Advising Principles
Attending Lab meetings is mandatory.
Closely abide by the process and procedures below for smooth progress through the degree program.
Students selected for the ECP Lab must complete a thesis related to peace education, global citizenship education, or refugee education/education in emergencies using qualitative methods. Those interested in other areas should seek out another advisor.
All students in the Lab must take the courses: (1) Education, Conflict and Peace; and (2) Peace Education, in addition to other required courses. Additionally, the undergraduate course Comparative Education: Development and Peace is highly recommended.
If you become a master's degree student:
1. Courses to be taken each semester must be determined in consultation with the advisor. Take the required courses to obtain specialization in the major (e.g., Global Education Cooperation; Comparative Education; International Development; Peace Education). For research methods training, two courses are required: (1) a course dealing with general research methodology, and (2) a course specializing in qualitative or quantitative research methodology. For the ECP Lab, qualitative methods are used. It is additionally required that MA students take at least 2 courses with the advisor during their studies.
2. Attend monthly Lab meetings (i.e., the first Tuesday of each month 2-5pm in-person), where students will present updates on their research progress, discuss challenges, and offer support. The Lab meetings will be conducted by the Lab GSI/postdocs.
3. In addition to monthly Lab meetings, all MA students will participate in one group supervision each semester. The group supervisions will involve feedback from peers on written work (students must submit draft chapters to their peers for review at least 4 days prior to the scheduled group supervision). The group supervisions will be facilitated by the Lab GSI/postdocs.
4. Additionally, the supervisor will hold 8 individual supervisions with MA students during the course of their degree. This will include two supervisions each semester to support the development of the thesis topic, review of relevant literature, design of methodology, data collection and analysis, and writing up. All supervisions, except the first, will involve feedback on written work (students must submit draft chapters to the supervisor for review at least 4 days prior to the scheduled supervision).
5. In principle, MA supervisions will be 30 minutes each.
6. In sum, each MA student will receive 1 initial supervision exploring the thesis topic, 2 supervisions on Literature Review, 2 supervisions on Methodology, 2 supervisions on Findings, and 1 supervision on Discussion/Conclusion. These supervisions will involve feedback on written chapters of the thesis. It is critical that students only submit completed draft chapters for review so as to maximize the benefit of supervision. More developmental work should be discussed in all-Lab gatherings, group supervisions, and with peers.
7. It is recommended that the thesis topic be confirmed by the start of the second semester of registration.
8. The thesis qualification test is usually taken in the third semester (mid-March or mid-September), but it may be delayed until the fourth semester if needed. Before approval will be given to take the qualifying examination, master's students must submit their draft thesis proposal to the advisor (see thesis proposal guidance below). The draft thesis proposal should be approximately 10 pages including references (i.e., around 2,500-3,000 words; Times New Roman, 12pt font, 1.5-double spaced) and must include a draft overview of the first two chapters of the thesis (i.e., Introduction and Literature Review/Theory). This draft proposal should be submitted to the advisor for review approximately 4 weeks prior to the examination. The priority during the qualifying examination is a clear purpose and research question(s) for the research grounded in a thorough review of the relevant literature/theory. The literature review includes a review of previous studies related to the purpose and problem of the study identifying a clear gap in the field that the proposed study will address. The exam will be assessed by the advisor and two committee members from the Education department/GEC.
9. At the end of the semester after taking the thesis qualification examination (typically the third semester), the master's thesis plan is defended (in early June or early December). The updated thesis proposal includes the first three parts of a traditional thesis structure (i.e., Introduction, Literature Review/Theory, and Research Methods). The updated thesis proposal is expected to be approximately 20 pages (i.e., 5,000-6,000 words, building on the examiners' comments from the qualifying exam, with particular attention paid to a sound and robust research methodology). Among these, the quality of the literature review and methodology should be high enough to be reflected in the final thesis. The research methodology includes a plan for how to proceed with data collection, analysis, and interpretation. The thesis proposal is prepared under the guidance of the academic advisor. The MA thesis proposal should be submitted to the advisor and committee members approximately 2 weeks prior to the oral presentation.
10. If the thesis proposal is not sufficiently written (or the oral defense is insufficient), the proposal will be withheld and corrections required before the student passes and proceeds with the study. In such a case, the student should defend the revised thesis proposal in the following semester.
11. Following successful defense of the research plan, the plan is implemented and data collection begins in earnest only after it is approved by the Seoul National University IRB. The IRB application should be submitted immediately following approval of the thesis plan. IRB approval typically takes 2-3 months, so this should be planned into the timeline.
