DoctoralDissertationGuidelinesLargePrint1.pdf

Doctoral Dissertation Guidelines ©2020 University of Metaphysical Sciences 1

University of Metaphysical Sciences

Doctoral Degree Program

A Warm Welcome
Through your studies with University of Metaphysical Sciences,

you have been shown a wide variety of tools and techniques for

spiritual growth. You have also completed the Master’s Culminating

Project, further developing your expertise in the field of metaphysics.

Take a moment to reflect on these accomplishments and the ways that

you have grown through your journey with UMS, and congratulate

yourself on all you have done to come this far.

As you take this next step on your educational path, it is helpful

to begin by thinking about which doctoral degree you wish to receive

and how you would like to use your degree. This will assist you in

choosing your dissertation topic. If you are interested in attaining both

a Ph.D. and a D.D., you can do this by submitting two entirely separate

dissertations, and paying the appropriate fee. Please feel free to call us

if you would like to discuss this important decision.

The following guidelines are best read through fully once, and

then used as a reference throughout the process whenever questions

arise. If any of the information presented is not clear for you, please get

in touch with us. We are here to help you write a powerful paper and

have an amazing journey in the process.

Setting the Tone
Enthusiasm and Passion: When approaching this project, take

the time to look back over all that you have been through on your

journey with UMS. Then, get excited about this opportunity to earn a

doctoral degree in metaphysics. Take pride in being a trailblazer

within the field, and approach this project with enthusiasm and

passion, knowing that in completion of this project you will earn your

doctorate.

Doctoral Dissertation Guidelines ©2020 University of Metaphysical Sciences 2

Choose a topic you are passionate about sharing information on,

or that you are genuinely interested in exploring. Make sure that both

your heart and your mind are in on the process of choosing your

topic, because in this way you will have more enthusiasm for the

process, and your dissertation will become a more integrated final

paper.

Intention and Focus: Using all the skills you have gained through

the program, we ask that you set a very clear intention about what you

want to accomplish with this work. Set aside time to really meditate on

this, and find your own power and clarity with relation to this project.

Approaching your dissertation in this way will ultimately be a gift you

give to yourself.

Patience and Flexibility: This will be the most structured,

focused, time-consuming, and academically oriented project you do

with UMS. It can provide important experience and preparation for

your future work as a spiritual teacher, healer, or leader. It is a right of

passage in a way, and it is best approached as an important growth

opportunity. With this in mind, be open to receiving guidance along

the way. Make sure you fully understand what is being asked of you

with these guidelines.

Upon submitting a rough draft or asking for feedback at any

stage of the process, take the suggestions of your advisor seriously and

ask as many questions as needed. We encourage you to also have a

friend or two proofread your dissertation before submitting it.

Please do not be discouraged if you are asked for a resubmission;

just know that your work is valued and that you will benefit from the

process. If you are asked for a resubmission and feel that you need

more clarity about what needs to be changed, ask questions and get

clarification. Our advisors are well trained to assist you through this

process, so take full advantage of this great resource!

Commitment to Enjoyment: Make a commitment to yourself

when starting out that this is going to be a labor of love and a process

to approach with joy and wonder. Have fun with it, keep an open and

Doctoral Dissertation Guidelines ©2020 University of Metaphysical Sciences 3

compassionate perspective, and remember: it is the journey itself that

is important.

Getting Started
Choosing Your Topic

This is an opportunity to explore and research an area of

metaphysics which you are passionate about. You may choose any

topic that is related to metaphysics. When choosing a topic, consider

which degree title you are seeking, your goals for using your degree,

and how your dissertation topic relates to these goals.

If you are feeling stuck, you may want to ask your inner guidance

for suggestions. You can ask for a dream, watch for signs, or sit in

meditation until the subject for your dissertation comes to you.

Once you have chosen a general topic, work on narrowing it

down as much as possible. The more closely focused you are on a

specific topic, the more thorough and efficient this process will be for

you.

