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The words ‘ dissertation ’ and ‘thesis’ both refer to a large written research project undertaken to complete a degree, but they are used differently depending on the country:
The main difference is in terms of scale – a dissertation is usually much longer than the other essays you complete during your degree.
Another key difference is that you are given much more independence when working on a dissertation. You choose your own dissertation topic , and you have to conduct the research and write the dissertation yourself (with some assistance from your supervisor).
Dissertation word counts vary widely across different fields, institutions, and levels of education:
However, none of these are strict guidelines – your word count may be lower or higher than the numbers stated here. Always check the guidelines provided by your university to determine how long your own dissertation should be.
At the bachelor’s and master’s levels, the dissertation is usually the main focus of your final year. You might work on it (alongside other classes) for the entirety of the final year, or for the last six months. This includes formulating an idea, doing the research, and writing up.
A PhD thesis takes a longer time, as the thesis is the main focus of the degree. A PhD thesis might be being formulated and worked on for the whole four years of the degree program. The writing process alone can take around 18 months.
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Caulfield, J. (2022, May 05). What Is a Dissertation? | 5 Essential Questions to Get Started. Scribbr. Retrieved 26 August 2024, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/thesis-dissertation/what-is-a-dissertation/
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Examples of dissertation in a sentence.
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1651, in the meaning defined above
dissertative
“Dissertation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dissertation. Accessed 26 Aug. 2024.
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Sabrina Collier
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Skills you need to show, how long is a dissertation, oral examinations (vivas), don’t cheat.
The majority of degrees end with this assignment, but just what is a dissertation?
Sometimes known as a thesis (in some countries, this term is used only for the final assignments of PhD degrees, while in other countries ‘thesis’ and ‘dissertation’ are interchangeable), a dissertation is a research project completed as part of an undergraduate or postgraduate degree. Typically, a dissertation allows students present their findings in response to a question or proposition that they choose themselves. The aim of the project is to test the independent research skills students have acquired during their time at university, with the assessment used to help determine their final grade. Although there is usually some guidance from your tutors, the dissertation project is largely independent.
For most students this will be the longest, most difficult and most important assignment completed at university, requiring months of preparation and hard work (the library might become a second home). However, it can also be very rewarding, particularly if you’re passionate about your choice of topic. It’s therefore definitely a good idea to make sure you choose a subject you’re genuinely interested in.
The type of dissertation you complete will vary depending on your course of study. One of the main differences is between empirical and non-empirical dissertations.
Empirical dissertation s are dissertations which involve collecting data, for example in a psychology degree. This may mean putting into practice professional and ethical guidelines when collecting data from members of the public. Empirical dissertations in natural and life science subjects may involve or be entirely centered on laboratory work.
Non-empirical dissertations are based on existing data and arguments in the work of others. This is likely to mean spending a lot of time with your head in a book! In this type of dissertation, you need to make sure you don’t just describe what others are saying, but critically analyze the work and explore its practical applications.
No matter what type of dissertation you write, and what topic you choose, you’ll need to demonstrate the following skills:
The length of a dissertation varies between study level and country, but is generally around 10,000-12,000 words at undergraduate level, 15,000-25,000 words at master’s level and up to 50,000 words or more at PhD level.
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For some advanced degrees (particularly PhDs) you may need to attend an oral examination, which is known as a viva in some countries (short for viva voce, which is Latin for ‘live voice’). The viva will usually start with you giving a short presentation of your work to two or three professors, which is then followed by a questioning/answering period which could last up to two hours.
Finally, it pretty much goes without saying, but it’s definitely not advisable to pay someone to write your dissertation for you or otherwise cheat in any way. It’s not worth the risk, and the dissertation is meant to be your chance to let your skills shine through. However, asking a supervisor, friend or family member to take a look at your dissertation is fine. Your supervisor is on hand to guide you, so don’t worry if you need to ask for help.
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The former Assistant Editor of TopUniversities.com, Sabrina wrote and edited articles to guide students from around the world on a wide range of topics. She has a bachelor's degree in English Literature and Creative Writing from Aberystwyth University and grew up in Staffordshire, UK.
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By Elizabeth Exline
When Rose Lorenzo got close to finishing her master’s degree at University of Phoenix (UOPX), she came to a crossroads. She could walk away with her degree and focus on building her company, Lorenzo Financial , or she could scratch the itch for more academic knowledge and pursue her doctorate.
Lorenzo chose the latter. (And still managed to build her company, lay the groundwork to launch a new school and eventually get accepted to law school.)
“Although I knew what I wanted to study, I wish I had known how to choose the right topic and how to narrow that topic down before I started,” Lorenzo recalls.
Lorenzo, of course, is talking about the dissertation , that book-length document that’s both the capstone of the doctoral degree and the driving force behind a doctoral program’s years of study and academic research.
But settling on a topic is just one part of a process that can intimidate even the most determined scholar. What’s exactly involved in a dissertation? And what’s the point of one anyway? Here, we take a deeper dive into the dissertation experience.
A dissertation is an academic document prepared by a doctoral student that contains original research about a topic. The student identifies the topic, conducts the research, writes the dissertation and defends it in front of a committee led by a dissertation chair and other doctoral faculty who decide whether the research meets the doctoral level research standards. If it does, the student will successfully complete the doctoral program, have their dissertation published in ProQuest and earn a terminal degree , which means the highest education level that can be earned in a field.
The dissertation, in other words, is important. But why all the fuss in the first place? According to Rodney Luster, PhD, a dissertation can enhance society’s overall knowledge and understanding about an issue and ignite a person’s area of interest and expertise, as well as enhance that expertise .
Luster is the chair for the Center for Leadership Studies and Organizational Research within the College of Doctoral Studies at University of Phoenix , and he points to his own dissertation by way of example.
His research concerned what is currently known as vicarious trauma, a phenomenon he witnessed among his college students after the 9/11 attacks. His students hadn’t been anywhere near the attack, and yet he noticed they displayed classic signs of trauma. This piqued his interest.
“I was able to conduct what I understand was the first research study looking at vicarious trauma in the general population, and that has opened up a lot of doors,” Luster explains.
Now an expert on the concept, he has seen the phenomenon after subsequent events, such as Hurricane Katrina.
Lorenzo’s research was more tailored to her area of interest. She ultimately whittled down her topic from how leadership impacts entrepreneurial success or failure to how it impacts female entrepreneurs specifically.
Topics, in other words, offer the freedom for students to follow their curiosity and experience with the goal of potentially solving a problem or adding to a field’s body of knowledge .
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Dissertation vs. thesis — what's the difference.
Some people may confuse a dissertation with a thesis, but they’re not the same thing. While similar in nature in that they are both the capstone of an academic program, the biggest difference is where a dissertation and a thesis fit in the educational journey. As explained, a doctoral student completes a dissertation, while a thesis is a research paper for a master’s-level student or sometimes within a bachelor’s program.
There are other differences as well. One is the level of research involved. Often, a thesis is based on existing research. This means that an undergrad or graduate student will compile various research findings to defend a theory or idea in a thesis. A dissertation on the other hand requires doctoral students to conduct, present and defend their own research.
The two documents differ in length too. A thesis is often much shorter and can range from 40 to 60 pages for an undergraduate thesis and from 60 to upward of 100 pages for a master's thesis. A dissertation is 150 to 300 pages, or 80,000 to 100,000 words. As noted, whether it’s presented in front of a panel of faculty or academics as an oral defense is another key difference. This is often required for a dissertation, but oral defense of a thesis may depend on the program or institution.
Figuring out a dissertation topic is a process as individualized as the students in a doctoral degree program. Luster usually encourages candidates to begin with a title .
“That’s going to be your selling point for everything, and it has to be understandable. It must be concise. It must have a theoretical construct in it. The title will take you a lot of places and will help lead you into the writing process.”
To this Lorenzo adds a less lofty but equally valid cross-check: She learned to really drill down any topic with the question, “ Who cares? ” If there are people who are invested in learning more about the topic (if there are, in other words, people who care), it may warrant further research.
These preliminary exercises lay a solid foundation for the dissertation process, but the actual research and writing can still feel intimidating. Luster, for example, had written a book before starting his dissertation, and points out that a dissertation “is not like any other writing that you’ve done.”
So, where do you start? At UOPX, you start in your first class.
The dissertation process at UOPX was revamped and rolled out in September 2019, notes Shawn C. Todd-Boone, EdD, the associate dean for ACCESS, research and residency at the College of Doctoral Studies.
Luster says the process was reimagined based on extensive feedback and on a desire to make the process more effective and efficient.
One of the first ways the dissertation process changed was with the development of ACCESS , an acronym for “ advancing community, critical thought, engagement, scholarship and success .”
This sequence is incorporated into the first three interdisciplinary courses of any doctoral program at UOPX with an eye toward introducing doctoral candidates to what Luster calls a “theoretical mindset.”
The ACCESS program attempts to nurture a culture of inquiry that helps retain doctoral candidates while inspiring them to innovate in their fields, Boone says.
ACCESS, in other words, sets the tone for the entire doctoral process, which is founded on innovation, research and critical thinking.
Writing the dissertation occurs in what Luster describes as five phases over the course of different classes. These are:
The uopx difference.
The five phases of the dissertation writing process aren’t ubiquitous. Doctoral students work on a dissertation while going through the program at UOPX — which was very much intentional, according to Boone.
“We have five phases in the dissertation process and a deliverable at the end of each phase to encourage students to finish and to complete on time if they commit to the process,” Boone explains.
This is a notable improvement, according to Lorenzo. “It is more effective to start your research on day one than wait, because it's easier to identify the gap in research and eliminate wasted research time on topics that are not relevant to your study, and [it] helps contribute to the literature review of the study,” she says.
But this process isn’t the only benefit UOPX students enjoy. The doctoral program has several other distinctive features:
In the end, that sense of a safety net — both in terms of mentorship and the doctoral community itself — is one of the biggest reassurances doctoral candidates enjoy.
