Advancement to Candidacy Examination
Students will select and develop a research proposal for the dissertation during the third summer of study. The dissertation proposal will be submitted to the student's Candidacy Committee, who will examine the candidate on the proposal. The proposal will include the background, research questions, rationale, research protocol and methodology, and significance of the dissertation project.
The defense of the dissertation proposal will serve as the candidate's Advancement to Candidacy Examination. The examination will be administered by a five-person Candidacy Committee, which will include two UCI faculty members, two CSU members in education, and one member from outside the field of education, and will be chaired by the candidate's dissertation advisor. All committee members must vote in support in order for the candidate to pass the examination. Any candidates who do not pass the Advancement to Candidacy Examination will have one opportunity to re-take the examination within three months.