Courses
This course is designed for PhD and DIA students and only open to MA students with permission of the instructor. Even with a solid research design, the challenge of producing a dissertation-length summary of that research remains daunting. Writing a long manuscript—especially on a deadline, and with other competing work demands—is one of the most difficult challenges any student will ever face; yet, without mastering that challenge, a student cannot complete a doctoral degree program. This seminar for PhD and DIA candidates will provide strategies and advice for producing an extended written argument, a valuable skill both in and beyond the academy. The seminar’s specific topics and themes will be tailored to the interests of the class members, and the course requirements will be designed to help those students advance the writing of their dissertations. In addition, the course will provide advice on the process of publicizing research findings, and on turning dissertations into published articles and books.
Prerequisite(s): Students may not register for this class if they have already received credit for SA.600.795[C]
The primary aim of this course is to assist SAIS doctoral students (DIA and Ph.D.) in drafting a dissertation prospectus sufficiently developed to begin active research on the proposed topic. Students will focus on the core of any successful dissertation plan: its research design, comprised principally of the logic linking social scientific theory to concrete empirical research. Students will complete a series of successively more detailed drafts of their proposals, and they will critically evaluate and offer constructive advice on their peers’ work.
MAIA students may take two courses instead of completing and defending a 15-20,000 word thesis. However, in order to maintain a research component, they must prepare an 8,000 word research paper for one of their courses. This requirement may be similar to the existing requirement for a given course, or may be considered additional to or substitute for existing requirements, as decided by the course professor.
MAIA students at SAIS Europe may choose to spread their thesis research over a full academic year or do most of the work during the final semester.
The MAIA thesis is a 15-20,000 word research project for which a SAIS Europe faculty member acts as primary supervisor and another professor as second reader who cross-examines the candidate during the defense.
Exchange student from HNC