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Introduction to Dissertation Research

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Graduate Degree Thesis Information

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The Helms School of Government’s graduate degrees give you the option of writing and defending a Master’s thesis prior to graduation. Who should write a Master’s thesis?

• A student who may go on to pursue a Ph.D. or doctoral degree
• A student who may go on to a career in which research and writing skills are in demand
• A student who wants to publish their work

Any student considering the thesis track is encouraged to start thinking about their thesis topic, conducting research, and engaging with faculty who may serve as a thesis chair or reader, as early as possible in their program of studies.

All students who wish to apply for admission to the thesis track must complete the requirements listed below, including securing the support of a faculty chair and reader. Any student whose application is incomplete or is determined to require additional work at the time of the registration deadline may not be granted approval to begin the thesis track.

Thesis Requirements

You must have completed 21 credit hours and have permission from the Helms School of Government before enrolling in thesis courses.

NOTE : Beginning in Fall 2021, the thesis course sequence will include 3 courses: 688: Thesis Proposal , 689: Thesis Research , and 690: Thesis Defense , with 690 as 0 credit hours. Students on prior academic year DCPs will follow the 689: Thesis Proposal and Research and 690: Thesis Defense thesis sequence.

Regardless of whether your initial thesis course is 688 or 689, in order to gain permission to register for your first thesis course you must complete the  Preliminary Master’s Thesis Proposal form  and email it to the Helms School of Government departmental administrator listed below for approval.

The Preliminary Master’s Thesis Proposal will ask you for the following information:

• A proposed title for your study;
• A purpose statement for your study;
• The research question(s) you intend to ask;
• A summary of the methods your study will use;
• A references Page

After your Preliminary Master’s Thesis Proposal is approved, you will be able to finalize and submit the Application for Enrollment in Thesis Course (pdf) .

Please note: The Preliminary Master’s Thesis Proposal and Application for Enrollment in Thesis Course will require you to identify a thesis chair and reader. Students may also seek advice from the appropriate Program Director .

Thesis Courses

For students who began their Masters degree in Spring 2021 or earlier , there are two courses in the thesis sequence: CJUS/PPOG/PSCI/INTL/PADM/NSEC 689, Thesis Proposal and Research , and CJUS/PPOG/PSCI/INTL/PADM/NSEC 690, Thesis Defense .

• During this course the student is expected to complete their proposal and secure the approval of their Thesis Committee (chair and reader).
• The student is also expected to conduct research and analysis during this course.
• The student will maintain enrollment in the course until Thesis Committee approves advancement to 690, Thesis Defense .
• Before proceeding to 690, Thesis Defense , the student must secure the approval of chair and reader by completing the Application to Defend Masters Thesis (pdf) .
• Before the student enrolls in this course, the Thesis Committee must determine the student is prepared to present and defend their thesis before the end of the course.
• During the course, the student may finalize their analysis and prepare their thesis for final presentation. (In no case will students be permitted to enroll in 690 until data collection is complete.)
• Before the end of the course, the student will defend their thesis in front of the Thesis Committee. Online students may defend their thesis via a mutually agreeable web conferencing software.

For students who began their Masters degree in Fall 2021 or later , there are three courses in the thesis sequence: CJUS/PPOG/PSCI/INTL/PADM/NSEC 688, Thesis Proposal, CJUS/PPOG/PSCI/INTL/PADM/NSEC 689, Thesis Research , and CJUS/PPOG/PSCI/INTL/PADM/NSEC 690, Thesis Defense .

• In this course, students will complete their thesis proposal, which includes a purpose statement and significance, a preliminary literature review, the research design and methodology, and a working reference list.
• During this course the student is expected to obtain IRB approval for their project, conduct research, and analyze their data.
• Students will also write and finalize their thesis.
• The student will maintain enrollment in the course until Thesis Committee approves advancement to 690,  Thesis Defense .
• Before proceeding to 690,  Thesis Defense , the student must secure the approval of chair and reader by completing the Application to Defend Masters Thesis.

Writing Center

As a graduate student, you are encouraged to take full advantage of the Graduate Writing Center/Online Writing Center when composing your thesis. These centers provide free services, links to writing aids, and valuable assistance that will help take you through the writing process.

Resource Links

• Writing Aids
• Writing Services
• Online Writing Center
• APA Guidelines
• Submitting Dissertations and Theses

For more details about the thesis process, see the  Helms School of Government Graduate Thesis Guide (pdf) .

Please contact the Graduate Support Team ( [email protected] ) with questions, or to submit your Preliminary Master’s Thesis Proposal, Application for Enrollment in Thesis Course, or Application to Defend Masters Thesis.