Lorenzo, for example, keeps in touch with a core group of colleagues she met through the program. “No one understands what you’re going through except for [your peers],” she notes.
Or, as Luster puts it: “You don’t have to worry, because you’ll acquire this information along the way, and you have a lot of good people to help you.”
Most are 100 to 300 pages and organized by chapters and/or sections and subsections. There are also often requirements for text size, page size and spacing that can depend on your doctoral program.
A dissertation generally includes a Dissertation Acceptance Certificate, a title page, a copyright statement, an abstract (detailing the objective of the research, the methods and the outcome), a table of contents, the research itself and supplemental information (either as an appendix with charts and tables or as an uploaded file with digital information). Some dissertations include front and back matter, such as acknowledgments, a dedication, a glossary, a bibliography and related features.
Not always. While most doctoral and PhD degree programs require a dissertation, some don’t, and others require a capstone project.
Individuals who complete a PhD focus on producing new knowledge to contribute to a theory or body of research. Individuals who complete a practitioner doctorate , on the other hand, focuses on how to apply knowledge to a field or particular issue.
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It’s common for people who are considering a graduate degree to ask, “What is a dissertation?” This term comes up often in discussions of doctoral requirements, but it may not be immediately obvious what’s involved.
Getting the facts about dissertations can help you decide whether this is a project to which you’re ready to commit.
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Since a doctoral dissertation can be an integral component of a PhD program, you may want to learn all about it before applying to schools.
A dissertation is a major project completed by PhD candidates. Through it, you will establish yourself as an expert with the knowledge, critical thinking, and research skills to move your field of study forward.
The dissertation process usually gets into full swing after you complete your doctoral coursework. Before that, though, you may take several classes that will help you get started and teach you what steps to take.
The process of dissertation writing involves several phases. You’ll select a topic, do research, and type up a book-length paper about your findings and conclusions. Afterward, you will present a dissertation defense to a committee of experts who will evaluate your methodology and analyses.
As you work on your doctoral dissertation, you’ll receive the guidance of a faculty advisor. Additional support people may help you refine your strategies and ideas as well. This academic writing project can take many years, but a PhD will be the reward.
It’s common to think of a dissertation as an original research project, but that’s not the only form that this major paper can take.
Before you commit to one path or the other, it’s beneficial to weigh the options carefully with your faculty supervisor. Some universities now offer online doctorate programs without dissertation but have a capstone project for completion. Common programs include on campus DBA degrees or online doctoral programs in education with no dissertation requirement .
Writing a dissertation is a massive undertaking, so it can help to break the process down into steps.
If the panel approves of your work, you’ll have successfully completed your dissertation!
Writing a dissertation is different than pulling together a short research paper. Most dissertations are quite long and are broken up into chapters. The format can vary, but the following list provides an overview of common chapter breakdowns:
Many dissertations contain other parts as well. Examples include title pages, dedication pages, glossaries, and appendices.
Dissertations can vary in length, but they are usually at least 100 pages. Some are 300 pages or longer. Papers between 100 and 200 pages are the most common.
The standard length of a dissertation changes from one field to another. For example, history students often write dissertations that are several hundred pages. Mathematics PhD candidates may have dissertations that are fewer than 100 pages. The school where you earn your doctoral degree may set guidelines for the length of your PhD.
Many dissertations are a few hundred pages long. You’ll divide those pages up among the different sections of your paper.
The introduction may be 10 or 15 pages long. Your literature review will likely be longer—perhaps around 20 pages. Students may need up to 15 pages to explain your methodology, but the results section should be under 10 pages. Finally, students can use 15 pages or more to share their conclusions.
Dissertation lengths vary among academic disciplines. Your academic supervisor can provide specific guidance for your situation.
A dissertation defense is an opportunity to speak with experts from your field about your work. This step comes after you have finished the dissertation research and writing.
The committee will determine whether you have sufficiently answered your original question and contributed valuable research to your field. But you won’t present your defense until your advisor deems you ready, so the experience might not be as nerve-wracking as it sounds.
During the defense, you may give a presentation to the committee. In addition, they can ask you questions, talk to you about your work, and discuss your work among themselves.
In grad school, you’ll hear about dissertations and theses. Both are major projects, but they play different roles.
The above distinctions between a thesis vs. dissertation apply to US schools only. Other countries use different naming conventions.
Choosing to enroll in a PhD program and write a dissertation is a big decision. With careful planning and steadfast dedication, you can get this job done.
In the process, you can contribute research and insights to your field and help answer important questions. Plus, you can earn a PhD, a prestigious degree that can take you far in life. PhD programs with dissertations are available from both on-campus and online graduate schools. You can select the format that best suits your schedule and preferences.
If you’re ready to get started, then now is the time to explore accredited universities.
Home > Blog > Tips for Online Students > Tips for Students > Dissertation Explained: A Grad Student’s Guide
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Updated: June 19, 2024
Published: March 10, 2020
Higher education is filled with milestones. When completing your PhD , you will be required to complete a dissertation. Even if you’ve heard this word thrown around before, you still may be questioning “What is a dissertation?” It’s a common question, especially for those considering to join or are already in a graduate program. As such, here’s everything you need to know about dissertations.
A dissertation is a written document that details research. A dissertation also signifies the completion of your PhD program. It is required to earn a PhD degree, which stands for Doctor of Philosophy.
A PhD is created from knowledge acquired from:
A PhD program consists of academic courses that are usually small in size and challenging in content. Most PhD courses consist of a high amount and level of reading and writing per week. These courses will help prepare you for your dissertation as they will teach research methodology.
For your dissertation, it is likely that you will have the choice between performing your own research on a subject , or expanding on existing research. Likely, you will complete a mixture of the two. For those in the hard sciences, you will perform research in a lab. For those in humanities and social sciences, research may mean gathering data from surveys or existing research.
Once you have collected the data you need to prove your point, you will have to analyze and interpret the information. PhD programs will prepare you for how to conduct analysis, as well as for how to position your research into the existing body of work on the subject matter.
The process of writing and completing a dissertation is bigger than the work itself. It can lead to research positions within the university or outside companies. It may mean that you will teach and share your findings with current undergraduates, or even be published in academic journals. How far you plan to take your dissertation is your choice to make and will require the relevant effort to accomplish your goals.
In essence, a dissertation is what moves a doctoral student into becoming a scholar. Their research may be published, shared, and used as educational material moving forwards.
Basic differences.
Grad students may conflate the differences between a thesis and a dissertation.
Simply put, a thesis is what you write to complete a master’s degree. It summarizes existing research and signifies that you understand the subject matter deeply.
On the other hand, a dissertation is the culmination of a doctoral program. It will likely require your own research and it can contribute an entirely new idea into your field.
When it comes to the structure, a thesis and dissertation are also different. A thesis is like the research papers you complete during undergraduate studies. A thesis displays your ability to think critically and analyze information. It’s less based on research that you’ve completed yourself and more about interpreting and analyzing existing material. They are generally around 100 pages in length.
A dissertation is generally two to three times longer compared to a thesis. This is because the bulk of the information is garnered from research you’ve performed yourself. Also, if you are providing something new in your field, it means that existing information is lacking. That’s why you’ll have to provide a lot of data and research to back up your claims.
Dissertation length.
The length of a dissertation varies between study level and country. At an undergraduate level, this is more likely referred to as a research paper, which is 10,000 to 12,000 words on average. At a master’s level, the word count may be 15,000 to 25,000, and it will likely be in the form of a thesis. For those completing their PhD, then the dissertation could be 50,000 words or more.
Format of the dissertation.
Here are the items you must include in a dissertation. While the format may slightly vary, here’s a look at one way to format your dissertation:
This is the first page which includes: title, your name, department, degree program, institution, and submission date. Your program may specify exactly how and what they want you to include on the title page.
This is optional, but it is where you can express your gratitude to those who have helped you complete your dissertation (professors, research partners, etc.).
The abstract is about 150-300 words and summarizes what your research is about. You state the main topic, the methods used, the main results, and your conclusion.
Here, you list the chapter titles and pages to serve as a wayfinding tool for your readers.
This is like the table of contents, but for graphs and figures.
If you’ve constantly abbreviated words in your content, define them in a list at the beginning.
In highly specialized work, it’s likely that you’ve used words that most people may not understand, so a glossary is where you define these terms.
Your introduction sets up the topic, purpose, and relevance. It’s where readers will understand what they expect to gain from your dissertation.
Based on the research you performed to create your own dissertation, you’ll want to summarize and address the gaps in what you researched.
This is where you define how you conducted your research. It offers credibility for you as a source of information. You should give all the details as to how you’ve conducted your research, including: where and when research took place, how it was conducted, any obstacles you faced, and how you justified your findings.
This is where you share the results that have helped contribute to your findings.
In the discussion section, you explain what these findings mean to your research question. Were they in line with your expectations or did something jump out as surprising? You may also want to recommend ways to move forward in researching and addressing the subject matter.
A conclusion ties it all together and summarizes the answer to the research question and leaves your reader clearly understanding your main argument.
This is the equivalent to a works cited or bibliography page, which documents all the sources you used to create your dissertation.
If you have any information that was ancillary to creating the dissertation, but doesn’t directly fit into its chapters, then you can add it in the appendix.
As with any paper, especially one of this size and importance, the writing requires a process. It may begin with outlines and drafts, and even a few rewrites. It’s important to proofread your dissertation for both grammatical mistakes, but also to ensure it can be clearly understood.
It’s always useful to read your writing out loud to catch mistakes. Also, if you have people who you trust to read it over — like a peer, family member, mentor, or professor — it’s very helpful to get a second eye on your work.
There are a few main differences between a dissertation and an essay. For starters, an essay is relatively short in comparison to a dissertation, which includes your own body of research and work. Not only is an essay shorter, but you are also likely given the topic matter of an essay. When it comes to a dissertation, you have the freedom to construct your own argument, conduct your own research, and then prove your findings.
