Selecting Your Dissertation Committee Members

Last Updated on: 3rd June 2022, 04:36 am

You have finished all of your classwork and maybe even passed your comprehensive exams. The only thing that you have left to do is write your dissertation. In order to do this, you need to select your dissertation chair and the remainder of your committee members.

While a few institutions that I know of assign committees, even those often allow students to give preferences. What should you think about when choosing your dissertation committee members?

What Do Dissertation Committee Members Do?

Your dissertation committee members serve several roles. First, they are charged with helping you through the dissertation process. While this “help” may seem like hinderance when you receive endless comments and requests for revision, your committee members do this to help you come up with a stronger document.

The second major role your committee plays one can be thought of a gatekeeper. Schools have particular requirements and standards that committees must follow before they can accept a student’s dissertation. Many comments from your committee will pertain to adhering to university requirements.

Selecting Your Dissertation Committee Members

Committee Chair

You will work most closely with your dissertation committee chair. Be sure to find someone that you can work with. There are stories out there about chairpeople who have bullied those under their charge and used their students as minions to help push the chair’s agenda. Avoid this type of chair.

I believe that you should be looking for someone who wants to serve as a chair and who exhibits real concern for his or her students. Choose someone who has filled the role before and has a track record of helping students finish in a reasonable time period. If your goal is to work in academia, I would also look for someone who has had success publishing and flourishing within an academic setting.

Finally, look for someone who is genuinely interested in your topic and who you get along with.

Other Dissertation Committee Members

Depending upon your institution, you will most likely need to add one to four more members of your committee. The number is not overly important, but the composition is. People usually think of committees being made up of people who bring strength in either the subject matter or the methodology.

If your committee chair is strong in your subject matter then at least one additional committee member should be strong in the methodology you plan to use. Putting your committee together in this way can give you a well-balanced support team.

Read also: Dissertation Committee Request: Sample Email and Guide

Avoid Becoming a Battleground

Just like in life, not everyone in academia likes each other. When dealing in the world of ideas, it seems that it is easy to find people who disagree with each other. Sometimes those disagreements are thoughtful and considerate and sometimes they are not.

Make sure that when you choose committee members that you find people who can work together. You do not want two (or more) committee members using your dissertation to fire barbs at each other. This will be very frustrating and slow you down. It is good to consult with your committee chair about the interpersonal relationships between committee members.

Thank Your Committee

When you finish your dissertation you should be very proud of what you have accomplished.  You have accomplished a great achievement. Remember, without your committee’s help and approval you wouldn’t have made it.

Some people look for and give gifts to their committee members to show their appreciation.  As long as the gifts aren’t too overboard, this is acceptable. At many institutions, there is a tradition of putting your chairperson’s name on your first publication that comes from your dissertation as a thank you. When appropriate, this is a great gesture.

Selecting Your Dissertation Committee Members: Conclusion

It is important to find a dissertation committee that is dedicated to helping you reach your goal. Make sure that you take the time to craft a committee that can provide you the support that you will need and not hinder you. Whatever time you take to create your perfect committee, it will be worth it in the long run.

If you need additional support beyond what your committee can offer you, check out my dissertation coaching and dissertation editing services.