12. During the data collection process, students frequently discuss their progress with their advisor. At the same time as data collection, analysis and interpretation work is carried out in parallel.
13. Strictly abide by the deadline for submitting the MA thesis announced by the department during the semester in which the thesis is to be reviewed. Prior to the deadline for submitting the manuscript for review, students must receive sufficient guidance from their advisor for each part of the thesis. A thesis that has not received sufficient guidance cannot be submitted for review. Immediately after submitting the thesis, the reviewers are contacted individually to confirm the examination date. The final thesis for examination is expected to be approximately 60-100 pages (i.e., 15,000-25,000 words). A copy of the full MA thesis should be submitted to the advisor and examiners at least 2-4 weeks prior to the oral defense.
14. Expectations for the quality level of a master's thesis: You must have a considerable level of understanding of the topic of the thesis, and you must secure a level that can be developed into a research article that can be submitted to a renowned domestic or international journal through additional collaboration with the advisor. The final thesis will be assessed by the advisor and two committee members from the Education department/GEC (the same committee members who assessed the thesis proposal -- therefore it is essential that the study follows the design and methodology that was approved at the thesis proposal defense stage. Some minor modifications may be acceptable).
15. Following successful defense of the MA thesis and graduation, students will continue to work with the advisor to prepare the manuscript for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
16. It is expected that MA students will publish their MA thesis with the advisor after graduation and prior to applying for a PhD program (if the student intends to apply for a PhD).
If you become a doctoral student:
1. Courses to be taken each semester must be determined in consultation with the advisor. Take the required courses to obtain specialization in the major (e.g., Global Education Cooperation; Comparative Education; International Development; Peace Education). For research methods training, take at least four research methodology courses (in addition to the ones taken during the master's degree). It is recommended that the methodology courses include: (1) a basic course in education research methods that covers a general introduction to research concepts and design; (2) an introductory qualitative methods course; (3) one (or more) advanced courses in qualitative methods (e.g., Case Study; Ethnography; Narrative Inquiry; or Phenomenology); and (4) a basic quantitative methods course. For the ECP Lab, qualitative methods are used. If the courses offered in the department are not sufficient, take research methodology courses offered by other departments in the College of Education or across the university.
2. It is additionally required that PhD students take at least 3 courses (topical, theory, or methods) with the advisor during their studies (e.g., Education and International Development: Theory and Practice; Research Methods in GEC; Education, Conflict and Peacebuilding; Peace Education).
3. Attend monthly Lab meetings (i.e., the first Tuesday of each month 2-5pm in-person), where students will present updates on their research progress, discuss challenges, and offer support. The Lab meetings will be conducted by the Lab GSI/postdocs.
4. In addition to monthly Lab meetings, all PhD students will participate in one group supervision each semester. The group supervisions will involve feedback from peers on written work (students must submit draft chapters to their peers for review at least 4 days prior to the scheduled group supervision). The group supervisions will be facilitated by the Lab GSI/postdocs.
5. Additionally, the supervisor will hold 14-20 individual supervisions with PhD students during the course of their degree. This will include two supervisions each semester to support the development of the dissertation topic, review of relevant literature, design of methodology, data collection and analysis, theoretical interpretation, and writing up. All supervisions, except the first, will involve feedback on written work (students must submit draft chapters to the supervisor for review at least 4 days prior to the scheduled supervision).
6. In principle, PhD supervisions will be 60 minutes each.
7. In sum, each PhD student will receive 1-2 initial supervision(s) on the proposed dissertation topic, 3-4 supervisions on Literature Review, 3-4 supervisions on Methodology, 2-3 supervisions during the data collection and analysis period, 4-5 supervisions on Findings, and 1-2 supervision(s) on Discussion/Conclusion. These supervisions will involve feedback on written chapters of the dissertation. It is critical that students only submit completed draft chapters for review (i.e., well-thought, refined and revised chapters ready for review) so as to maximize the benefit of supervisions. More developmental work should be discussed in all-Lab gatherings, group supervisions, and with peers.
8. It is recommended that students decide on the topic of their dissertation as soon as possible but by the start of the third semester at the latest.
9. Before approval will be given to take the qualifying examination, doctoral students must submit their draft dissertation proposal to the advisor for review (see dissertation proposal guidance below). The draft proposal should be submitted to the advisor approximately 4 weeks prior to the examination. The draft dissertation proposal should be approximately 15-20 pages including references (i.e., 4,000-6,000 words; Times New Roman, 12pt font, 1.5-double spaced) and must include a brief overview of the first two chapters of the dissertation (i.e., Introduction and Literature Review/Theory).