You can choose what type of dissertation you complete. Often, this depends on the subject and doctoral degree, but the two main types are:
This relies on conducting your own research.
This relies on studying existing research to support your argument.
More things you should know.
A dissertation is certainly no easy feat. Here’s a few more things to remember before you get started writing your own:
The process of completing a dissertation is self-directed, and therefore can feel overwhelming. However, if you approach it like the new experience that it is with an open-mind and willingness to learn, you will make it through!
There are countless people around to offer support. From professors to peers, you can always ask for help throughout the process.
The process of writing a dissertation will further hone your writing skills which will follow you throughout your life. These skills are highly transferable on the job, from having the ability to communicate to also developing analytical and critical thinking skills.
You can work backwards from the culmination of your program to break down this gargantuan task into smaller pieces. That way, you can manage your time to chip away at the task throughout the length of the program.
It’s okay to change subject matters and rethink the point of your dissertation. Just try as much as possible to do this early in the process so you don’t waste too much time and energy.
A dissertation marks the completion of your doctoral program and moves you from being a student to being a scholar. While the process is long and requires a lot of effort and energy, you have the power to lend an entirely new research and findings into your field of expertise.
As always, when in the thick of things, remember why you started. Completing both your dissertation and PhD is a commendable accomplishment.
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And to make it even more confusing, some institutions or departments will even use the terms differently!
But what are we all really talking about when we refer to a dissertation or a thesis? And does the term you use actually impact on what you actually end up writing?
This article covers the main differences between a dissertation and thesis, and how the terms may differ depending on the course, university and location.
A dissertation is a piece of academic writing centred around original research. In their dissertations, students review existing research but also build on this with unique hypotheses and approaches.
A dissertation can be used to disprove a previous theory or take existing theories and research in a new direction. It is a large research project that is usually completed at the end of the academic year.
Usually, a dissertation starts with a dissertation proposal , which is approved by a study supervisor. The student then completes the research and writes up the methodology , findings, evaluations and conclusions from the research.
Dissertations can be undertaken by both undergraduate and postgraduate students. At undergraduate level the word count is around 5,000 to 8,000 and at postgraduate level it is usually 10,000 to 15,000.
A thesis is an academic paper covering an in-depth review of existing research in a particular discipline. It will involve an academic argument, although it doesn’t usually require original research from the student. The existing research is used to support and evaluate the proposed argument.
A thesis is not usually required at undergraduate level and is more common at postgraduate level.
This large piece of written-up research is usually completed at the end of a masters degree. Some masters courses require a thesis to graduate.
The main purpose of a writing a dissertation is to add new findings to the existing literature in that field with original research. Whereas theses tend to evaluate existing findings, as their purpose is to demonstrate knowledge and skills within the course’s subject matter.
In terms of how long it takes to complete a thesis or dissertation project, a thesis is typically shorter than a dissertation since there are fewer original research aspects involved. This means that it will probably take less time. However, this can differ depending on the university and the course.
Dissertations sometimes require an oral presentation, known as a viva , where findings are showcased to academics who ask questions about the research. Theses usually do not require this.
The word ‘dissertation’ originates from the Latin word ‘dissertare’, meaning to continue to discuss and the Latin word ‘disserere’ which means to examine and discuss .
The word ‘thesis’ originally comes from the Greek word ‘tithenai’, which means to place or position. This later evolved into the Latin ‘thesis’, which had two meanings: an abstract question and to put something forward .
Although there are some key differences between a dissertation and a thesis, there are also similarities.
Though, the difficulty of a thesis or dissertation depends on your personal skill set. For instance, students that learn better by developing their own research ideas may find a dissertation easier than a thesis.
Difficulty can also depend on the level of the course. For instance, a thesis completed at doctorate level is likely to require more advanced knowledge than a thesis at undergraduate level.
The difficulty of either type of research project can also vary depending on the subject matter and the resources available to you.
Both dissertations and theses can be challenging, but don’t be put off by the thought of having to produce a larger body of work. Your supervisor will be there to support you.
The terms ‘dissertation’ and ‘thesis’ are sometimes used interchangeably, and the meanings can differ depending on the country and university.
There are plenty of differences between the variant forms of English, such as British English and American English. Around the world, different English-speaking countries use the words ‘dissertation’ and ‘thesis’ differently.
Generally, nations with British-based academic systems of university education use dissertation to refer to the body of work at the end of an undergraduate or masters level degree . British-based institutions generally use thesis to refer to the body of work produced at the end of a PhD .
In countries and institutions that are based on the American system of education, the words tend to be used in reverse. However, institutions and even different departments in the same university can use the words differently.
If you're in doubt, then stick with the way the university and department you're currently attending use the terms.
In the UK, the terms ‘dissertation’ and ‘thesis’ are generally applied equally across institutions and subjects.
However, in the US the meanings can differ between different subject areas. The term ‘thesis’ can be used to describe a piece of original research in US academia, whereas original research is usually referred to as a dissertation in the UK.
If you’re studying in the US , you may complete a thesis at masters level in another subject area that involves wide-ranging reading and understanding rather than original research and still call it a thesis.
With so much interchangeability between the two terms, it’s understandable that there is often confusion in the debate between a dissertation vs thesis, as there is no clear answer.
Always read specific course details to understand exactly what’s involved in the research project that you are required to produce.
Georgetown University in the US refers to a dissertation and a thesis as both adding to your 'field of knowledge' . The University of Edinburgh recommends that you refer to your individual course handbook for guides to dissertations, so each department will have their own guidelines to using the word dissertation and thesis. At University College London they refer to a thesis as the piece of work at the end of an EngD, MPhil, MD(Res) or PhD, which are all research degrees.
Ultimately, it doesn't really matter which word you use as both refer to a serious and lengthy piece of work where you can show what you have researched and understood as part of your postgraduate studies.
As long as you are referring to the piece of work that you are compiling in the same way as those in your department then you will avoid confusion.
It is important to check whether the research piece involves original research or expects you to build upon existing research.
Writing a dissertation or a thesis requires a substantial amount of planning and work and you don't want to let yourself down at the last hurdle with poor presentation of your work, so always keep an eye on your course or department guidelines.
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By: Derek Jansen (MBA) Reviewed By: David Phair (PhD) | July 2019
So, you’ve got a decent understanding of what a dissertation is , you’ve chosen your topic and hopefully you’ve received approval for your research proposal . Awesome! Now its time to start the actual dissertation or thesis writing journey.
To craft a high-quality document, the very first thing you need to understand is dissertation structure . In this post, we’ll walk you through the generic dissertation structure and layout, step by step. We’ll start with the big picture, and then zoom into each chapter to briefly discuss the core contents. If you’re just starting out on your research journey, you should start with this post, which covers the big-picture process of how to write a dissertation or thesis .
In this post, we’ll be discussing a traditional dissertation/thesis structure and layout, which is generally used for social science research across universities, whether in the US, UK, Europe or Australia. However, some universities may have small variations on this structure (extra chapters, merged chapters, slightly different ordering, etc).
So, always check with your university if they have a prescribed structure or layout that they expect you to work with. If not, it’s safe to assume the structure we’ll discuss here is suitable. And even if they do have a prescribed structure, you’ll still get value from this post as we’ll explain the core contents of each section.
As I mentioned, some universities will have slight variations on this structure. For example, they want an additional “personal reflection chapter”, or they might prefer the results and discussion chapter to be merged into one. Regardless, the overarching flow will always be the same, as this flow reflects the research process , which we discussed here – i.e.:
In other words, the dissertation structure and layout reflect the research process of asking a well-defined question(s), investigating, and then answering the question – see below.
To restate that – the structure and layout of a dissertation reflect the flow of the overall research process . This is essential to understand, as each chapter will make a lot more sense if you “get” this concept. If you’re not familiar with the research process, read this post before going further.
Right. Now that we’ve covered the big picture, let’s dive a little deeper into the details of each section and chapter. Oh and by the way, you can also grab our free dissertation/thesis template here to help speed things up.
The title page of your dissertation is the very first impression the marker will get of your work, so it pays to invest some time thinking about your title. But what makes for a good title? A strong title needs to be 3 things:
Typically, a good title includes mention of the following:
For example:
A quantitative investigation [research design] into the antecedents of organisational trust [broader area] in the UK retail forex trading market [specific context/area of focus].
Again, some universities may have specific requirements regarding the format and structure of the title, so it’s worth double-checking expectations with your institution (if there’s no mention in the brief or study material).
This page provides you with an opportunity to say thank you to those who helped you along your research journey. Generally, it’s optional (and won’t count towards your marks), but it is academic best practice to include this.
So, who do you say thanks to? Well, there’s no prescribed requirements, but it’s common to mention the following people:
There’s no need for lengthy rambling. Just state who you’re thankful to and for what (e.g. thank you to my supervisor, John Doe, for his endless patience and attentiveness) – be sincere. In terms of length, you should keep this to a page or less.
The dissertation abstract (or executive summary for some degrees) serves to provide the first-time reader (and marker or moderator) with a big-picture view of your research project. It should give them an understanding of the key insights and findings from the research, without them needing to read the rest of the report – in other words, it should be able to stand alone .
For it to stand alone, your abstract should cover the following key points (at a minimum):
So, in much the same way the dissertation structure mimics the research process, your abstract or executive summary should reflect the research process, from the initial stage of asking the original question to the final stage of answering that question.
In practical terms, it’s a good idea to write this section up last , once all your core chapters are complete. Otherwise, you’ll end up writing and rewriting this section multiple times (just wasting time). For a step by step guide on how to write a strong executive summary, check out this post .