Defining Your Thesis Statement

Once you figure out the direction for your paper you can then

define your thesis statement. This is an important and foundational

piece of your work. A thesis statement is a declarative sentence that

states what you want your readers to know, believe, or understand,

after having read your paper. Since your paper will be attempting to

prove your view, it will be persuasive by nature. This means that your

thesis statement will be arguable, and you will spend the rest of your

paper supporting the claim you have laid out. The thesis statement

will then guide the research that you include in the body of your

paper. Your thesis statement should be 1‐3 sentences long, and

present a single, succinct and well‐defined idea. Every piece of

research utilized, and all of your discussion throughout the paper will

have the sole purpose of supporting your thesis statement. Keep in

mind that it is possible within the course of your research and writing

Doctoral Dissertation Guidelines ©2020 University of Metaphysical Sciences 4

that your thesis statement could change, so be open to allowing it to

evolve if needed.

Finding Your Sources

We require that you use a minimum of 10 published books as

resources. If you are unable to find good resources in your local library

or bookstore, the internet is a great resource for finding a huge

selection of books on any given topic, and if you can buy the Kindle

version you will save some money as well! You are welcome to seek

out other types resources in addition to your 10 books. These may

include:

 Magazines, newsletters or other periodicals

 Websites

 Documentaries

 Interviews of clients, professionals, or masters in the field

 Channeled material

Using an Outline

UMS advises the use of an outline as a beginning step when

writing your dissertation. An outline can greatly assist the writing

process by helping you to efficiently organize information. An outline

can act like a roadmap for you when writing your paper. Visually

organizing your research will help you arrange your information in a

way that best supports your thesis statement. Although an outline is

not required, it is a very helpful tool, and can be beneficial for you

throughout your process. For more information on using an outline,

including instructions and examples, visit:

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/the_writing_proces

s/developing_an_outline/how_to_outline.html.

Formatting Instructions
Length

All material must be typed and double spaced; handwritten

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/the_writing_process/developing_an_outline/how_to_outline.html

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/the_writing_process/developing_an_outline/how_to_outline.html

Doctoral Dissertation Guidelines ©2020 University of Metaphysical Sciences 5

material will not be accepted. Your dissertation must be a minimum of

10,000 words. Papers over 15,000 words will not be accepted. We

recommend that you check your word count in the document program

you are using. Chapters 1 through 6 of your paper contribute to the

total word count; title page, certificate of approval, table of contents,

bibliography and appendix are not included.

Organizing Your Submission

The first 3 pages of your dissertation will be the title page, the

certificate of approval, and the table of contents. Examples of these

pages are included at the end of these guidelines. These pages are not

to be numbered. Page numbers begin with Chapter 1, page 1. If you

have difficulty with this, you can submit your paper in two sections

with title page – table of contents in one document and the rest of the

paper in another.

Please submit your dissertation exactly as described in the

instructions below. A dissertation that does not meet these

guidelines will be returned to you for resubmission. Each chapter of

your dissertation must appear exactly as it does in your table of

contents, and what is covered in each chapter must match the chapter

title. The table of contents must contain all chapter titles, bibliography,

and appendixes if any.

Your paper must be organized as follows, with each of the 6

sections presented as a chapter using the corresponding titles:

 Title Page

 COA Page

 Table of Contents

 Chapter 1: Introduction

 Chapter 2: Review of Literature

 Chapter 3: Research Methods or Personal Relevance

 Chapter 4: Findings

 Chapter 5: Discussion

 Chapter 6: Conclusion

Doctoral Dissertation Guidelines ©2020 University of Metaphysical Sciences 6

 Bibliography

 Appendix (optional)

Chapter 1: Introduction

The purpose of this section is to introduce your paper to the

reader. The most important part of your introduction is your thesis

statement. A clear thesis statement helps the reader to understand the

intention of your paper. It is in this statement that you will be making

a claim or presenting your stance on your topic. All of the research

you present in the rest of your paper will have the sole purpose of

supporting and defending this statement, so be sure it details your

exact focus. In addition to the thesis statement, the introduction will

give a description of the main points covered as well as the importance

of this topic to the study of metaphysics. Your introduction should be

the most concise and focused section of your paper. We ask that you

challenge yourself to make this section as brief and clear as possible.

