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Acknowledgments | |
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Introduction | |
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Can I Really Complete a Graduate Degree? | |
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Can I Afford a Graduate Degree? | |
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How Will Working on the Degree Impact My Family and Job? | |
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Am I Too Old to Be Seeking a Graduate Degree? | |
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How This Book Can Help You | |
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Why Am I in Graduate School? | |
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Three Categories of Learners | |
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Motivation | |
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Barriers to Learning | |
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Time Management | |
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Self-Directed Learning | |
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Becoming a Self-Directed Learner | |
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Need for Support | |
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Online Courses and Degrees | |
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Development of Distance (or Online) Education | |
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What Are the Different Types of Online Courses? | |
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Why Should I Enroll in an Online Course? | |
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What Are Some Differences Between Online and On-Campus Classes? | |
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What Are Some Strategies to Help Me Complete an Online Degree? | |
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How Do I Complete and Hand in Assignments? | |
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What Is the Average Age of Online Class Participants? | |
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How Are Online Courses Graded? | |
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How Much Time Will It Take to Complete Online Courses and the Degree? | |
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What Technology Is Needed to Participate in an Online Course or Degree Program? | |
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How Effective Are Online Courses? | |
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What Skills Are Needed to Succeed in Online Courses? | |
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Do Online Learners Feel Isolated? | |
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Is "Online" Right for You? | |
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Financing Your Graduate Degree | |
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Federal Sources | |
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State Sources | |
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University or College Sources | |
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Employers | |
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Family | |
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Savings and Investments | |
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Additional Sources | |
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Financial Aid Scams | |
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Graduate School Financial Aid Checklist | |
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The Degree Program | |
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Accreditation | |
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Am I in the Right Graduate Degree Program? | |
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Defining the Program of Study | |
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Developing and Completing the Program of Study | |
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Know Yourself | |
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Controlling Frustrations | |
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The Graduate Committee | |
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Functions of the Graduate Committee | |
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Roles of Committee Members | |
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Getting to Know Potential Committee Members | |
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Becoming Known by Potential Committee Members | |
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Choosing Your Committee | |
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Committee Member Selection Guide | |
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The Comprehensive Exam | |
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Purpose of the Comprehensive Examination | |
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The Comprehensive Examination Process | |
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Evaluating the Comp | |
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Preparing for the Comprehensive Exam | |
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Tips for Successfully Completing the Comp Written Exam | |
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Tips for Successfully Completing the Comp Oral Exam | |
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Proposal and the Thesis/Dissertation | |
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ProQuest UMI Dissertation Publishing | |
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The Pre-Proposal | |
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How to Develop the Pre-Proposal | |
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Developing the Proposal | |
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The Thesis/Dissertation | |
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Connecting the Proposal to the Thesis/Dissertation | |
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The Problem | |
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The Literature Review | |
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The Methodology | |
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Presentation and Analysis of the Data | |
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Summary, Conclusions, and Recommendations | |
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References and Appendixes | |
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Concluding Thoughts | |
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The Defense | |
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Understanding the Defense | |
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Preparing for the Defense | |
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What to Do at the Defense | |
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The Decision | |
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Now What? | |
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Binding Your Thesis or Dissertation | |
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Copyrighting Your Work | |
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Publishing Your Work | |
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Making Up Lost "Quality Time" | |
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Commencement | |
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Developing an Unofficial Annotated Transcript | |
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The Portfolio R�sum� | |
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Using the Title Doctor | |
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ABD-All But Dissertation | |
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Avoiding Emotional Letdowns | |
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Put Your Degree to Work | |
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References and Suggested Readings | |
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References | |
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General Style Guides | |
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Guides to Writing a Proposal, Thesis, Dissertation, or Research Paper | |
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Research and Writing in the Disciplines | |
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Index | |
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About the Author | |