This section is straightforward. You’ll typically present your table of contents (TOC) first, followed by the two lists – figures and tables. I recommend that you use Microsoft Word’s automatic table of contents generator to generate your TOC. If you’re not familiar with this functionality, the video below explains it simply:
If you find that your table of contents is overly lengthy, consider removing one level of depth. Oftentimes, this can be done without detracting from the usefulness of the TOC.
Right, now that the “admin” sections are out of the way, its time to move on to your core chapters. These chapters are the heart of your dissertation and are where you’ll earn the marks. The first chapter is the introduction chapter – as you would expect, this is the time to introduce your research…
It’s important to understand that even though you’ve provided an overview of your research in your abstract, your introduction needs to be written as if the reader has not read that (remember, the abstract is essentially a standalone document). So, your introduction chapter needs to start from the very beginning, and should address the following questions:
These are just the bare basic requirements for your intro chapter. Some universities will want additional bells and whistles in the intro chapter, so be sure to carefully read your brief or consult your research supervisor.
If done right, your introduction chapter will set a clear direction for the rest of your dissertation. Specifically, it will make it clear to the reader (and marker) exactly what you’ll be investigating, why that’s important, and how you’ll be going about the investigation. Conversely, if your introduction chapter leaves a first-time reader wondering what exactly you’ll be researching, you’ve still got some work to do.
Now that you’ve set a clear direction with your introduction chapter, the next step is the literature review . In this section, you will analyse the existing research (typically academic journal articles and high-quality industry publications), with a view to understanding the following questions:
Depending on the nature of your study, you may also present a conceptual framework towards the end of your literature review, which you will then test in your actual research.
Again, some universities will want you to focus on some of these areas more than others, some will have additional or fewer requirements, and so on. Therefore, as always, its important to review your brief and/or discuss with your supervisor, so that you know exactly what’s expected of your literature review chapter.
Now that you’ve investigated the current state of knowledge in your literature review chapter and are familiar with the existing key theories, models and frameworks, its time to design your own research. Enter the methodology chapter – the most “science-ey” of the chapters…
In this chapter, you need to address two critical questions:
Remember, the dissertation part of your degree is first and foremost about developing and demonstrating research skills . Therefore, the markers want to see that you know which methods to use, can clearly articulate why you’ve chosen then, and know how to deploy them effectively.
Importantly, this chapter requires detail – don’t hold back on the specifics. State exactly what you’ll be doing, with who, when, for how long, etc. Moreover, for every design choice you make, make sure you justify it.
In practice, you will likely end up coming back to this chapter once you’ve undertaken all your data collection and analysis, and revise it based on changes you made during the analysis phase. This is perfectly fine. Its natural for you to add an additional analysis technique, scrap an old one, etc based on where your data lead you. Of course, I’m talking about small changes here – not a fundamental switch from qualitative to quantitative, which will likely send your supervisor in a spin!
You’ve now collected your data and undertaken your analysis, whether qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods. In this chapter, you’ll present the raw results of your analysis . For example, in the case of a quant study, you’ll present the demographic data, descriptive statistics, inferential statistics , etc.
Typically, Chapter 4 is simply a presentation and description of the data, not a discussion of the meaning of the data. In other words, it’s descriptive, rather than analytical – the meaning is discussed in Chapter 5. However, some universities will want you to combine chapters 4 and 5, so that you both present and interpret the meaning of the data at the same time. Check with your institution what their preference is.
Now that you’ve presented the data analysis results, its time to interpret and analyse them. In other words, its time to discuss what they mean, especially in relation to your research question(s).
What you discuss here will depend largely on your chosen methodology. For example, if you’ve gone the quantitative route, you might discuss the relationships between variables . If you’ve gone the qualitative route, you might discuss key themes and the meanings thereof. It all depends on what your research design choices were.
Most importantly, you need to discuss your results in relation to your research questions and aims, as well as the existing literature. What do the results tell you about your research questions? Are they aligned with the existing research or at odds? If so, why might this be? Dig deep into your findings and explain what the findings suggest, in plain English.
The final chapter – you’ve made it! Now that you’ve discussed your interpretation of the results, its time to bring it back to the beginning with the conclusion chapter . In other words, its time to (attempt to) answer your original research question s (from way back in chapter 1). Clearly state what your conclusions are in terms of your research questions. This might feel a bit repetitive, as you would have touched on this in the previous chapter, but its important to bring the discussion full circle and explicitly state your answer(s) to the research question(s).
Next, you’ll typically discuss the implications of your findings . In other words, you’ve answered your research questions – but what does this mean for the real world (or even for academia)? What should now be done differently, given the new insight you’ve generated?
Lastly, you should discuss the limitations of your research, as well as what this means for future research in the area. No study is perfect, especially not a Masters-level. Discuss the shortcomings of your research. Perhaps your methodology was limited, perhaps your sample size was small or not representative, etc, etc. Don’t be afraid to critique your work – the markers want to see that you can identify the limitations of your work. This is a strength, not a weakness. Be brutal!
This marks the end of your core chapters – woohoo! From here on out, it’s pretty smooth sailing.
The reference list is straightforward. It should contain a list of all resources cited in your dissertation, in the required format, e.g. APA , Harvard, etc.
It’s essential that you use reference management software for your dissertation. Do NOT try handle your referencing manually – its far too error prone. On a reference list of multiple pages, you’re going to make mistake. To this end, I suggest considering either Mendeley or Zotero. Both are free and provide a very straightforward interface to ensure that your referencing is 100% on point. I’ve included a simple how-to video for the Mendeley software (my personal favourite) below:
Some universities may ask you to include a bibliography, as opposed to a reference list. These two things are not the same . A bibliography is similar to a reference list, except that it also includes resources which informed your thinking but were not directly cited in your dissertation. So, double-check your brief and make sure you use the right one.
The very last piece of the puzzle is the appendix or set of appendices. This is where you’ll include any supporting data and evidence. Importantly, supporting is the keyword here.
Your appendices should provide additional “nice to know”, depth-adding information, which is not critical to the core analysis. Appendices should not be used as a way to cut down word count (see this post which covers how to reduce word count ). In other words, don’t place content that is critical to the core analysis here, just to save word count. You will not earn marks on any content in the appendices, so don’t try to play the system!
And there you have it – the traditional dissertation structure and layout, from A-Z. To recap, the core structure for a dissertation or thesis is (typically) as follows:
Most importantly, the core chapters should reflect the research process (asking, investigating and answering your research question). Moreover, the research question(s) should form the golden thread throughout your dissertation structure. Everything should revolve around the research questions, and as you’ve seen, they should form both the start point (i.e. introduction chapter) and the endpoint (i.e. conclusion chapter).
I hope this post has provided you with clarity about the traditional dissertation/thesis structure and layout. If you have any questions or comments, please leave a comment below, or feel free to get in touch with us. Also, be sure to check out the rest of the Grad Coach Blog .
This post was based on one of our popular Research Bootcamps . If you're working on a research project, you'll definitely want to check this out ...
many thanks i found it very useful
Glad to hear that, Arun. Good luck writing your dissertation.
Such clear practical logical advice. I very much needed to read this to keep me focused in stead of fretting.. Perfect now ready to start my research!
what about scientific fields like computer or engineering thesis what is the difference in the structure? thank you very much
Thanks so much this helped me a lot!
Very helpful and accessible. What I like most is how practical the advice is along with helpful tools/ links.
Thanks Ade!
Thank you so much sir.. It was really helpful..
You’re welcome!
Hi! How many words maximum should contain the abstract?
Thank you so much 😊 Find this at the right moment
You’re most welcome. Good luck with your dissertation.
best ever benefit i got on right time thank you
Many times Clarity and vision of destination of dissertation is what makes the difference between good ,average and great researchers the same way a great automobile driver is fast with clarity of address and Clear weather conditions .
I guess Great researcher = great ideas + knowledge + great and fast data collection and modeling + great writing + high clarity on all these
You have given immense clarity from start to end.
Morning. Where will I write the definitions of what I’m referring to in my report?
Thank you so much Derek, I was almost lost! Thanks a tonnnn! Have a great day!
Thanks ! so concise and valuable
This was very helpful. Clear and concise. I know exactly what to do now.
Thank you for allowing me to go through briefly. I hope to find time to continue.
Really useful to me. Thanks a thousand times
Very interesting! It will definitely set me and many more for success. highly recommended.
Thank you soo much sir, for the opportunity to express my skills
Usefull, thanks a lot. Really clear
Very nice and easy to understand. Thank you .
That was incredibly useful. Thanks Grad Coach Crew!
My stress level just dropped at least 15 points after watching this. Just starting my thesis for my grad program and I feel a lot more capable now! Thanks for such a clear and helpful video, Emma and the GradCoach team!
Do we need to mention the number of words the dissertation contains in the main document?
It depends on your university’s requirements, so it would be best to check with them 🙂
Such a helpful post to help me get started with structuring my masters dissertation, thank you!
Great video; I appreciate that helpful information
It is so necessary or avital course
This blog is very informative for my research. Thank you
Doctoral students are required to fill out the National Research Council’s Survey of Earned Doctorates
wow this is an amazing gain in my life
This is so good
How can i arrange my specific objectives in my dissertation?
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Published on September 21, 2022 by Tegan George . Revised on July 18, 2023.
When starting your thesis or dissertation process, one of the first requirements is a research proposal or a prospectus. It describes what or who you want to examine, delving into why, when, where, and how you will do so, stemming from your research question and a relevant topic .
The proposal or prospectus stage is crucial for the development of your research. It helps you choose a type of research to pursue, as well as whether to pursue qualitative or quantitative methods and what your research design will look like.
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What should your proposal contain, dissertation question examples, what should your proposal look like, dissertation prospectus examples, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about proposals.
Prior to jumping into the research for your thesis or dissertation, you first need to develop your research proposal and have it approved by your supervisor. It should outline all of the decisions you have taken about your project, from your dissertation topic to your hypotheses and research objectives .