10. After the dissertation topic is decided and the first two chapters approved by the advisor, the qualifying examination is taken. The qualification examination is offered in mid-March and mid-September each year. The priority during the qualifying examination is a clear purpose and research question(s) for the proposed study grounded in a thorough review of the relevant literature/theory. It is necessary to clearly identify the unique contribution that the study will make to the field. The exam will be assessed by the advisor and two committee members from the Education department/GEC. Typically, PhD students take the qualifying examination in the fifth semester of registration.
11. After passing the qualifying examination, the doctoral dissertation proposal is presented when it is ready (typically within 3-9 months after passing the qualifying examination). The dissertation proposal contains the first three parts of a traditional dissertation structure (i.e., Introduction, Literature Review/Theory, and Research Methods). The written dissertation proposal is expected to be approximately 40-60 pages (i.e., 10,000-15,000 words). The literature review and proposed methodology should be of high enough quality to be reflected in the future dissertation. It is necessary to understand the context of related studies, theories, methods, and the trends and limitations of previous studies and methods to the extent that the dissertation can be a significant independent research project with a robust methodology and novel contribution to the field. Receive guidance from the advisor during the process of writing the dissertation proposal. The updated PhD proposal should be submitted to the advisor and committee members approximately 2 weeks prior to the oral presentation.
12. The PhD proposal is orally defended in early June or early December. If the dissertation proposal is not sufficiently written (or the oral defense is insufficient), the proposal will be withheld and corrections required before the student passes and proceeds to doctoral candidacy. In such a case, the student should defend the revised dissertation proposal in the following semester.
13. After passing the dissertation proposal stage (and receiving candidacy), the PhD candidate must apply for Seoul National University's Institutional Review Board (IRB) ethics approval. Once approval is gained, the plan is implemented and data collection begins in earnest. The IRB stage typically takes 2-3 months to complete, and research must not commence until after IRB approval has been obtained. Students should plan the IRB review process adequately into the timeline.
14. Although dissertation data collection is performed independently by the student, it is not a process independent of the advisor. Since data collection and analysis and interpretation work go hand in hand, discuss the progress closely with your advisor.
15. The advisor must read drafts of the findings and discussion chapters, and a full final draft of the thesis, before it is submitted to the school. During this process, the advisee and advisor will also discuss the invitation of relevant external examiners for the thesis. The examiners will be decided and contacted at this stage.
16. Strictly abide by the deadline for submission of the dissertation presented by the department during the semester in which the dissertation is to be reviewed. Prior to the deadline for submitting the manuscript for review, students must receive sufficient guidance from their advisor (as explained above) for each part of the dissertation. In addition, the academic advisor should receive necessary updates of the progress of the dissertation. A dissertation that has not received sufficient guidance cannot be submitted for defense.
17. After submitting the manuscript, committee members are individually contacted to confirm the dissertation defense date. The PhD committee includes the advisor and the two other examiners from the Education department/GEC that examined the candidate during the dissertation proposal stage (the same committee members who assessed the dissertation proposal -- therefore it is essential that the study follows the design and methodology that was approved at the dissertation proposal defense stage. Some minor modifications may be acceptable). For the final defense, two additional examiners will be included, for a total of five. Among the additional examiners, one may be from other departments at SNU or other universities in Korea; and one must be an external examiner from overseas. All examiners are required to be experts in the areas of the candidate's dissertation topic (i.e., topical, methodological, or theoretical experts). The final dissertation for examination is expected to be approximately 150-250 pages (i.e., 50,000-80,000 words). A full copy of the completed thesis should be sent to committee members at least 2-4 weeks prior to the oral defense.
18. Before graduation, at least two papers must be published (at least one with the advisor) in renowned domestic or international journals. Students should also participate in at least one international conference (e.g., AERA, BAICE, CIES, CESHK, IPRA, etc.) and one domestic conference (e.g., ICER, KCES, KERA, etc.) and make a presentation (applicable to the student's doctoral dissertation).
19. Expectations for the quality of doctoral dissertations: You must show that you have grown as an independent researcher in both theoretical and methodological aspects. The dissertation will be judged on three criteria: originality (i.e., the degree to which the study is a novel contribution to the relevant field), rigor (i.e., a robust methodological design, collection of quality data, and a sound theoretical analysis), and significance (i.e., implications for pedagogy, policy, practice, and research). A successful doctoral dissertation should address each of these areas.
