Doctoral Support Center & Doctoral Programming Blog

Accessing Archived Dissertations

Since USC started online submission of student dissertations five years ago, the libraries have amassed a sizable online archive of research from former students.  As a USC student you can access this archive through the .

To access dissertations from all over the country, go to the USC Library Website.  On the right side of the page, under research support, click on Find Theses and Dissertations.  This will allow you access to ProQuest which archives all dissertations from USC and other universities.

But if you just want to look at USC dissertations go to the USC Digital Archive.  Under "Advanced Search" check "USC Thesis".  You can then search by keywords.  

Happy researching! Someday your dissertation will be there too.

 

International Fellowship Opportunities

Competitive international fellowships are your opportunity to become a true global scholar. The office of Academic Recognition Programs offers General Fellowship Information Sessions in Leavey Library on the following dates:

• Thurs., Mar. 10, 1-2pm

• Tues., Mar. 29, 11am-12pm

• Thurs., Apr. 14, 3-4pm

• Tues., Apr. 26, 2-3pm

• Wed., Jan. 19, 2-3pm

• Mon., Jan. 31, 2-3pm

• Tues., Feb. 14, 1-2pm

• Thurs., Feb. 24, 2-3pm

*U.S. Citizenship required

For more information contact: Academic Recognition Programs in the Ronald Tutor Campus Center, by phone at (213) 740-9116, by email at arpstaff@usc.edu, or on the web www.usc.edu/arp/fellowships.

 

 

Presentation: Note Cards 2 Footnotes

The GPSS Academic Affairs Committee and the USC Libraries invites all graduate and professional students to attend "Note Cards to Footnotes: Grad Student Research Workshop" on Tuesday October 19th from 12:00-1:00PM at The Forum (4th Floor Campus Center). 

All attendees will receive free lunch!

We will have a panel of two librarians, Claude Zachary and Karen Howell, who will discuss the collections and online databases available at USC.  The other two panelists include Dr. Heather Hunt, Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Viterbi School of Engineering, and Richie Brown, doctoral candidate in Music and Graduate Student in Residence (GSIR). 

Please RSVP to Jennifer Reynolds at gpssacad@usc.edu.

Upcoming Pre-Proposal Methodology Presentation - Wednesday, October 8, 2010 at 3:00 pm

This Wednesday, October 6 (3:00 - 4:00 PM) in MRF 204, Kevin Collins is presenting a workshop on Pre-Proposal Methodology. The program will be repeated Saturday, October 9 (10:00 - 11:00 AM) in SOS B49.

The purpose of this workshop is to provide an overview of the quantitative and qualitative research methods commonly used in the Social Sciences to examine educational problems. During the course of this workshop, we will survey and address the various methodological options commonly used by doctoral students in education. Thus, by providing an overview of each research tradition, the primary goal of this workshop is to help doctoral students to begin to conceptualize the research methodology that is commonly used in doctoral level education studies. Therefore, the quantitative research methodologies that will be further explored and discussed include but are not limited to: descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis techniques, multiple regression, path analysis, factor analysis, and analysis of covariance.

The qualitative research methodologies we will discuss include: case study analysis, content analysis, phenomenology, grounded theory, historical research, action research, ethnographic research, participant observations, interviewing and focus groups. Attention will also be given to the blending of the qualitative and quantitative traditions which is otherwise known as mixed methods approach. Based upon interest and if time permits, we will also introduce concept mapping as a means to organize and further clarify one’s conceptual framework and/or findings from your future research study.

Wednesday, October 6 in MRF 204 (3:00 - 4:00 PM) - LiveCast Link
Saturday, October 9 in SOS B49 (10:00 - 11:00 AM)

You can view recorded webcasts of the above presentations and take part in them yourself by doing the following:

1. Go to the blackboard website at https://blackboard.usc.edu
2. Select User Login:

• Username - enter your USC email username.
• Password - enter your USC email password.
• Once you login, under the section "Course List" select "20061_rsoe_dsc_ns00002: RSOE Doctoral Support Center (DSC)"

3. Click on the left menu button reading "Online Resources"

• note the DSC username and password (you'll need it to get to the programs)
• click the link for the DSC Online catalog
• enter the username and password
• enter "DSC Presentation Webcasts"
• click the link for the presentation you're interested in watching.

All the handouts for the presentations are available via Blackboard in the "Course Documents" section under "Presentations and Handouts."

If you have any questions or just need some support, join the Backboard discussion of the presentations in the "Presentations and Workshops" part of the "Discussion" section.

RSVP to the Doctoral Support Center -

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Wednesday! Library Skills & Resources

Brush up on your library skills and learn what USC libraries has to offer.

This workshop, by Dr. Jade Winn, will teach library research methods for doctoral students. Library services, searching techniques, statistical sources, and testing and measurement resources will be discussed. 

The presentation will be Wednesday, September 1 from 3:00 - 4:00PM in MRF 204.  RSVP the DSC at rossier.dsc@usc.edu

Can't make it live but still want to take part?  No problem! 