Depending on your department’s requirements, there may be a defense component involved, where you present your research plan in prospectus format to your committee for their approval.
Your proposal should answer the following questions:
Ultimately, your proposal should persuade your supervisor or committee that your proposed project is worth pursuing.
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Strong research kicks off with a solid research question , and dissertations are no exception to this.
Dissertation research questions should be:
An easy rule of thumb is that your proposal will usually resemble a (much) shorter version of your thesis or dissertation. While of course it won’t include the results section , discussion section , or conclusion , it serves as a “mini” version or roadmap for what you eventually seek to write.
Be sure to include:
The length of your proposal varies quite a bit depending on your discipline and type of work you’re conducting. While a thesis proposal is often only 3-7 pages long, a prospectus for your dissertation is usually much longer, with more detailed analysis. Dissertation proposals can be up to 25-30 pages in length.
Writing a proposal or prospectus can be a challenge, but we’ve compiled some examples for you to get your started.
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If you want to know more about AI for academic writing, AI tools, or research bias, make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!
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The research methods you use depend on the type of data you need to answer your research question .
A thesis or dissertation outline is one of the most critical first steps in your writing process. It helps you to lay out and organize your ideas and can provide you with a roadmap for deciding what kind of research you’d like to undertake.
Generally, an outline contains information on the different sections included in your thesis or dissertation , such as:
A well-planned research design helps ensure that your methods match your research aims, that you collect high-quality data, and that you use the right kind of analysis to answer your questions, utilizing credible sources . This allows you to draw valid , trustworthy conclusions.
The priorities of a research design can vary depending on the field, but you usually have to specify:
A dissertation prospectus or proposal describes what or who you plan to research for your dissertation. It delves into why, when, where, and how you will do your research, as well as helps you choose a type of research to pursue. You should also determine whether you plan to pursue qualitative or quantitative methods and what your research design will look like.
It should outline all of the decisions you have taken about your project, from your dissertation topic to your hypotheses and research objectives , ready to be approved by your supervisor or committee.
Note that some departments require a defense component, where you present your prospectus to your committee orally.
Formulating a main research question can be a difficult task. Overall, your question should contribute to solving the problem that you have defined in your problem statement .
However, it should also fulfill criteria in three main areas:
If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.
George, T. (2023, July 18). How to Write a Dissertation or Thesis Proposal. Scribbr. Retrieved August 26, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/dissertation/thesis-dissertation-proposal/
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A dissertation is a long academic piece of writing based on a student’s independent research . It is usually submitted in the final semester of UG, PG and PhD courses . It takes about 1-2 years to complete the dissertation as it requires a lot of research and written documentation . The aim of writing a dissertation is to test a student’s research skills. It allows students to develop their research, problem-solving, project management and numerical skills . During the course of writing a dissertation, students become able to present their research-based findings to the proposition they chose for themselves.
Empirical dissertation, non-empirical dissertation, skills you need to show, how long is a dissertation, empirical dissertation structure, non-empirical structure, dissertation project example, checklist for dissertation, helpful tips for writing a dissertation, difference between a dissertation and essay, dissertation vs thesis, types of dissertation.
The type of dissertation you may be doing completely depends upon the field of your study. However, there are 2 types of dissertation mentioned below in the table:
Collecting Original Data | Analysing Sources | |
Experiments, Observations, Surveys, | , Artworks, Historical Documents. |
If you are a student of sciences or social sciences, you’ll be required to write an empirical dissertation . Its focus is mainly on collecting original data and analysing every aspect of the data. Students can choose different research methods such as surveys, observation, laboratory experiments and interviews . Keeping in mind that the aim of an Empirical dissertation is to produce standardized scientific knowledge, students must consider the variables they will investigate, the reliability of their measurements, and choose the correct sampling method.
Non-empirical research is generally done for subjects such as arts and humanities . Choosing a particular topic and collecting the data from primary and secondary sources is the first step of starting with this type of dissertation. While working on non-empirical research, a student does the work with existing research or other texts, presents original analysis, argumentation, but there is no original data . The aim is to analyse theoretical texts and interpret the sources with your own understanding.
Regardless of the type of dissertation you write or the topic you pick, you’ll need to demonstrate the following abilities:
Defining and defining a study topic with a specific query | Identifying the most important problems |
Obtaining the necessary information | Considering its trustworthiness and validity |
Considering both sides of a debate’s evidence | Arriving at a well-thought-out conclusion |
Organizing and presenting your study’s findings in a critical, captivating, and eloquent manner while following all formatting guidelines. |
A dissertation’s length varies by study level and location, although it normally ranges from 10,000 to 12,000 words for undergraduates, 15,000 to 25,000 words for master’s students, and up to 50,000 words or more for PhD students.
A dissertation is basically divided into chapters and sections . Both empirical and non-empirical dissertations have different kinds of structures that are supposed to be followed while writing a dissertation. Empirical dissertations usually have a more standardized structure than that of a non-empirical dissertation which is more flexible.
The structure may be slightly different but an empirical dissertation must include the following chapters:
The structure or outline of a non-empirical dissertation is quite flexible as it involves existing research and texts . The aim of non-empirical research is to present original and independent analysis based on theoretical research . It is basically an extended essay but while writing a non-empirical thesis, the text must be presented precisely to serve your arguments in a logical manner. However, mentioned below is a general outline that must be followed while writing a non-empirical dissertation:
*The main body is divided into 2-4 chapters.
Depending on the topic you’ve chosen, the main body can be divided into different types. One of the most common topics of non-empirical research is history-based . The following mentioned is an example of a renaissance based topic:
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Mentioned below is a checklist to make sure you’ve included all the required information:
You get to choose the topic | You are provided with the topics |
Research is done to add something new to a specific field of study | The purpose is to inform others about a particular topic |
The audience is an academic committee and scholars of the specific field of study | The audience is the teacher and the professor who assigned the given topic |
You are required to analyze and present your original thoughts | You are not obliged to present your own opinions or present an analysis |
PhD must include over 60,000 words and should not exceed the limit of 80,000 words.
It takes around a year or two to complete a dissertation but if you manage time properly and catch up the speed you may be able to complete it in less than 8 months.
Hopefully, this blog assisted you in finding out what is Dissertation, its structure and more. If you require any assistance regarding your application process while enrolling for your further studies, our experts at Leverage Edu are just one click away. Call us anytime at 1800 572 000 for a free counselling session!
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10.5 h total length
The United States Constitution was designed to secure the natural rights proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence. Signed by Constitutional Convention delegates on September 17, 1787—Constitution Day—it was ratified by the American people and remains the most enduring and successful constitution in history.
In this twelve-lecture course, students will examine the political theory of the American Founding and subsequent challenges to that theory throughout American history. Topics covered in this course include: the natural rights theory of the Founding, the meaning of the Declaration and the Constitution, the crisis of the Civil War, the Progressive rejection of the Founding, and the nature and form of modern liberalism.
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Lessons in this course.
The Theory of the Declaration and the Constitution
The form of government prescribed by the Constitution is based on the timeless principles of the Declaration of Independence. These two documents establish the formal and final causes of the United States and make possible the freedom that is the birthright of all Americans.
Natural Rights and the American Revolution
The principle of equality—which means no person may rule over another without his consent—is central to the political theory of the American Founding. Not only did it justify the Revolution, it also led to the creation of a government whose purpose is securing the natural rights of its citizens.
Majority Tyranny and the Necessity of the Union
The Articles of Confederation was America’s first attempt at establishing a national union. However, in many of the states, unchecked legislative majorities frequently trampled on the natural rights of minorities and disregarded the nearly powerless federal government. This experience of unstable and unjust government led to calls for a firmer union.
Consent of the Governed and the Separation of Powers
The Framers understood that the “latent causes of faction . . . are sown in the nature of man.” Consequently, the Constitution establishes a number of institutional mechanisms such as representation and separation of powers to control the effects of faction. In so doing, the Constitution improved upon previous models of republican government.
“To Secure These Rights”: Property, Morality, and Religion
While the first purpose of government is to protect citizens from foreign and domestic threats, it must also undertake other essential actions in order to secure natural rights. These include the protection of property rights, the defense of religious liberty, and the promotion of the moral character necessary to sustain free government.
Slavery and the Roots of the Secession Crisis
Contrary to the Founders’ guiding principle of equality and their hopes for eventual abolition, slavery not only survived but spread and became entrenched in the South. Subsequently, a new ideology arose in defense of slavery, which rejected the principles of the Founding and fueled the sectional crisis that led to the Civil War.
Secession and Civil War
The South’s justification for secession was based on an erroneous reading of the Constitution. Whereas the South claimed a legal right to secede, Lincoln opposed what he called an illegal insurrection and sought to secure a “new birth of freedom” in America.
The Progressive Rejection of the Founding
Progressives rejected the timeless principles of the American Founding and instead argued that the ends of government ought to be relative to historical circumstances. They viewed the Constitution as a “living” document, which could be transformed to meet the exigencies of the modern age.
The New Deal and the Rise of the Administrative State
Progressives sought to circumvent the separation of powers by arguing that there are two functions of government: politics and administration. The task of the political branches is to promote a unified vision for the country. The job of the administrative agencies is to implement this vision by means of regulations and guided by scientific expertise.
The Administrative State Today
The modern administrative state transformed the American republic into an oligarchy. Today, an elite and insular administrative class rules without the consent of American citizens. Moreover, administrative rule is both anti-constitutional and pre-constitutional, because it replaces the rule of law with unaccountable regulatory agencies.
Post-Sixties Liberalism and Contemporary Politics
As American politics underwent a substantial change in the 1960s, a new idea of justice emerged. One of the central tenets of this ideology was a politics of liberation and social justice. It aimed at remaking American society by means of divisive policies that serve individual groups rather than the common good.
A Path to Restoration
Centralized bureaucratic government—although dominant in many countries today—remains deeply unpopular because it runs counter to the nature of man. The solution rests in the principles and form of government prescribed by the Founders.