20. Finally, it is expected that PhD students will publish at least 1 paper from their dissertation with the advisor during (or after) their studies (this paper may be one of the two required publications above).
Guidance on writing thesis/dissertation research proposals:
Some general guidelines for writing a research proposal are provided below. Students should follow these elements in developing the thesis/dissertation research proposal.
A good proposal should contain the following elements:
In sum, the proposal should establish the proposed study's originality, methodological rigor, and expected contribution to the field.
Advisory meetings:
Each term, students in the ECP Lab will meet for multiple group and individual supervisions with the advisor and GSI/postdocs to discuss their thesis. In Fall 2025, these meetings will generally occur on the second Tuesday (as all-Lab meetings) and the fourth Tuesday (as individual or small group supervisions) of each month. Students will present updates on their thesis progress at each meeting.
Advisory limits:
MA students will receive up to 6 semesters of thesis support (i.e., the first 3 years of the MA). Once the requisite 8 supervisions have been allocated, no further supervisions will be provided. After 3 years, the student will no longer attend Lab meetings (i.e., all-Lab gatherings, group supervisions, individual advising). Resources will be allocated instead to newer students. MA students beyond 3 years will be expected to finalize their thesis on their own and to approach the supervisor the semester they are planning to defend. The supervisor will then review the completed thesis to approve the defense. If the thesis is not of high enough quality to proceed, the defense will be postponed.
PhD students will receive up to 12 semesters of thesis support (i.e., the first 6 years of the PhD). Once the requisite 14-20 supervisions have been allocated, no further supervisions will be provided. After 6 years, the student will no longer attend Lab meetings (i.e., all-Lab gatherings, group supervisions, individual advising). Resources will be allocated instead to newer students. PhD students who are ABD (all but dissertation) after 6 years will be expected to finalize their dissertation on their own and to approach the supervisor the semester they are planning to defend. The supervisor will then review the completed dissertation to approve the defense. If the dissertation is not of high enough quality to proceed to defense, the defense will be postponed.
AI policy:
Responsible use of AI is essential. Students must not use AI tools to generate the first drafts of their thesis chapters. All initial work - including ideas, structure, and writing - must be completed independently by the student in consultation with the advisor. AI may be used only after the student has developed their own draft, and solely for refinement purposes (e.g., improving clarity, grammar, or organization). All ideas and arguments must originate from the student.
Proper use of AI should demonstrate that the effort and time devoted to producing quality work remain comparable to that of a student not using AI. AI is a tool for enhancement, not a shortcut to bypass the learning process. If a student employs AI in the development of a thesis, this must be disclosed to the advisor. The advisor and student will then discuss how AI is used responsibly. Not disclosing the use of AI in thesis writing (and later journal articles) is a potential serious ethics violation. If uncertain, please consult the advisor.
Some tips for success:
1. Begin early and plan ahead.
2. Follow directions closely.
3. Identify the topic of the thesis/dissertation as soon as possible.
4. Avoid changing the thesis topic, as much as possible.
5. Ask for advice. But ensure that those for whom advice is asked are knowledgeable in the subject area.
6. Take ownership of the work.
7. Defend ideas (e.g., justify theoretical and methodological decisions) but avoid being defensive.
8. Keep an open mind (and 'thick skin') when receiving critical feedback. Constructive critical feedback helps the work progress.
9. Participate in reading groups and writing groups to develop ideas and refine writing.
10. Create uninterrupted time to think and write.
11. Present often at domestic and international conferences to gain diverse perspectives and practice defending ideas.
12. Spend time building positive relationships with the advisor, peers, and committee members.
13. Avoid too many distractions such as outside work, teaching, or other research projects beyond the thesis until the thesis is submitted for examination.
14. Submit chapters of the thesis to peer-reviewed journals for feedback en route to defense. Speak with the advisor about this. This will provide critical external feedback.
15. Practice before the thesis/dissertation defense. Try to answer these questions.
16. Submit the thesis/dissertation for publication after successful defense.
Attending Lab meetings is mandatory.
Closely abide by the process and procedures below for smooth progress through the degree program.
Students selected for the ECP Lab must complete a thesis related to peace education, global citizenship education, or refugee education/education in emergencies using qualitative methods. Those interested in other areas should seek out another advisor.