• Helms School of Government Graduate Thesis Guide (pdf)
• Preliminary Master’s Thesis Proposal form (pdf)
• Application for Enrollment in Thesis Course (pdf)
• Application to Defend Masters Thesis (pdf)

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Graduate Student Research Guide: Citations & LU Writing Center

• Introduction to Research
• Books & E-Books
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• Citations & LU Writing Center
• Dissertation Research & Scholars Crossing

Where to Find Writing Assistance

Librarians at the Jerry Falwell Library specialize in helping you narrow down your topic, finding scholarly resources, and conducting research within the library catalog and databases.  If you need research assistance, please contact the team at the Jerry Falwell Library. 

The Liberty University Writing Center specializes in the writing, formatting, and editing process. If you need assistance with a particular citation style, or if you want someone to review your essay, please reach out to the Writing Center.  The Writing Center provides services for both residential and online students. 

Writing Center Helpful Links

Consult resources from the Liberty Writing Center during the brainstorming, research, writing, and editing process. Suggested resources are provided below: 

• Academic Code of Honor
• How to Research a Thesis Statement 
• Organizing a Paper
• Outlining a Research Paper

Using RefWorks for Citation Help

Keeping track of your citations does not have to be difficult. The Jerry Falwell Library offers RefWorks to help you keep track of the references that you are using and to assist you with citing your sources. 

RefWorks can output your paper's reference list in many citation styles, including APA. It is important to verify that your reference list is in the correct format, so be sure to make sure the citation is correct in RefWorks. The short video tutorial below can help you get started using RefWorks. 

Writing Style Guides

• American Medical Association (AMA)
• APA 7th Edition
• Modern Language Association (MLA)
• Turabian/Chicago

The American Medical Association  has its own formatting and citation guide for the medical sciences. 

The Liberty Writing Center has a AMA Format Quick Guide to aid you in the writing process.

The Jerry Falwell LIbrary has both a physical copy and an e-book edition of the  AMA Manual of Style: a Guide for Authors and Editors  available. 

The American Psychological Association has its own style and formatting guide.  

The Liberty University Writing Center has a Guide for APA Format Quick Guide  to aid you in your studies.  And the Jerry Falwell Library has a APA Style Research Guide which outlines the writing and citation process. 

Need help with APA formatting? The Jerry Falwell Library subscribes to the APA's Academic Writer database. This database provides example essays and writing advice. The Jerry Falwell Library has tutorials on using the APA's Academic Writer. 

If you would like to consult a physical copy of the Publication manual of the American Psychological Association: the official guide to APA style , the Jerry Falwell Library has a physical copy. 

The webinar below outlines basic APA formatting principles: 

Law students are expected to write in Bluebook style. The Liberty University Writing Center has a Bluebook Quick Guide . 

The Law Library has several physical copies of  The Bluebook: a Uniform System of Citation  on reserve. 

In addition to the Bluebook , those in the legal profession can benefit from consulting  Garner's Modern English Usage  during the writing process. 

The Modern Language Association has its own style guide for writing research papers.  

The Liberty University Writing Center has a MLA Formatting Quick Guide to aid you in your research. The Jerry Falwell Library also has a MLA Style Guide  that discusses MLA style requirements. 

The Jerry Falwell Library has a physical copy of the MLA Handbook, 8th edition  available. 

The Chicago Manual of Style was first developed by Kate Larimore Turabian for the University of Chicago Press. "Turabian" style formatting is an adapted version of the more formal "Chicago" style formatting. Both Turabian and Chicago have many similarities. 

The Liberty University Writing Center has a Turabian Format Quick Guide to aid you in your research. The Jerry Falwell Library also has a Turabian Style 9th Edition Research Guide. 

The Jerry Falwell Library has a selection of Chicago and Turabian handbooks. 

Plagiarism & Copyright

Concerned about plagiarism and copyright? See these copyright guidelines for detailed information on what constitutes plagiarism and how to determine copyright. The Jerry Falwell Library also has its own Copyright Research Guide . 

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• URL: https://libguides.liberty.edu/gradresearch

Course Catalog | Liberty University

Doctor of philosophy in psychology (ph.d.).

This program is delivered online.

Program Learning Outcomes

The student will be able to:

• Evaluate the research literature in Psychology to include major concepts, theories, research methodologies, and empirical finding.
• Evaluate various research methodologies, designs, and statistical procedures in psychological science.
• Apply psychological research to practical individual and social problems.
• Evaluate the psychological research literature in the context of biblical worldview.

Behavioral Health Leadership Concentration

• Assess key principles and theories in behavioral health leadership.
• Produce original research in behavioral health leadership.

Developmental Psychology Concentration

• Assess key principles and theories in Developmental Psychology across the lifespan.
• Produce original research in Developmental Psychology.

General Psychology Concentration

• Assess key principles and theories in Psychology.
• Produce original research in Psychology.

