background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Focus: The Literature Review Milestone and the Qualifying Exam

Course Registration:

Before you can start your Literature Review exam coursework, you must request an "override" to enter the dissertation sequence courses.

Primary Request Form (COE): Online EdD/PhD Exam Course Request Form

Note: This is the standard portal for all EPOL dissertation sequence overrides (EPOL 586, EPOL 58, EPOL 591, EPOL 599).

General Field: EPOL 586 (4 credit hours: 16 weeks in duration)
Special Field: EPOL 587 (4 credit hours: 16 weeks in duration)

(You may register for both classes in the same semester or take them separately.)

Late Registration / Student Portal: Graduate College Student Portal

Submit a petition here if the standard registration window has closed.

Attend Group Advisory Sessions:

If your advisor is Dr. Cope or Dr. Kalantzis, attend group sessions on Monday nights, 7:30 - 8:30 CT. If your advisor is Dr. Magee, attend group sessions on Tuesday nights, 7:00 - 8:30 CT.

Individual Avisory Sessions:

Drop in (don’t email, please)

Dr. Kalantzis, Tuesdays 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. CT Drop in (don’t email, please)
Dr. Cope, Tuesdays 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. CT

Dr. Magee (arranged by mutual availability)

Write your Literature Review:

You are drafting a two-part Chapter 2 (General Field + Special Field). This is an independent phase; attending group dissertation meetings is highly recommended for accountability.

Create your Literature Review on CyberScholar. Run at least one CyberReview using the Literature Review rubric.
Arrange at least three Peer Reviews.
Document revision as needed based on your feedback on a Change Note.
Add your review documents and Change Notes in a UIUC Box file with your name and dissertation title, and share it with your Advisor. (See this video for help sharing with Box.)

Advancing to the Exams:

Apply for the qualifying exam here.

Select "Take-Home Exam."
Do not choose your own external reviewers. The system/advisor will assign them.

Review the Graduate College Exam Policies: Exams and Committees general information.

Select an available Exam Session time: Write your full name in the appropriate session column.

Create a Zoom Session with the following settings:

Set the passcode to 535.
Uncheck "require authentication."
Under “Options,” add Dr. Cope or Dr. Magee as an alternative host.

Notify: EdD students send the Zoom link and dissertation title to Jena Pfoff; PhD students send to Linda Stimson.

Distribute: Email your manuscript to your committee 2 weeks before the exam.

Submit a single two-part Chapter 2 document as a Word file in the Graduate College Thesis Dissertation format.

Include your draft front matter in the PDF for your submission.

Note that your advisor’s first formal review happens after the exam has been submitted.

Course Registration:

Attend Group Advisory Sessions:

Write your Literature Review:

Advancing to the Exams:

Complete and submit this form.

Part 2: The General and Special Field Exams (EPOL 586 & 587)