All students in the Lab must take the courses: (1) Education, Conflict and Peace; and (2) Peace Education, in addition to other required courses. Additionally, the undergraduate course Comparative Education: Development and Peace is highly recommended.
If you become a master's degree student:
1. Courses to be taken each semester must be determined in consultation with the advisor. Take the required courses to obtain specialization in the major (e.g., Global Education Cooperation; Comparative Education; International Development; Peace Education). For research methods training, two courses are required: (1) a course dealing with general research methodology, and (2) a course specializing in qualitative or quantitative research methodology. For the ECP Lab, qualitative methods are used. It is additionally required that MA students take at least 2 courses with the advisor during their studies.
2. Attend monthly Lab meetings (i.e., the first Tuesday of each month 2-5pm in-person), where students will present updates on their research progress, discuss challenges, and offer support. The Lab meetings will be conducted by the Lab GSI/postdocs.
3. In addition to monthly Lab meetings, all MA students will participate in one group supervision each semester. The group supervisions will involve feedback from peers on written work (students must submit draft chapters to their peers for review at least 4 days prior to the scheduled group supervision). The group supervisions will be facilitated by the Lab GSI/postdocs.
4. Additionally, the supervisor will hold 8 individual supervisions with MA students during the course of their degree. This will include two supervisions each semester to support the development of the thesis topic, review of relevant literature, design of methodology, data collection and analysis, and writing up. All supervisions, except the first, will involve feedback on written work (students must submit draft chapters to the supervisor for review at least 4 days prior to the scheduled supervision).
5. In principle, MA supervisions will be 30 minutes each.
6. In sum, each MA student will receive 1 initial supervision exploring the thesis topic, 2 supervisions on Literature Review, 2 supervisions on Methodology, 2 supervisions on Findings, and 1 supervision on Discussion/Conclusion. These supervisions will involve feedback on written chapters of the thesis. It is critical that students only submit completed draft chapters for review so as to maximize the benefit of supervision. More developmental work should be discussed in all-Lab gatherings, group supervisions, and with peers.
7. It is recommended that the thesis topic be confirmed by the start of the second semester of registration.
8. The thesis qualification test is usually taken in the third semester (mid-March or mid-September), but it may be delayed until the fourth semester if needed. Before approval will be given to take the qualifying examination, master's students must submit their draft thesis proposal to the advisor (see thesis proposal guidance below). The draft thesis proposal should be approximately 10 pages including references (i.e., around 2,500-3,000 words; Times New Roman, 12pt font, 1.5-double spaced) and must include a draft overview of the first two chapters of the thesis (i.e., Introduction and Literature Review/Theory). This draft proposal should be submitted to the advisor for review approximately 4 weeks prior to the examination. The priority during the qualifying examination is a clear purpose and research question(s) for the research grounded in a thorough review of the relevant literature/theory. The literature review includes a review of previous studies related to the purpose and problem of the study identifying a clear gap in the field that the proposed study will address. The exam will be assessed by the advisor and two committee members from the Education department/GEC.
9. At the end of the semester after taking the thesis qualification examination (typically the third semester), the master's thesis plan is defended (in early June or early December). The updated thesis proposal includes the first three parts of a traditional thesis structure (i.e., Introduction, Literature Review/Theory, and Research Methods). The updated thesis proposal is expected to be approximately 20 pages (i.e., 5,000-6,000 words, building on the examiners' comments from the qualifying exam, with particular attention paid to a sound and robust research methodology). Among these, the quality of the literature review and methodology should be high enough to be reflected in the final thesis. The research methodology includes a plan for how to proceed with data collection, analysis, and interpretation. The thesis proposal is prepared under the guidance of the academic advisor. The MA thesis proposal should be submitted to the advisor and committee members approximately 2 weeks prior to the oral presentation.
10. If the thesis proposal is not sufficiently written (or the oral defense is insufficient), the proposal will be withheld and corrections required before the student passes and proceeds with the study. In such a case, the student should defend the revised thesis proposal in the following semester.
11. Following successful defense of the research plan, the plan is implemented and data collection begins in earnest only after it is approved by the Seoul National University IRB. The IRB application should be submitted immediately following approval of the thesis plan. IRB approval typically takes 2-3 months, so this should be planned into the timeline.
12. During the data collection process, students frequently discuss their progress with their advisor. At the same time as data collection, analysis and interpretation work is carried out in parallel.
