DPD Student Applicants

This program aims to expand and improve formal dissertation prospectus and grant proposal development for humanities and social science doctoral students at the University of Minnesota. Twelve students from CLA and CEHD will be selected to participate in 2024. The program includes an intensive five-day workshop in May, followed by independent student summer research, and another intensive five-day workshop in late August and early September, prior to fall research grant proposal deadlines. Students who have not completed their preliminary exams by the fall workshop will register for GRAD 8401, a 3-credit graduate seminar in Fall 2024 as part of the program.
In applying for this program, you are committing to attending and completing all three components: the Spring workshop, May 13-17, 2024; at least six weeks of summer exploratory research or other intellectual work aimed at developing your dissertation proposal; and the summer / Fall workshop, August 19-22, 2024, followed by one Friday, September 13, 2024 . You are also committing to registering for the seminar in Fall 2024. Specifically, because this program includes an intense peer engagement and review process, as well as a revision process, you will be expected to read and comment on your colleagues’ proposals and complete at least one round of revisions on your own proposal. The program provides a stipend of $4,000 in support of research and living expenses. $2,000 of the stipend will be disbursed in early May and the remaining $2,000 will be disbursed at the beginning of the fall semester following completion of the program.

The workshops will be conducted in person on the University of Minnesota’s Twin Cities campus.
If you become a finalist, we will request a commitment from your advisor to participate in evaluating the program.

Eligibility

  • The program is open to students throughout the Twin Cities campus in CEHD and CLA.
  • Your dissertation proposal must not yet have been finalized.
  • You must register for GRAD 8401 in Fall 2024. 
    • Students who have not completed their preliminary exams by the fall workshop will register for GRAD 8401
    • If you are not an advanced doctoral status, your tuition would fall under general graduate tuition rates that include a 6-14 credit band for full-time registration.
    • If you are considered eligible for 8444 Advanced Doctoral Status (full-time equivalency for doctoral students, coursework, and thesis credits completed), you may still apply for the DPD.
  • You must be within two semesters of when you passed your doctoral preliminary exams.
    • In other words, you should be scheduled to take them in Fall of 2024 or Spring of 2025, or have already taken them in Fall of 2023 or Spring of 2024.
  • You must have a faculty advisor by the application deadline, who will endorse your participation if you are selected to participate in the program.
  • You must be available for all dates of the Dissertation Proposal Development Workshop.

     

Acknowledgment

In the signature section, you will be committing to participate fully in all three parts of the program (the spring and fall workshops and the summer research) and register for a 3-credit graduate seminar in Fall 2024, if applicable. You will confirm that you can attend all of the Spring Workshop: May 13-17, 2024, and the Fall Workshop: August 19-22, 2024, followed by one Friday, September 13, 2024.

Contact: DPDP@umn.edu

Deadline: March 4, 2024, 11:59pm