Introduction includes:

 Thesis statement: inform reader of the main

intention/purpose of paper

 Description of main points: clearly tell reader what to expect

within the paper

 Relevance of topic: tell reader why this is an important

contribution to the field

Chapter 2: Review of Literature

The review of literature includes a synopsis of at least 10 books

that you have used as sources in your paper. For each entry, include

the title, the authors name and their credentials, a synopsis of the

information contained in each source. Each synopsis must be at least

two to five sentences in length and be written in your own words.

The review of literature demonstrates the depth of your research as

well as offers further resources for your reader to explore your subject

material.

Doctoral Dissertation Guidelines ©2020 University of Metaphysical Sciences 7

Review of Literature includes:

 Title, author, and credentials

 Synopsis of book

 Usefulness of resource/recommendation (optional)

Chapter 3: Research Methods or Personal Relevance

For this section, choose the option which best fits your goals for

your paper. Unless you are directly doing research to gather

information for this dissertation, you will most likely choose the

Personal Relevance section.

Research Methods: In this section, direct experiments would be

listed and their step by step processes explained. If you have utilized

research methods to prove or disprove your topic, you must list and

detail them here. This chapter should be short and concise. The

results of your studies will then be included in the findings section.

Examples of research methods utilized could include:

 Case studies

 Surveys

 Intake forms

 Interviews

Research Methods includes:

 Type of experiments performed

 Description of the process and tools used in each experiment

Personal Relevance: In this section, you will detail your personal

feelings or connections regarding the subject matter with the reader. If

you choose this section, you must detail the ways in which this subject

has affected your life, how you were exposed to it, and why this topic

is important to you.

Personal Relevance includes:

 Describe what brought you to write on this subject

 Detail how this subject matter has impacted your life

Doctoral Dissertation Guidelines ©2020 University of Metaphysical Sciences 8

Chapter 4: Findings

This will be the longest section of your paper. All of the evidence

you use to support your thesis statement will be first listed in the

findings section. The organization of your findings greatly influences

the effectiveness of how your information will come across to the

reader.

The purpose of the findings section is to present the results of

your research from books and other sources, as well as the results of

your experimentation if you chose to use research methods. Keep in

mind that all research and cited sources used must in some way

support your thesis statement and progressively further the

purpose of your paper. Information in this section will be mostly

comprised of your introducing and describing research from others’

works, such as information from books, periodicals and other source

materials. It is important in this section to keep your writing voice

and perspective objective as this is not the place to share personal

views and opinions.

Findings includes:

 Development of your case in support of your thesis

statement

 Paraphrased information

 Strongly supportive direct quotes

 Relevant case study, survey and interview results if used

 Results of your own experiments if you are including this as

part of your paper

Utilizing Sources

We require that you use a minimum of 10 books as sources. In

addition, you can use internet and/or periodical resources. For all

non-book sources, please use discretion and check the validity of

each source. Channeled material is also acceptable and may be cited

as you would cite an interview.

Doctoral Dissertation Guidelines ©2020 University of Metaphysical Sciences 9

When using direct quotes, keep in mind that they must support

your thesis statement. You want to avoid using quotes as the dominant

text of your findings section. The information from quotes should be

used to expand on your own ideas as you develop and defend your

thesis statement. Quotes are best used to support your own statements

directly related to your thesis statement, and you will want to preface

your quotes with your own words. After the quote, a concluding

discussion is generally necessary to fully demonstrate the relevance of

that quote to your thesis statement.

It is very important when working in this section to fully understand

the process of paraphrasing and proper citation of another’s work, so

that you can avoid plagiarism. It is effective to read the material you

have gathered and then integrate the ideas in to your own

understanding of the subject material. In this way, you can write from

your own perspective in your own words, rather than building your

case exclusively on other peoples’ words/ideas. For a clear definition of

paraphrasing, see page 6 under “Research and Citations.” Please ask

for guidance with this if you have any questions at all.

Chapter 5: Discussion

The discussion section is where you get to express your unique

understanding arising from your exploration of the subject material.

Here you synthesize your own ideas and your research into a

discussion that supports your thesis statement. This is the

appropriate place to share your thoughts and understanding of the

research located in the findings section.

There should be very little quoted information added here and no

new research will be presented. It is here we want to hear your voice

and vision. What are your thoughts on the research you presented?