13. Strictly abide by the deadline for submitting the MA thesis announced by the department during the semester in which the thesis is to be reviewed. Prior to the deadline for submitting the manuscript for review, students must receive sufficient guidance from their advisor for each part of the thesis. A thesis that has not received sufficient guidance cannot be submitted for review. Immediately after submitting the thesis, the reviewers are contacted individually to confirm the examination date. The final thesis for examination is expected to be approximately 60-100 pages (i.e., 15,000-25,000 words). A copy of the full MA thesis should be submitted to the advisor and examiners at least 2-4 weeks prior to the oral defense.
14. Expectations for the quality level of a master's thesis: You must have a considerable level of understanding of the topic of the thesis, and you must secure a level that can be developed into a research article that can be submitted to a renowned domestic or international journal through additional collaboration with the advisor. The final thesis will be assessed by the advisor and two committee members from the Education department/GEC (the same committee members who assessed the thesis proposal -- therefore it is essential that the study follows the design and methodology that was approved at the thesis proposal defense stage. Some minor modifications may be acceptable).
15. Following successful defense of the MA thesis and graduation, students will continue to work with the advisor to prepare the manuscript for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
16. It is expected that MA students will publish their MA thesis with the advisor after graduation and prior to applying for a PhD program (if the student intends to apply for a PhD).
If you become a doctoral student:
1. Courses to be taken each semester must be determined in consultation with the advisor. Take the required courses to obtain specialization in the major (e.g., Global Education Cooperation; Comparative Education; International Development; Peace Education). For research methods training, take at least four research methodology courses (in addition to the ones taken during the master's degree). It is recommended that the methodology courses include: (1) a basic course in education research methods that covers a general introduction to research concepts and design; (2) an introductory qualitative methods course; (3) one (or more) advanced courses in qualitative methods (e.g., Case Study; Ethnography; Narrative Inquiry; or Phenomenology); and (4) a basic quantitative methods course. For the ECP Lab, qualitative methods are used. If the courses offered in the department are not sufficient, take research methodology courses offered by other departments in the College of Education or across the university.
2. It is additionally required that PhD students take at least 3 courses (topical, theory, or methods) with the advisor during their studies (e.g., Education and International Development: Theory and Practice; Research Methods in GEC; Education, Conflict and Peacebuilding; Peace Education).
3. Attend monthly Lab meetings (i.e., the first Tuesday of each month 2-5pm in-person), where students will present updates on their research progress, discuss challenges, and offer support. The Lab meetings will be conducted by the Lab GSI/postdocs.
4. In addition to monthly Lab meetings, all PhD students will participate in one group supervision each semester. The group supervisions will involve feedback from peers on written work (students must submit draft chapters to their peers for review at least 4 days prior to the scheduled group supervision). The group supervisions will be facilitated by the Lab GSI/postdocs.
5. Additionally, the supervisor will hold 14-20 individual supervisions with PhD students during the course of their degree. This will include two supervisions each semester to support the development of the dissertation topic, review of relevant literature, design of methodology, data collection and analysis, theoretical interpretation, and writing up. All supervisions, except the first, will involve feedback on written work (students must submit draft chapters to the supervisor for review at least 4 days prior to the scheduled supervision).
6. In principle, PhD supervisions will be 60 minutes each.
7. In sum, each PhD student will receive 1-2 initial supervision(s) on the proposed dissertation topic, 3-4 supervisions on Literature Review, 3-4 supervisions on Methodology, 2-3 supervisions during the data collection and analysis period, 4-5 supervisions on Findings, and 1-2 supervision(s) on Discussion/Conclusion. These supervisions will involve feedback on written chapters of the dissertation. It is critical that students only submit completed draft chapters for review (i.e., well-thought, refined and revised chapters ready for review) so as to maximize the benefit of supervisions. More developmental work should be discussed in all-Lab gatherings, group supervisions, and with peers.
8. It is recommended that students decide on the topic of their dissertation as soon as possible but by the start of the third semester at the latest.
9. Before approval will be given to take the qualifying examination, doctoral students must submit their draft dissertation proposal to the advisor for review (see dissertation proposal guidance below). The draft proposal should be submitted to the advisor approximately 4 weeks prior to the examination. The draft dissertation proposal should be approximately 15-20 pages including references (i.e., 4,000-6,000 words; Times New Roman, 12pt font, 1.5-double spaced) and must include a brief overview of the first two chapters of the dissertation (i.e., Introduction and Literature Review/Theory).