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In July 2017, I wrote an article about toplessness for Vogue Italia. The director, actor, and political activist Lina Esco had emerged from the world of show business to question public nudity laws in the United States with 2014’s Free the Nipple . Her film took on a life of its own and, thanks to the endorsement from the likes of Miley Cyrus, Cara Delevingne, and Willow Smith, eventually developed into a whole political movement, particularly on social media where the hashtag #FreeTheNipple spread at lightning speed. The same year as that piece, actor Alyssa Milano tweeted “me too” and encouraged others who had been sexually assaulted to do the same, building on the movement activist Tarana Burke had created more than a decade earlier. The rest is history.
In that Vogue article, I chatted with designer Alessandro Michele about a shared memory of our favorite topless beaches of our youth. Anywhere in Italy where water appeared—be it the hard-partying Riviera Romagnola, the traditionally chic Amalfi coast and Sorrento peninsula, the vertiginous cliffs and inlets of Italy’s continuation of the French Côte d’Azur or the towering volcanic rocks of Sicily’s mythological Riviera dei Ciclopi—one was bound to find bodies of all shapes and forms, naturally topless.
In the ’90s, growing up in Italy, naked breasts were everywhere and nobody thought anything about it. “When we look at our childhood photos we recognize those imperfect breasts and those bodies, each with their own story. I think of the ‘un-beauty’ of that time and feel it is actually the ultimate beauty,” Michele told me.
Indeed, I felt the same way. My relationship with toplessness was part of a very democratic cultural status quo. If every woman on the beaches of the Mediterranean—from the sexy girls tanning on the shoreline to the grandmothers eating spaghetti al pomodoro out of Tupperware containers under sun umbrellas—bore equally naked body parts, then somehow we were all on the same team. No hierarchies were established. In general, there was very little naked breast censorship. Free nipples appeared on magazine covers at newsstands, whether tabloids or art and fashion magazines. Breasts were so naturally part of the national conversation and aesthetic that Ilona Staller (also known as Cicciolina) and Moana Pozzi, two porn stars, cofounded a political party called the Love Party. I have a clear memory of my neighbor hanging their party’s banner out his window, featuring a topless Cicciolina winking.
A lot has changed since those days, but also since that initial 2017 piece. There’s been a feminist revolution, a transformation of women’s fashion and gender politics, the absurd overturning of Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction in New York, the intensely disturbing overturning of Roe v Wade and the current political battle over reproductive rights radiating from America and far beyond. One way or another, the female body is very much the site of political battles as much as it is of style and fashion tastes. And maybe for this reason naked breasts seem to populate runways and street style a lot more than they do beaches—it’s likely that being naked at a dinner party leaves more of a permanent mark than being naked on a glamorous shore. Naked “dressing” seems to be much more popular than naked “being.” It’s no coincidence that this year Saint Laurent, Chloé, Ferragamo, Tom Ford, Gucci, Ludovic de Saint Sernin, and Valentino all paid homage to sheer dressing in their collections, with lacy dresses, see-through tops, sheer silk hosiery fabric, and close-fitting silk dresses. The majority of Anthony Vaccarello’s fall 2024 collection was mostly transparent. And even off the runway, guests at the Saint Laurent show matched the mood. Olivia Wilde appeared in a stunning see-through dark bodysuit, Georgia May Jagger wore a sheer black halter top, Ebony Riley wore a breathtaking V-neck, and Elsa Hosk went for translucent polka dots.
In some strange way, it feels as if the trends of the ’90s have swapped seats with those of today. When, in 1993, a 19-year-old Kate Moss wore her (now iconic) transparent, bronze-hued Liza Bruce lamé slip dress to Elite Model Agency’s Look of the Year Awards in London, I remember seeing her picture everywhere and feeling in awe of her daring and grace. I loved her simple sexy style, with her otherworldly smile, the hair tied back in a bun. That very slip has remained in the collective unconscious for decades, populating thousands of internet pages, but in remembering that night Moss admitted that the nude look was totally unintentional: “I had no idea why everyone was so excited—in the darkness of Corinne [Day’s] Soho flat, the dress was not see-through!” That’s to say that nude dressing was usually mostly casual and not intellectualized in the context of a larger movement.
But today nudity feels loaded in different ways. In April, actor and author Julia Fox appeared in Los Angeles in a flesh-colored bra that featured hairy hyper-realist prints of breasts and nipples, and matching panties with a print of a sewn-up vagina and the words “closed” on it, as a form of feminist performance art. Breasts , an exhibition curated by Carolina Pasti, recently opened as part of the 60th Venice Biennale at Palazzo Franchetti and showcases works that span from painting and sculpture to photography and film, reflecting on themes of motherhood, empowerment, sexuality, body image, and illness. The show features work by Cindy Sherman, Robert Mapplethorpe, Louise Bourgeois, and an incredible painting by Bernardino Del Signoraccio of Madonna dell’Umiltà, circa 1460-1540. “It was fundamental for me to include a Madonna Lactans from a historical perspective. In this intimate representation, the Virgin reveals one breast while nurturing the child, the organic gesture emphasizing the profound bond between mother and child,” Pasti said when we spoke.
Through her portrayal of breasts, she delves into the delicate balance of strength and vulnerability within the female form. I spoke to Pasti about my recent musings on naked breasts, which she shared in a deep way. I asked her whether she too noticed a disparity between nudity on beaches as opposed to the one on streets and runways, and she agreed. Her main concern today is around censorship. To Pasti, social media is still far too rigid around breast exposure and she plans to discuss this issue through a podcast that she will be launching in September, together with other topics such as motherhood, breastfeeding, sexuality, and breast cancer awareness.
With summer at the door, it was my turn to see just how much of the new reread on transparency would apply to beach life. In the last few years, I noticed those beaches Michele and I reminisced about have grown more conservative and, despite being the daughter of unrepentant nudists and having a long track record of militant topless bathing, I myself have felt a bit more shy lately. Perhaps a woman in her 40s with two children is simply less prone to taking her top off, but my memories of youth are populated by visions of bare-chested mothers surveilling the coasts and shouting after their kids in the water. So when did we stop? And why? When did Michele’s era of “un-beauty” end?
In order to get back in touch with my own naked breasts I decided to revisit the nudist beaches of my youth to see what had changed. On a warm day in May, I researched some local topless beaches around Rome and asked a friend to come with me. Two moms, plus our four children, two girls and two boys of the same ages. “Let’s make an experiment of this and see what happens,” I proposed.
The kids all yawned, but my friend was up for it. These days to go topless, especially on urban beaches, you must visit properties that have an unspoken nudist tradition. One of these in Rome is the natural reserve beach at Capocotta, south of Ostia, but I felt a bit unsure revisiting those sands. In my memory, the Roman nudist beaches often equated to encounters with promiscuous strangers behind the dunes. I didn’t want to expose the kids, so, being that I am now a wise adult, I went ahead and picked a compromise. I found a nude-friendly beach on the banks of the Farfa River, in the rolling Sabina hills.
We piled into my friend’s car and drove out. The kids were all whining about the experiment. “We don’t want to see naked mums!” they complained. “Can’t you just lie and say you went to a nudist beach?”
We parked the car and walked across the medieval fairy-tale woods until we reached the path that ran along the river. All around us were huge trees and gigantic leaves. It had rained a lot recently and the vegetation had grown incredibly. We walked past the remains of a Roman road. The colors all around were bright green, the sky almost fluorescent blue. The kids got sidetracked by the presence of frogs. According to the indications, the beach was about a mile up the river. Halfway down the path, we bumped into a couple of young guys in fanny packs. I scanned them for signs of quintessential nudist attitude, but realized I actually had no idea what that was. I asked if we were headed in the right direction to go to “the beach”. They nodded and gave us a sly smile, which I immediately interpreted as a judgment about us as mothers, and more generally about our age, but I was ready to vindicate bare breasts against ageism.
We reached a small pebbled beach, secluded and bordered by a huge trunk that separated it from the path. A group of girls was there, sharing headphones and listening to music. To my dismay they were all wearing the tops and bottoms of their bikinis. One of them was in a full-piece bathing suit and shorts. “See, they are all wearing bathing suits. Please don’t be the weird mums who don’t.”
At this point, it was a matter of principle. My friend and I decided to take our bathing suits off completely, if only for a moment, and jumped into the river. The boys stayed on the beach with full clothes and shoes on, horrified. The girls went in behind us with their bathing suits. “Are you happy now? my son asked. “Did you prove your point?”
I didn’t really know what my point actually was. I think a part of me wanted to feel entitled to those long-gone decades of naturalism. Whether this was an instinct, or as Pasti said, “an act that was simply tied to the individual freedom of each woman”, it was hard to tell. At this point in history, the two things didn’t seem to cancel each other out—in fact, the opposite. Taking off a bathing suit, at least for my generation who never had to fight for it, had unexpectedly turned into a radical move and maybe I wanted to be part of the new discourse. Also, the chances of me going out in a fully sheer top were slim these days, but on the beach it was different. I would always fight for an authentic topless experience.
After our picnic on the river, we left determined to make our way—and without children—to the beaches of Capocotta. In truth, no part of me actually felt very subversive doing something I had been doing my whole life, but it still felt good. Once a free breast, always a free breast.
This article was originally published on British Vogue .
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August 26, 2024
As fall classes get underway, the Jacksonville University College of Law celebrated the opening of its new home in Downtown Jacksonville’s historic former Atlantic Bank building. Now named for the College of Law, with the building bearing its name, the opening marks the on-schedule completion of an ambitious eight-month adaptive reuse renovation project.
The College of Law completed the 50,000-square-foot space on four contiguous floors in early August. It will accommodate the growth of the law school and provide the opportunity to expand as it continues to welcome larger classes and hire more faculty and staff to serve the needs of its growing student body. Moving to a larger space had been planned since long before the law school’s launch in 2022.
