle of Higher Education. https://www.chronicle.com/article/on-the-dissertation-how-to-write-the-introduction/
Cassuto, L. (2022, July 5). On the Dissertation: How to Find a Research Topic. The Chronicle of Higher Education. https://www.chronicle.com/article/on-the-dissertation-how-to-find-a-research-topic
Foss, S. K., & Waters, W. J. C. (2016). Destination dissertation: a traveler's guide to a done dissertation. Second Edition. Lanham, Rowman & Littlefield.
Lee, J. (2018, January 8). The Not-So-Secret Guide to Dissertating. The Chronicle of Higher Education. https://www.chronicle.com/article/the-not-so-secret-guide-to-dissertating/
This website is designed to be a resource for Marquette doctoral students. If you have suggestions for additional resources and supports, please let us know.
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