What is your understanding of the research? How does the research

you have presented bring new clarity or additional support to this

subject matter?

Doctoral Dissertation Guidelines ©2020 University of Metaphysical Sciences 10

Discussion includes:

 Synthesis of your research

 Your thoughts and realizations about your findings

 Benefits of your findings

Chapter 6: Conclusion

The conclusion encapsulates the research supporting the thesis

statement. This section is the culmination of the purpose of your

dissertation. A synopsis of the main points, including the original

thesis statement is given. This is also the place to suggest unanswered

questions that call for further investigation. The conclusion is not

intended to present any new information. A concluding statement

needs to be made which usually involves sharing the answer or

conclusion you discovered from your research in an inspiring and

creative way.

Conclusion includes:

 Brief review of the main points

 Restate thesis statement

 Highlight benefits of research

 Suggestions on how further research could be beneficial

 Strong concluding statement

Bibliography

A bibliography is a list of all the sources you have used in

to collect the information you have gathered for your dissertation.

Use MLA citation format:

 Do not number your entries, only alphabetize them.

 If there are more than three authors, you may choose to list

only the first author followed by the phrase et al. (Latin for

“and others”) in place of the subsequent authors’ names, or

you may list all the authors in the in which their names

appear on the title page.

Doctoral Dissertation Guidelines ©2020 University of Metaphysical Sciences 11

 The bibliography must be alphabetized according to the

author’s last name.

 Internet resources are listed separately below the

alphabetized list of books and articles, etc.

 Use the following resources for creating your bibliography:

Books:

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_st

yle/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_pa

ge_books.html

Periodicals:

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_st

yle/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_pe

riodicals.html

Electronic sources:

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_st

yle/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_ele

ctronic_sources.html

Interviews, lectures, and film:

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_st

yle/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_ot

her_common_sources.html

Appendix

This section is optional, and will only be necessary if you have

additional items to include such as:

 Questionnaires

 Surveys

 Charts and graphs

 Images or diagrams

 Glossary of terms

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_page_books.html

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_page_books.html

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_page_books.html

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_periodicals.html

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_periodicals.html

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_periodicals.html

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_electronic_sources.html

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_electronic_sources.html

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_electronic_sources.html

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_other_common_sources.html

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_other_common_sources.html

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_other_common_sources.html

Doctoral Dissertation Guidelines ©2020 University of Metaphysical Sciences 12

Writing Tools
Tips for Writing Mechanics

This paper is to be written in proficient, college level, American

English. We understand that there are all types of talents, skills, and

abilities, and that not everyone excels in writing mechanics. Some

students may need to access additional resources that will assist them

in the mechanics of writing a quality research paper. It is not within

the scope of UMS to teach writing skills to our students. However, if

you feel like you need some specific guidance in this endeavor, there

are a variety of free resources that can be accessed on the web. If you

have questions or concerns after consulting the resources below, please

contact us; we will do our best to provide access to further resources

for you.

Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation

Your word program on your computer should have a spell check

tool and a grammar tool. We encourage you to also have a friend or

two proofread your dissertation before submitting it, as these tools do

not catch everything.

Clear Presentation of Information

The construction of each individual paragraph will make a

significant difference in the quality of your paper. Each paragraph

should have a topic sentence, supporting sentences, and a concluding

sentence. Remember that the first or last sentence of one paragraph is

often a transition to or from the previous paragraph. These

transitions can be useful to set up quotes, as well as provide for a

smooth, flowing paper. Careful attention to each paragraph,

including rereading and revising to really create well defined

discussions and transitions, will assure a high quality final draft.

The idea is to make your writing as concise as you can. Your

words should maintain a clear flow that keeps the interest of your

audience. Repeated revisions are critical to this process.

Doctoral Dissertation Guidelines ©2020 University of Metaphysical Sciences 13

Developing a Thesis Statement

Your thesis statement describes exactly what your paper is about

and helps to narrow and clarify the focus of your paper. It will be like

a mission statement for your paper, and will guide your research and

the information you choose to include in your paper. Below are some

great resources for helping you formulate your idea into a strong thesis

statement:

 https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/the_writing_pro

cess/thesis_statement_tips.html

 https://wts.indiana.edu/writing-guides/how-to-write-a-

thesis-statement.html

Dissertation Writing

These sites have comprehensive guidance on the specifics of the

dissertation writing experience:

 http://www.charleslipson.com/How-to-write-a-thesis.htm

 http://www.powa.org/

Research and Citations

The links below help guide students in conducting research and

using the research you’ve found:

 http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2/8/

 http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/2/

 http://citationmachine.net/index2.php

In this paper you will be presenting the researched information

through quoting and paraphrasing.