The City of Jacksonville, unanimously approved by the City Council, invested $6.5 million into the $12 million renovation project.
“JU is an amazing part of this community, and this law school is going to bring life downtown, something that we need. It’s going to bring vibrancy,” said Jacksonville City Council Vice President, Kevin Carrico. “We’ve all worked together to support JU and will continue to support JU and all the other [higher education] institutions around town. Thank you for showing us what a public-private partnership can look like.”
In the two years since its opening in the VyStar Tower, the College of Law is already welcoming more than 86 students, along with faculty and staff to Downtown each day. The law school will continue to meet the needs of the community, expand its talent pool and strengthen its economic infrastructure with highly qualified new lawyers.
“We’re grateful beyond measure to the City of Jacksonville for their support and encouragement of our law school. We also acknowledge the exceptional talent of our design and construction partners for making the bold vision of President Cost and the University Board of Trustees a reality for our students and the people of Northeast Florida,” said Randall C. Berg Jr. Founding Dean Nick Allard. “We look forward to educating a long line of outstanding future lawyers in this historic space for years to come.”
The new space was completely renovated to include flexible, state-of-the-art classrooms, study and common areas, spaces for immersive learning, student meeting rooms, faculty and staff offices, event space and an extensive library.
"Today marks a pivotal moment for Jacksonville University and the city we proudly call home,” said Jacksonville University President, Tim Cost. “The opening of our College of Law in this beautifully restored, historic space is a testament to the dedication of our faculty, staff, and partners who turned vision into reality. Together, we have laid a strong foundation for a future where our law school will thrive and serve an important need in our community. I look forward to shaking hands with the College of Law’s first graduating class this spring.”
Auld & White Constructors was the contractor for the project. TTV Architects, a group with extensive experience in higher education projects and in historic renovation and adaptive reuse, designed the space. Christian Harden of NAI Hallmark brokered the lease deal and John Hodges of International Management Company was the key representative for the owner. Workscapes was the furniture and interior design partner on the project.
In March, the College of Law received provisional ABA accreditation on the fastest possible timeline. It can apply for full accreditation two years from that date.
The College of Law welcomed its third incoming class earlier this month — its largest yet with 44 students. The inaugural class will graduate in the spring.
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This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Shelly Gates, 49, whose Jackson, Mississippi-based interior-decor firm Mary Margaret Designs focuses on college dorm rooms. She posts videos of her work on TikTok, where she has over 17,000 followers. The essay has been edited for length and clarity.
I always loved design. And down here in the South, people make kind of a big deal about the dorm rooms.
It started with my daughter's dorm room at Mississippi State in 2020.
I happened to post some pictures on Facebook for my friends, and it kind of caught everybody's eye. There was a little "dorm room of the year" contest in one of my mom Facebook groups , and they happened to pick my daughter's room.
It gave me the confidence to think, "You know what? I can do this." Dorm rooms are easy, small, and pretty uniform compared to bigger design projects.
So I just started dipping my toes in the water.
I've done 20 rooms in total now including every school around here like Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Southern Methodist University, SMU, and the University of Southern Mississippi. I've also done Mizzou, Bama , Belmont, and Arkansas.
I did just one room my first year. Then I did seven, which really got me in over my head. This year, I limited it to just five projects.
There are just so many little details that have to be taken care of, and so much background work, before you even really start to design.
I started with a design fee, and then I charge hourly for installation. I've been able to increase my fee, but it really depends on the project, whether it's for both roommates, or how big the space is. This year it was around $5,000 total a room.
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A big part of the initial part of the design is determining which school they're going to and which dorm they're living in.
I have to find the dimensions and layout. The measurements that the university provides are not always to scale.
I walked into a dorm two weeks ago and there was a window seat. That was nowhere in the plan. I know it doesn't seem like a lot, but in a 9'x12' dorm room, it really affects the bed and the layout of the room.
I'll scroll through TikTok to find the right layouts from past years.
I always start with the fabric the student wants. From there, I'll scour Pinterest, TikTok, and Instagram for inspiration, but I always come up with a lot of ideas myself.
In addition to the furnishings, I handle all the organization and storage . I make sure Mom has a checklist for the batteries, the light bulbs, the trash can, things like that.
I want the process to be streamlined for the parents and for the dorms to feel pretty much turnkey.
I spend more money on bedding and lamps because they can carry over to new spaces well. I also like the kids to have art because it has a shelf life and stays in good shape.
Their freshman year, they might just have a room with twin beds . But eventually, they'll move into an apartment or the sorority or fraternity house, where they'll need to decorate again. I want the bedding, lamps, and art to easily transition with them.
On the flip side, I always try to get a cheap rug , especially during Amazon Prime Days and super sales like that. Rugs are always gross at the end of the year and you should just throw those away.
I usually find really good deals for rugs around $100. These are 18-year-old kids — they don't need a Persian rug.
One thing that is also a must-have is a really great bed skirt. I get mine custom-made by a fabric store down in Ridgeland, Mississippi. You're lifting the bed 36 inches to get all the storage possible — and all of a sudden have this space exposed underneath.
I like to use one with panels and hook it together with a bungee cord so the under bed storage is still easy to access, but it keeps the room beautiful.
In the South, we kind of do everything over the top. It's just what we want.
I can't speak for everyone, but I just wanted my children to have a place that really felt like home. If they're going to leave the nest and flap their little wings , I want them to have a place that's a refuge for them.
I think a lot of the moms see that, and also just really want to give something nice to their kids. Down here, when you walk into a dorm — and I'm in a lot of them — almost every single room is done to the nines . It's just the way the moms down here do it.
For those who say it's over the top, I say to each their own.
I'm sure that a lot of them choose to spend their money on things that are important to them, but for my clients, this is where they want to spend their money.
I read hate comments sometimes and think, "Well, I don't really tell you where to spend your money, right?"
My end result is that my students are happy and that my moms and dads are happy. That's my ultimate goal — to create a space that they love.
I've been able to segue the business into other avenues as well. In the South, a lot of people will buy condos in whatever town their child goes to school. So I've designed those for the parents of dorm clients.
I teach fourth grade full-time so it started out as a fun summer thing, but I would love to do it full-time. Hopefully soon, I can hire additional designers and grow my business.
Mark lantz | aug 25, 2024.
Florida State and Georgia Tech kicked off the 2024 college football season with a game at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday. Aidan Birr hit a 44-yard field goal in the waning seconds of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic to give the Yellow Jackets an 24-21 upset win over No. 10 Florida State.
For Ducks’ fans, how can this game, played over 4,700 miles away, possibly have any impact on Oregon’s season and playoff hopes?
The Ducks have made it clear they will contend for a Big Ten championship and a berth in the expanded College Football Playoff . Should Oregon accomplish the first goal, they will be one of the top four seeded teams and receive a first-round bye. Seven teams will make the CFP without winning their league, but they won't get a bye and will have a longer route to a title game appearance. This is where Florida State’s loss could benefit Oregon.
The Seminoles came into this game as a prohibitive favorite. For example, Nick Saban, former Alabama head coach and current ESPN GameDay panel member, believes they will repeat as ACC Conference champions. This loss, while disheartening, does not keep the Seminoles out of the playoffs, either as a champion or an at-large berth. It could, however, negatively impact Florida State's seeding, which could improve Oregon’s spot.
For background purposes, note that the College Football Playoff Committee will consider the following for seeding purposes:
• Championships won • Strength of schedule (SOS) • Head-to-head competition • Comparative outcomes of common opponents (without incentivizing margin of victory) • Other relevant factors such as unavailability of key players and coaches that might have affected a team's performance during the season or likely will affect its postseason performance
For the sake of the argument, assume that Georgia Tech’s win was a fluke. They have no other signature victories, they end up in the middle to lower-end of ACC standings and they are not invited to a bowl game. Also assume that Oregon and Florida State are not in the top 5 ranked teams and they have the same win/loss records. Furthermore, an Oregon loss was to a highly ranked team and an away game.
In this hypothetical scenario, with all but strength of schedule criteria equal, Oregon would likely get the higher seed due to Florida State’s loss to Georgia Tech. There is yet another scenario that would benefit the Ducks.
In staying with the Seminoles, let’s say they reach the ACC championship game as the top seed while the second school is ranked lower than Florida State. Prior to the game, the Ducks and Seminoles are fairly even in all criteria, but Florida State loses the title game. Assuming no other changes including a late season loss by Oregon, the Ducks are no longer competing with an equally matched team for a seed in the playoffs. Now, the comparison is against a lower ranked team overall and Oregon is awarded the higher seed.
Again, this is all hypothetical and over-simplifies the work of the College Football Playoff committee to find the 12 best football teams in the country. The take-away, however, is that strength of schedule is still an essential part of the selection process even though the number of teams goes from four to 12. Ducks’ fans who express concern about Oregon’s strength of schedule ranking would be well served by remembering that a win over a team with a higher SOS actually benefits Oregon’s reputation and possible playoff seeding.
There is no way to know exactly how this process will play out over time. In theory, the only difference is the number of teams in the playoffs. Perhaps the only thing we can know with any degree of certainty is that the teams ranked 13, 14, 15, etc. will believe they should have been included and a fix is in order.
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Mark Lantz brings a wealth of experience in sports broadcasting as well as detailed writing when covering all that is Oregon Ducks sports. Mark spent several years covering high school football, basketball and American Legion baseball. He was a play-by-play announcer and color commentator. He also started a network to broadcast high school basketball to small radio stations in Montana. Prior to his retirement in 2022, Mark spent over 10 years writing for a well-known wealth management firm. He wrote about stock market trends, investor behavior, economic and political developments, and retirement related matters, to name a few. His writing style is designed to give the reader insight into Oregon Ducks sports.
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College football conference realignment breakdown for 2024-25: teams in new conferences.