10. After the dissertation topic is decided and the first two chapters approved by the advisor, the qualifying examination is taken. The qualification examination is offered in mid-March and mid-September each year. The priority during the qualifying examination is a clear purpose and research question(s) for the proposed study grounded in a thorough review of the relevant literature/theory. It is necessary to clearly identify the unique contribution that the study will make to the field. The exam will be assessed by the advisor and two committee members from the Education department/GEC. Typically, PhD students take the qualifying examination in the fifth semester of registration.
11. After passing the qualifying examination, the doctoral dissertation proposal is presented when it is ready (typically within 3-9 months after passing the qualifying examination). The dissertation proposal contains the first three parts of a traditional dissertation structure (i.e., Introduction, Literature Review/Theory, and Research Methods). The written dissertation proposal is expected to be approximately 40-60 pages (i.e., 10,000-15,000 words). The literature review and proposed methodology should be of high enough quality to be reflected in the future dissertation. It is necessary to understand the context of related studies, theories, methods, and the trends and limitations of previous studies and methods to the extent that the dissertation can be a significant independent research project with a robust methodology and novel contribution to the field. Receive guidance from the advisor during the process of writing the dissertation proposal. The updated PhD proposal should be submitted to the advisor and committee members approximately 2 weeks prior to the oral presentation.
12. The PhD proposal is orally defended in early June or early December. If the dissertation proposal is not sufficiently written (or the oral defense is insufficient), the proposal will be withheld and corrections required before the student passes and proceeds to doctoral candidacy. In such a case, the student should defend the revised dissertation proposal in the following semester.
13. After passing the dissertation proposal stage (and receiving candidacy), the PhD candidate must apply for Seoul National University's Institutional Review Board (IRB) ethics approval. Once approval is gained, the plan is implemented and data collection begins in earnest. The IRB stage typically takes 2-3 months to complete, and research must not commence until after IRB approval has been obtained. Students should plan the IRB review process adequately into the timeline.
14. Although dissertation data collection is performed independently by the student, it is not a process independent of the advisor. Since data collection and analysis and interpretation work go hand in hand, discuss the progress closely with your advisor.
15. The advisor must read drafts of the findings and discussion chapters, and a full final draft of the thesis, before it is submitted to the school. During this process, the advisee and advisor will also discuss the invitation of relevant external examiners for the thesis. The examiners will be decided and contacted at this stage.
16. Strictly abide by the deadline for submission of the dissertation presented by the department during the semester in which the dissertation is to be reviewed. Prior to the deadline for submitting the manuscript for review, students must receive sufficient guidance from their advisor (as explained above) for each part of the dissertation. In addition, the academic advisor should receive necessary updates of the progress of the dissertation. A dissertation that has not received sufficient guidance cannot be submitted for defense.
17. After submitting the manuscript, committee members are individually contacted to confirm the dissertation defense date. The PhD committee includes the advisor and the two other examiners from the Education department/GEC that examined the candidate during the dissertation proposal stage (the same committee members who assessed the dissertation proposal -- therefore it is essential that the study follows the design and methodology that was approved at the dissertation proposal defense stage. Some minor modifications may be acceptable). For the final defense, two additional examiners will be included, for a total of five. Among the additional examiners, one may be from other departments at SNU or other universities in Korea; and one must be an external examiner from overseas. All examiners are required to be experts in the areas of the candidate's dissertation topic (i.e., topical, methodological, or theoretical experts). The final dissertation for examination is expected to be approximately 150-250 pages (i.e., 50,000-80,000 words). A full copy of the completed thesis should be sent to committee members at least 2-4 weeks prior to the oral defense.
18. Before graduation, at least two papers must be published (at least one with the advisor) in renowned domestic or international journals. Students should also participate in at least one international conference (e.g., AERA, BAICE, CIES, CESHK, IPRA, etc.) and one domestic conference (e.g., ICER, KCES, KERA, etc.) and make a presentation (applicable to the student's doctoral dissertation).
19. Expectations for the quality of doctoral dissertations: You must show that you have grown as an independent researcher in both theoretical and methodological aspects. The dissertation will be judged on three criteria: originality (i.e., the degree to which the study is a novel contribution to the relevant field), rigor (i.e., a robust methodological design, collection of quality data, and a sound theoretical analysis), and significance (i.e., implications for pedagogy, policy, practice, and research). A successful doctoral dissertation should address each of these areas.
20. Finally, it is expected that PhD students will publish at least 1 paper from their dissertation with the advisor during (or after) their studies (this paper may be one of the two required publications above).