Quoting: You would use quotes when you want to cite the exact

words of someone else. Please use author/page number (MLA) style of

citation. Example: (Breese, 42)

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/the_writing_process/thesis_statement_tips.html

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/the_writing_process/thesis_statement_tips.html

https://wts.indiana.edu/writing-guides/how-to-write-a-thesis-statement.html

https://wts.indiana.edu/writing-guides/how-to-write-a-thesis-statement.html

http://www.charleslipson.com/How-to-write-a-thesis.htm

http://www.powa.org/

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2/8/

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/2/

http://citationmachine.net/index2.php

Doctoral Dissertation Guidelines ©2020 University of Metaphysical Sciences 14

Paraphrasing: This technique is used when you wish to use another’s

thoughts and ideas but put them into your own words. Please use

author/page number (MLA) style of citation.

Summarizing: This is useful when you want to briefly summarize a

large body of information. Your summary will be much shorter than

the source information.

How to Avoid Plagiarism

Most people do not have a clear understanding of exactly what

plagiarism means, and there are some gray areas it is important to

clarify in to assist in creating high integrity work.

Plagiarism is using someone else’s words or ideas without giving

credit to them for their work. This is considered a serious academic

offense, and could create trouble for the student as well as the school.

As a student, you carry the responsibility of avoiding plagiarism, and

understanding how to give credit when using other people’s work. As

a school, we have the responsibility of ensuring that none of the papers

we accept for credit toward a degree contains any plagiarized material.

 Any time you use someone’s exact words, you will need to

give credit by citing the source, including the author’s last

name and the page number. For further information, refer to

the websites listed under Citing Sources.

 Under no circumstances should you ever use any work that

is word for word copied without giving credit, even if this is

somewhat unintentional. Be very careful when copying

research to put into your paper that you always include the

source even if it is a very rough draft or just a collection of

research. You will save much time later not having to

backtrack to figure out where you got that quote.

English as a Second Language

A wonderful resource for students who are new to writing for

higher education in North America is:

Doctoral Dissertation Guidelines ©2020 University of Metaphysical Sciences 15

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/english_as_a_second_language/esl_st

udents/tips_for_writing_in_north_american_colleges/index.html

If you do not find resources here that are helpful, you are

encouraged to do some additional research. There is an abundance of

information on this subject on the internet, at your local bookstore and

at your library.

Types of Support We Offer
To contact an advisor, call our office at 800-579-6382 (within the

US) or 707-822-2111 (outside of the US) or email

[email protected].

You are welcome to contact us for support and guidance at any

stage in the process. We encourage you to submit any portion of your

paper along the way for review and feedback. Below you will find

examples of key stages when consulting an advisor could prove to be

helpful.

 Choosing a topic: If you are feeling challenged in choosing a

topic, we are happy to brainstorm with you and help you get

clear about what you will be most passionate about

researching. We can also help you narrow down a topic that

is too broad for the scope of a 10,000 word paper.

 Finding sources: Contact us if you are having trouble finding

sources, or understanding what is expected of you in

researching and using the work of others to support your

own ideas.

 Clearly defining thesis statement: This is the most

important aspect of your dissertation as it provides the focus

and intention of your paper. If you have any questions at all

about our expectations for your thesis statement, or if you

just need some support in defining it clearly, let us know.

When you have settled on a thesis statement, submit it by

email to [email protected] for feedback and approval.

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/english_as_a_second_language/esl_students/tips_for_writing_in_north_american_colleges/index.html

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/english_as_a_second_language/esl_students/tips_for_writing_in_north_american_colleges/index.html

mailto:[email protected]

Doctoral Dissertation Guidelines ©2020 University of Metaphysical Sciences 16

 Completion of an outline: If you choose to use an …