CCPA 890: Dissertation Part I

CCPA 890 is where your dissertation takes shape: you refine a topic, review the literature and build the conceptual model the rest of the study will test.

The University of Maryland Global Campus describes Dissertation Part I as the identification and refinement of the dissertation topic. The objective is to research questions relevant to the chosen topic, conduct a review of the literature and develop a conceptual model with associated hypotheses.

It is the first of four 3-credit dissertation courses (CCPA 890 to 893) in the Doctor of Management in Community College Policy and Administration. Decisions made here shape every later stage, which is why it is worth getting right.

What CCPA 890 Involves

Key Concepts Explained

From Literature to Conceptual Model

A conceptual model is a visual and written account of how you expect key concepts to relate, built from theory and prior research. Each arrow in the model should be justified by the literature.

Writing Hypotheses from the Model

Hypotheses translate arrows into testable statements. They should name the concepts, the expected direction and the population.

Writing the Literature Review

A dissertation literature review is an argument, not a catalog. It shows what is known, how well it is known and why your study is needed.

• Organize by themes or concepts in your model, not by author.
• Evaluate study quality, not just findings.
• Show where studies agree, conflict or leave gaps.
• End with a clear statement of the gap your study addresses.

Our dissertation literature review guide covers this process in more detail.

Refining a Topic: A Worked Path

Topic refinement usually happens in several passes. Each pass makes the problem narrower, more significant and more feasible.

At each pass, ask three questions. Does the literature show this matters? Is there a gap? Can I get the data? If any answer is no, refine again before writing the review.

Working with Your Chair and Committee

Your dissertation chair and committee guide the work from this course onwards. Practical habits help:

• Agree on deadlines and how drafts should be submitted.
• Keep a log of feedback and how you responded to each point.
• Ask questions early rather than guessing what a comment means.
• Share your conceptual model as a diagram; it often speeds up discussion.

Where Students Get Stuck

• Topics too broad. Narrow until you can name concepts, population and setting.
• Reviews that summarize. Synthesis and critique are what committees look for.
• Models without support. Every relationship needs literature behind it.
• Hypotheses that cannot be tested. Check that each one could be measured with available data.

Study Tips for CCPA 890

• Choose a topic you can sustain interest in for several years.
• Check data access early; it affects feasibility.
• Use a reference manager from day one.
• Draw your model by hand before writing it up.

How We Help with CCPA 890

Send your topic notes, drafts and any committee feedback. A doctoral coach can help you refine a topic, give feedback on your literature review and model, and edit for clarity and APA style.

GradeEssays is independent of the University of Maryland Global Campus. Your dissertation must be your own work; we offer coaching, feedback, editing and model examples within UMGC's academic integrity rules, and never invent sources or data. Orders include free revisions within the scope of your original request and a full refund if late.