Guidance on writing thesis/dissertation research proposals:
Some general guidelines for writing a research proposal are provided below. Students should follow these elements in developing the thesis/dissertation research proposal.
A good proposal should contain the following elements:
- Straightforward, descriptive, and informative title.
- Clear account of exactly what the question is that your research will address.
- Account of why this question is important and worth investigating.
- Assessment of how your own research will engage with recent scholarship on the subject.
- Assessment of the key theoretical, empirical and/or policy literatures to which the study will contribute.
- Indication of the theoretical/analytical frame that will be utilized by the study.
- Brief account of the methodology and approach you will take.
- Discussion of the primary sources that your research will draw upon, including printed books, manuscripts, archives, policy documents, interview data, observations, etc.
- Expected timeline and resources needed to complete the study.
- References of secondary sources that you have already consulted and/or are planning to consult.
In sum, the proposal should establish the proposed study's originality, methodological rigor, and expected contribution to the field.
Advisory meetings:
Each term, students in the ECP Lab will meet for multiple group and individual supervisions with the advisor and GSI/postdocs to discuss their thesis. In Fall 2025, these meetings will generally occur on the second Tuesday (as all-Lab meetings) and the fourth Tuesday (as individual or small group supervisions) of each month. Students will present updates on their thesis progress at each meeting.
Advisory limits:
MA students will receive up to 6 semesters of thesis support (i.e., the first 3 years of the MA). Once the requisite 8 supervisions have been allocated, no further supervisions will be provided. After 3 years, the student will no longer attend Lab meetings (i.e., all-Lab gatherings, group supervisions, individual advising). Resources will be allocated instead to newer students. MA students beyond 3 years will be expected to finalize their thesis on their own and to approach the supervisor the semester they are planning to defend. The supervisor will then review the completed thesis to approve the defense. If the thesis is not of high enough quality to proceed, the defense will be postponed.
PhD students will receive up to 12 semesters of thesis support (i.e., the first 6 years of the PhD). Once the requisite 14-20 supervisions have been allocated, no further supervisions will be provided. After 6 years, the student will no longer attend Lab meetings (i.e., all-Lab gatherings, group supervisions, individual advising). Resources will be allocated instead to newer students. PhD students who are ABD (all but dissertation) after 6 years will be expected to finalize their dissertation on their own and to approach the supervisor the semester they are planning to defend. The supervisor will then review the completed dissertation to approve the defense. If the dissertation is not of high enough quality to proceed to defense, the defense will be postponed.
AI policy:
Responsible use of AI is essential. Students must not use AI tools to generate the first drafts of their thesis chapters. All initial work - including ideas, structure, and writing - must be completed independently by the student in consultation with the advisor. AI may be used only after the student has developed their own draft, and solely for refinement purposes (e.g., improving clarity, grammar, or organization). All ideas and arguments must originate from the student.
Proper use of AI should demonstrate that the effort and time devoted to producing quality work remain comparable to that of a student not using AI. AI is a tool for enhancement, not a shortcut to bypass the learning process. If a student employs AI in the development of a thesis, this must be disclosed to the advisor. The advisor and student will then discuss how AI is used responsibly. Not disclosing the use of AI in thesis writing (and later journal articles) is a potential serious ethics violation. If uncertain, please consult the advisor.
Some tips for success:
1. Begin early and plan ahead.
2. Follow directions closely.
3. Identify the topic of the thesis/dissertation as soon as possible.
4. Avoid changing the thesis topic, as much as possible.
5. Ask for advice. But ensure that those for whom advice is asked are knowledgeable in the subject area.
6. Take ownership of the work.
7. Defend ideas (e.g., justify theoretical and methodological decisions) but avoid being defensive.
8. Keep an open mind (and 'thick skin') when receiving critical feedback. Constructive critical feedback helps the work progress.
9. Participate in reading groups and writing groups to develop ideas and refine writing.
10. Create uninterrupted time to think and write.
11. Present often at domestic and international conferences to gain diverse perspectives and practice defending ideas.
12. Spend time building positive relationships with the advisor, peers, and committee members.
13. Avoid too many distractions such as outside work, teaching, or other research projects beyond the thesis until the thesis is submitted for examination.
14. Submit chapters of the thesis to peer-reviewed journals for feedback en route to defense. Speak with the advisor about this. This will provide critical external feedback.
15. Practice before the thesis/dissertation defense. Try to answer these questions.
16. Submit the thesis/dissertation for publication after successful defense.