Texas State Outstanding Dissertation Awards

• The effective date of degree award, or the completion of doctoral requirements and dissertation, must lie between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2026 (inclusive).
• The dissertations must represent original work that makes an unusually significant contribution to the discipline. Both methodology and substantive quality will be judged.
• The dissertation must be available in the ProQuest depository.
   

1. An abstract of the nominee’s dissertation not to exceed five double-spaced pages. Appendices containing non-textual materials, such as references, charts, tables, and references, may be included as additional pages (not to exceed 5 pages).  The pages should be numbered, and each should bear the name of the nominee. 

The abstract must summarize the work of the dissertation. In other words, it must:

a) first state the topic of the dissertation,
b) contextualize the research question within the literature of the field,
c) present the methodology, and
d) discuss the findings and their impact on the field (i.e., discussing the originality of the work, and its significance). More space needs to be dedicated to item d than other parts.
It is highly recommended that nominees make use of the full five pages, use subheadings for items a-d, and seek the input of their faculty advisor(s) and or colleagues on the draft to be submitted.

2. Letters from three referees evaluating the significance and quality of the nominee’s dissertation work. One letter must be from the nominee’s dissertation supervisor nominating the student, while another letter must be from a member of the nominee’s dissertation committee.  A third letter may be from a referee of the nominee’s choosing; however, it must be from someone who is very familiar with the nominee’s dissertation research. Each letter should be two to three pages long.

Letters of recommendation must explain in detail in which ways the dissertation makes an unusually strong contribution to the field. It is important that letters don’t just assert the quality of the dissertation but explain how/why it is of quality. Each letter should:

a) provide a very brief synopsis of the dissertation project and
b) address

i. its originality,
ii. its significance, and
iii. its quality of research and clarity of writing.

The chair of the dissertation committee also ought to discuss the nominee’s placement (i.e., postdoc, faculty position, industry position, etc.) at the end of the letter.

          3. The nominee's CV (not to exceed five pages)

A committee appointed by the Graduate Dean will recommend the awardees to the Dean of The Graduate College who makes the final selection. Evaluation criteria are the unusually significant contribution to the field, as evidenced by the originality, significance, and quality (research and communication) of the work. Nominations that exceed the above-listed page limits or that are incomplete will be disqualified. The Graduate Dean will nominate one dissertation in each category to CGS. Upon the recommendation of the selection committee, the Graduate Dean may ask the nominee and/or letter writers to revise their documents before they are submitted to CGS.