College football will look differently across the country this season with conference realignment shaking up the college sports world.
Much of the changes come from schools that were in the Pac-12, but there are many other notable moves to note for this season.
Here’s a list and breakdown on what teams are on the move and which conferences they landed in at the Division I level (FBS and FCS):
SCHOOL | NEW CONFERENCE | OLD CONFERENCE |
---|---|---|
Arizona | Big 12 | Pac-12 |
Arizona State | Big 12 | Pac-12 |
Army | American | Independent (FBS) |
Bryant | CAA | Big South-OVC |
Cal | ACC | Pac-12 |
Colorado | Big 12 | Pac-12 |
Kennesaw State | Conference USA | Independent (FCS) |
Mercyhurst | NEC | PSAC (DII) |
Merrimack | Independent (FCS) | NEC |
Oklahoma | SEC | Big 12 |
Oregon | Big Ten | Pac-12 |
Robert Morris | NEC | Big South-OVC |
Sacred Heart | Independent (FCS) | NEC |
Southern California | Big Ten | Pac-12 |
SMU | ACC | American |
Stanford | ACC | Pac-12 |
Stephen F. Austin | Southland | United Athletic Conference |
Texas | SEC | Big 12 |
UCLA | Big Ten | Pac-12 |
Utah | Big 12 | Pac-12 |
Washington | Big Ten | Pac-12 |
West Georgia | United Athletic Conference | Gulf South (DII) |
Western Illinois | Big South-OVC | MVFC |
Most college football fans wouldn’t discuss the ACC and westward expansion in the same conversation before 2024, as the conference was threaded head-to-toe with East Coast programs.
Both will be used in the same sentence now, though, as the ACC added Stanford, California and SMU. Cal and Stanford joined the conference from the Pac-12, while SMU climbed aboard playing in the AAC.
The transition epitomizes the drastic changes throughout the collegiate landscape. The conference has 18 members, tied for the most in college football with the Big Ten, and 17 schools competing in the sport (Notre Dame remains independent in football).
SCHEDULE: Click or tap here for game times, TV channels and scores from every game
The Big Ten added a few more pit stops to its well-known “Maps” commercial during the offseason — four to be exact.
Rather than the video starting in Omaha, Nebraska, the 30-second ad began even farther west in Seattle, Washington for the Huskies. Following the 2023 national title runner-up are Oregon, Southern California (USC) and then UCLA.
We know you’ve been waiting for this one… “Maps” is here and it’s beautiful. #B1GWelcome pic.twitter.com/vPfVeEdonn — Big Ten Conference (@bigten) August 2, 2024
The Big 12 was successful during last year’s conference realignment cycle, adding four teams in BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF. And it was back at at again, picking up NArizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah as Oklahoma and Texas left for the SEC.
Arizona, Arizona State and Utah joined the Big 12 after the Big Ten added both Oregon and Washington, shrinking the Pac-12 down to just Oregon State and Washington State. Colorado returned after leaving for the Pac-12 in 2011.
BIG GAMES: 20 non-conference games to have on your radar heading into the 2024 season
The SEC added two of college football’s mainstays in Texas and Oklahoma. The additions pushed the SEC up to 16 total.
Although the SEC’s expansion reiterates its argument as college football’s most dominant conference, the road to glory will only get harder for the two newcomers. Outside of Texas’ meeting against 2023 national champions Michigan, the Longhorns play Georgia, Oklahoma and Texas A&M later in the season.
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A dissertation is designed to be your own. Meaning that what you write about should be a new idea, a new topic, or question that is still unanswered in your field. Something that you will need to collect new data on, potentially interview people for and explore what information is already available. Generally, an idea will need to be approved ...
A dissertation is a long-form piece of academic writing based on original research conducted by you. It is usually submitted as the final step in order to finish a PhD program. Your dissertation is probably the longest piece of writing you've ever completed. It requires solid research, writing, and analysis skills, and it can be intimidating ...
A dissertation (or thesis) is a process. Okay, so now that you understand that a dissertation is a research project (which is testing your ability to undertake quality research), let's go a little deeper into what that means in practical terms. The best way to understand a dissertation is to view it as a process - more specifically a ...
Craft a convincing dissertation or thesis research proposal. Write a clear, compelling introduction chapter. Undertake a thorough review of the existing research and write up a literature review. Undertake your own research. Present and interpret your findings. Draw a conclusion and discuss the implications.
Revised on 5 May 2022. A dissertation is a large research project undertaken at the end of a degree. It involves in-depth consideration of a problem or question chosen by the student. It is usually the largest (and final) piece of written work produced during a degree. The length and structure of a dissertation vary widely depending on the ...
Most dissertations run a minimum of 100-200 pages, with some hitting 300 pages or more. When editing your dissertation, break it down chapter by chapter. Go beyond grammar and spelling to make sure you communicate clearly and efficiently. Identify repetitive areas and shore up weaknesses in your argument.
A college dissertation is an assessment, but unlike other module assessments, it is an independent learning project. In other words, each student is given an opportunity to present his or her findings in response to a research proposal/question of their choosing. ... may use the term dissertation to mean projects done by doctoral students ...
The meaning of DISSERTATION is an extended usually written treatment of a subject; specifically : one submitted for a doctorate. How to use dissertation in a sentence.
The type of dissertation you complete will vary depending on your course of study. One of the main differences is between empirical and non-empirical dissertations. Empirical dissertations are dissertations which involve collecting data, for example in a psychology degree. This may mean putting into practice professional and ethical guidelines ...
A dissertation is an academic document prepared by a doctoral student that contains original research about a topic. The student identifies the topic, conducts the research, writes the dissertation and defends it in front of a committee led by a dissertation chair and other doctoral faculty who decide whether the research meets the doctoral ...
A dissertation is a paper explaining the individual research that a student has conducted to earn a degree. It usually consists of several sections or chapters and follows the rules of formal academic writing. The degree candidate chooses the research topic. In the United States, a graduate student writes a dissertation to earn a doctorate degree.
A dissertation is a major project completed by PhD candidates. Through it, you will establish yourself as an expert with the knowledge, critical thinking, and research skills to move your field of study forward. The dissertation process usually gets into full swing after you complete your doctoral coursework.
While the format may slightly vary, here's a look at one way to format your dissertation: 1. Title page: This is the first page which includes: title, your name, department, degree program, institution, and submission date. Your program may specify exactly how and what they want you to include on the title page. 2.
DISSERTATION meaning: 1. a long piece of writing on a particular subject, especially one that is done in order to receive…. Learn more.
Revised on April 16, 2024. A thesis is a type of research paper based on your original research. It is usually submitted as the final step of a master's program or a capstone to a bachelor's degree. Writing a thesis can be a daunting experience. Other than a dissertation, it is one of the longest pieces of writing students typically complete.
The main difference between a dissertation and thesis is the scope of the research. A dissertation develops unique and original concepts in a particular field of research, whereas a thesis is usually a culmination of existing research. The main purpose of a writing a dissertation is to add new findings to the existing literature in that field ...
However, the dissertation process generally includes: 1. Letter of Intent: This document makes clear the topic you have chosen and what you intend to say with your dissertation. 2. Research: Utilizing all resources at your disposal, you will conduct research and gather all of the necessary data for your dissertation. 3.
Time to recap…. And there you have it - the traditional dissertation structure and layout, from A-Z. To recap, the core structure for a dissertation or thesis is (typically) as follows: Title page. Acknowledgments page. Abstract (or executive summary) Table of contents, list of figures and tables.
When starting your thesis or dissertation process, one of the first requirements is a research proposal or a prospectus. It describes what or who you want to examine, delving into why, when, where, and how you will do so, stemming from your research question and a relevant topic. The proposal or prospectus stage is crucial for the development ...
A typical dissertation runs between 250 and 300 pages, divided into four or five chapters, often with a short conclusion following the final full-scale chapter.There is no set minimum or maximum length, but anything below about 225 pages will likely look insubstantial in comparison to others, while anything over 350 pages may suggest a lack of proportion and control of the topic, and would ...
Meaning, Projects, Report Work. A dissertation is a long academic piece of writing based on a student's independent research. It is usually submitted in the final semester of UG, PG and PhD courses. It takes about 1-2 years to complete the dissertation as it requires a lot of research and written documentation.
A thesis is an in-depth research study that identifies a particular topic of inquiry and presents a clear argument or perspective about that topic using evidence and logic. Writing a thesis showcases your ability of critical thinking, gathering evidence, and making a compelling argument. Integral to these competencies is thorough research ...
coordinator) who prepares the Thesis/Dissertation Approval Form that your committee signs after the defense. Provide that person with your final document title and your name as it appears in university records (go to MyLSU>Student Services>College Record). • Preliminary Document Review. Never copy someone else's formatting.
The United States Constitution was designed to secure the natural rights proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence. Signed by Constitutional Convention delegates on September 17, 1787—Constitution Day—it was ratified by the American people and remains the most enduring and successful constitution in history.
With 2024's runways awash with see-through silhouettes, Chiara Barzini recalls the topless beach trips of her youth and asks, what does naked dressing really reveal about us?
The College of Law completed the 50,000-square-foot space on four contiguous floors in early August. It will accommodate the growth of the law school and provide the opportunity to expand as it continues to welcome larger classes and hire more faculty and staff to serve the needs of its growing student body.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Shelly Gates, 49, whose Jackson, Mississippi-based interior-decor firm Mary Margaret Designs focuses on college dorm rooms. She posts videos ...
In the first game of the 2024 college football season, Georgia Tech upset ACC favorite Florida State. The game was played in Dublin, Ireland, and it is possible the Seminoles' loss could prove to ...
DISSERTATION definition: 1. a long piece of writing on a particular subject, especially one that is done in order to receive…. Learn more.
College football will look differently across the country this season with conference realignment shaking up the college sports world. Much of the changes come from schools that were in the Pac-12 ...