You can view the webcast of the presentation (live or recorded) and take part by doing the following:

1. Go to the blackboard website at https://blackboard.usc.edu
2. Select User Login:

• Username - enter your USC email username.
• Password - enter your USC email password.
• Once you login, under the section "Course List" select "20061_rsoe_dsc_ns00002: RSOE Doctoral Support Center (DSC)"

3. Click on the left menu button reading "Online Resources"

• note the DSC username and password (you'll need it to get to the programs)
• click the link for the DSC Online catalog
• enter the username and password
• enter "DSC Presentation Webcasts"
• click the link for "Library Resources" to view the program

Announcing: DSC Fall Presentation Line-up

Brush up on your research skills as you learn and refresh your research writing.  Here's the DSC Fall presentation line-up:

Critical Reading Analysis (Dr. Gokce Gokalp)
Wednesday, August 25 (3:00 - 4:00 PM)
Saturday, August 28 (10:00 - 11:00 AM)

Library Resources (Dr. Jade Winn)
Saturday, August 28 (11:00 AM - 12:00 PM)
Wednesday, September 1 (3:00-4:00 PM)

Academic Writing (Dr. Gokce Gokalp)
Wednesday, September 22 (3:00 - 4:00 PM)
Saturday, September 25 (10:00 - 11:00 AM)

APA (Dr. Jade Winn)
Saturday, September 25 (11:00AM - 12:00 PM)
Wednesday, September 29 (3:00PM - 4:00 PM)

Pre-Proposal Methodology (Kevin Collins)
Wednesday, October 6 (3:00 - 4:00 PM)
Saturday, October 9 (10:00 - 11:00 AM)

Post-Proposal Methodology (Dr. Ilda Jimenez y West)
Wednesday, October 20 (3:00 - 4:00 PM)
Saturday, October 23 (10:00 - 11:00 AM)

Introduction to SPSS (Dr. Jade Winn)
Wednesday, November 10 (3:00 - 4:00 PM)

RSVP: rsoedsc@usc.edu
Live Webcast: The Wednesday session of each presentation will be available livecast and via Blackboard.

Locations will be announced when finalized.  The most current information is available here.

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Photo Attribution: http://www.flickr.com/photos/36011007@N04/4018891440/

Information For You! Available on the DSC Blackboard Site

All of the 2009 - 2010 presentations from the USC Doctoral Support Center are available via the DSC's Blackboard site.  

Here's how you access them.  Just log into Blackboard, click on the DSC course link.  Under Online Resources, scroll down to "DSC Online Programs" and use the link (and login / password) provided to access the videos.  They're in the file marked DSC Presentation Webcasts.

The library contains the following presentations:

1. Academic Writing
2. APA Style
3. Balancing School Work, and Family
4. Dissertation Defense
5. Dissertation Presentation
6. Graduate School Guidelines
7. Library Resources
8. Literature Review
9. Navigating the Dissertation
10. Preparing for the Research Proposal
11. Refworks at USC Libraries

Check it out and see if there's something you can use. 

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Photo Attribution: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fleep// CC BY-NC 2.0

Presentation: Online Survey With Qualitrics

Learn how to use the online survey collection source by Qualtrics. This tool provides a platform for designing, distributing and evaluating survey results to keep the research process in-house and immediately actionable. Qualtrics is a robust and easy-to-use online survey tool.  It integrates with both SPSS and Microsoft Excel software.

This instrument is free and sponsored by the university and it is extremely helpful with quantitative survey research.  We are very happy to be able to host a presentation on the Qualtrics tool.  Students whose research will utilize surveys should attend this presentation.

Time and place: Wednesday, April 7, 2010, 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm, MRF 204

Please remember to RSVP: rsoedsc@usc.edu

The DSC Qualitrics presentation will also be available online.

Today: On Campus Presentations!

Graduate School Guidelines: Adhering to the Graduate School Guidelines is a very important final step in the dissertation process. Learn about the common editing mistakes to ensure your dissertation is complete and in compliance with university Guidelines.  Please remember to RSVP: rsoedsc@usc.edu

Wednesday, March 3, 2010, 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm, MRF 204 (Webcast)
Saturday, March 6, 2010, 10:00 am - 12:00 Noon, WPH B49

Publishing in Humanities Guidelines: A forum addressing the practical and psychological aspects of writing publishable articles and getting them into print.  

Wednesday, March 3 12:00pm - 1:00PM, Hedco Neuroscience Building, Rm. 100

Competing for Federal Grant Opportunities in the Social Sciences: Leora Rosen, director for social sciences at USC's DC Office of Research Advancement, discusses the topic. 

Wednesday, March , 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM, Credit Union Building, Rm 329

REMINDER: Literature Review Presentation TODAY!

Are you wondering, worrying about or stuck as you work on your literature review?

Synthesize, synthesize, synthesize the literature, huh? Come and find out what we mean by, "Don't just describe the research, theories, ideas, etc... but critically analyze and synthesize such sources."

The Doctoral Support Center (DSC) is offering our Spring presentation writing Literature Reviews:

Wednesday, February 17, 2010, 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm, MRF 204

Presentation will also be available online through Blackboard OnDemand.