Preliminary Examination and Doctoral Dissertation Submission

Preliminary Examination and doctoral dissertation submission

Doctoral students must successfully pass a "Doctoral Dissertation Preliminary Public Presentation" in order to proceed to "Doctoral Dissertation Candidate".

1. The Preliminary Examination is a presentation and defense of their doctoral research to department faculty / doctoral committee members (review committee) at a time nearing the completion/after completion of their doctoral research.

2. The doctoral student will be required to present a logical and supported outline, results, and findings of their doctoral research that addresses a unique and previously uninvestigated research topic, and that contributes to the body of knowledge in their selected field. The doctoral student will be expected to respond to questions / comments poised by the review committee. 

3. The review committee will determine the appropriateness of the doctoral research and presentation, and whether the doctoral student successfully completes the Preliminary Examination. 

4. After successfully completing the Preliminary Examination, doctoral students advance to doctoral candidacy, and are approved to complete their doctoral research and / or submit their final doctoral dissertation.

Prior to scheduling the Preliminary Examination, doctoral students are recommended to meet one of the following requirements. In addition, in order to be qualified to submit their doctoral dissertation, doctoral candidates are required to meet one of the following requirements:

1. The doctoral candidate must publish (or receive confirmation of acceptance and impending publication) of a minimum of one (or more) research article(s) related to their doctoral study in suitable, peer-reviewed academic publications. 

a. Examples of suitable peer-reviewed academic publications include (but are not limited to):

i. SCOPUS listed academic / research journals 

ii. Book chapters in a peer-reviewed academic / research text

iii. Peer-reviewed academic / research journals published by national or international associations related to the doctoral students’ area of research interest

2. The doctoral candidate must publish (or receive confirmation of acceptance and impending publication) of a minimum of one (or more) research article(s) in suitable, academic publications, and complete two or more oral presentations at national or international association conferences or symposia related to the doctoral students’ area of research interest

a. Examples of suitable academic publications include (but are not limited to):

i. Peer-reviewed academic / research journals published by an accredited university

ii. At Soka University, the SEED Journal of Learner-Centered Higher Education

Doctoral candidates who have satisfied one of the above requirements and have passed their Preliminary Examination are qualified to submit their doctoral dissertation upon the approval of their doctoral program advisor. Submission dates are on the last Friday of August or the last Friday of March during each academic year.

Doctoral dissertation examination and conferment of doctoral degree

1. A Board of Examiners, recommended by the department and appointed by the Graduate School Dean, composed of one primary (the doctoral program advisor) and two secondary examiners will assess the dissertation submitted by the applicant. This dissertation examination will often be completed within a period of several months, but will not extend beyond one calendar year.

2. Any revisions or responses to comments or recommendations by members of the Examination Committee will be the responsibility of the doctoral candidate, and will be required before the final approval of the dissertation.

3. The Examination Committee, after positively reviewing the doctoral dissertation submission, and any necessary responses to comments, will then provide the conditional final approval of the doctoral dissertation, and recommend degree conferment to the Graduate School Committee of the Graduate School of Letters.

4. Upon final approval of the Graduate School Committee of the Graduate School of Letters, the doctoral candidate will be eligible for conferment of the doctoral degree during the next March / September university graduation ceremony held each academic year.
*For more information, see links below.