This is the first in a four-course sequenceýdesigned to prepare students for the culminationýof the doctoral program: the dissertation. Theýcourse is designed to help students start thinkingýabout a dissertation and understand theýdissertation process. Over four semestersýstudents are guided to develop a draftýdissertation proposal (pre-dissertation proposal)ýto coincide with completion of their work. Firstýyear students have separate coursework designedýto help them frame their ideas into researchýplans. Second year students are required toýsubmit a brief 10-page pre-dissertation proposalý(dissertation pre-proposal 10pp) in order to passýCED 893. Once students complete the seminarsýand comprehensive exams, they use their 10-pageýpre-dissertation porposal and work with aýDissertation Committee Chair to craft a fullýdissertation proposal.