Industrial/Organizational Psychology Concentration

• Assess key principles and theories in Industrial/Organizational Psychology.
• Produce original research in Industrial/Organizational Psychology.

Social Psychology Concentration

• Assess key principles and theories in Social Psychology.
• Produce original research in Social Psychology.

Theology Concentration

• Assess key principles and theories in Psychology using various models of integration.
• Produce original research that integrates psychology and theology.

Program Specific Admission Procedures

In addition to the General Admission Procedures outlined in this catalog, doctoral applicants to the Ph.D. in Psychology program must have:

• Completed Master’s degree from an accredited institution.
• A cumulative GPA of at least 3.00 or above (on a 4.00 scale) in all previous graduate course work.
• Two (2) Recommender Contact Information. Approved recommenders are the student’s former college professors or supervisors.
• Statement of Purpose: two (2) pages, double spaced.
• Departmental approval (as required by Graduate Admissions)

The above are minimum academic requirements for admission to the Ph.D. in Psychology program. The applicant’s character, integrity, and general fitness to practice a particular profession will also be considered in the admission process.

Transfer of Credit

Students may transfer up to 30 semester hours of Ph.D. coursework. For a transferred course to replace a Liberty University Ph.D. course, the following requirements must be met:

• The school at which the course was taken must be appropriately accredited.
• The course credit must be at least three semester hours or five quarter hours.
• The student must have earned a grade of B- or better in the course.
• The course must overlap with one of Liberty’s courses by at least 80%.
• Transfer credits must have been completed as post-master’s course work (700-900 level) within the previous seven (7) years to be accepted.
• Courses with a recorded grade of C+ or below will not be accepted.
• Correspondence studies or life experiences will not be accepted for transfer credit.

Course Requirements

The Ph.D. in Psychology requires completion of a minimum of 60 hours of post-master’s Ph.D.-level coursework including core courses, concentration courses, and dissertation coursework.

Delivery Format: Online Only

• Psychology (Ph.D.) - Behavioral Health Leadership
• Psychology (Ph.D.) - Developmental Psychology
• Psychology (Ph.D.) - General Psychology
• Psychology (Ph.D.) - Industrial/Organizational Psychology
• Psychology (Ph.D.) - Social Psychology
• Psychology (Ph.D.) - Theology
• Independent Consultant
• Collegiate Professor
• Organizational Mentor/Consultant
• Researcher/Writer

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Liberty University 2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

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'It's game on': 'Drive to Survive' star Will Buxton on the 2024 Formula 1 season

The 2024 Formula One world championship has become one of the closer battles in recent memory as Red Bull and Max Verstappen's dominant run has ended.

"To see how Red Bull have stumbled, to witness how first Ferrari, then McLaren, and now Mercedes have been able to pull back that advantage and make it a four-way fight, has been utterly astonishing," Will Buxton, Formula one presenter, told the USA TODAY Network.

Buxton — one of the most prominent faces on the Netflix docudrama series "Formula 1: Drive to Survive" — has covered the sport for two decades. With nine races left, this already looks to be one of the most exciting Formula One championships in years.

2024 Dutch Grand Prix: F1 schedule, how to watch and odds

A fixture in Formula One

In college, Buxton wrote his thesis on the politics of Formula One. His professors hated it, but that was the beginning of his career.

"I sent to the guys at Formula One magazine and they thought it was OK," Buxton recalled. "They gave me a bit of work experience off the back of it."

Buxton spent three years as a writer before working as a press officer and director of communications for the GP2 Series, now Formula 2. In 2010, he joined the Fox Sports-owned Speed channel as a pit reporter.

With no prior broadcast experience, he relied on his experience as a writer talking with fans at track campsites as a guide.

"When you're given this amazing access and allowed into this hallowed sanctum of the paddock, you're the middleman," he explained. "You're a conduit in order to tell these stories and almost have a campfire chat with people at the end of the day."

Buxton moved to NBC Sports from 2013 to 2017 in the same role. The network lost rights to Formula One in 2018 but Liberty Media, Formula One's new ownership group, hired Buxton as their first digital presenter.

F1 movie update: Brad Pitt appears at British Grand Prix with girlfriend Ines de Ramon as 'F1' teaser drops

The 'Drive to Survive' impact

Liberty Media focused on expanding digital content of the sport and Buxton was a key face in the new content streams.

"What Liberty were doing were embracing new media," Buxton said. "There was this huge opportunity to do something really great... [but] it had to be broadcast quality from the very start."

That coincided with season one of "Formula 1: Drive to Survive" filmed during the 2018 season. Buxton was heavily featured in it and has been a fixture in the five subsequent seasons as the show's driven a spike in popularity of the sport.

Happy Drive to Survive day everyone. Six seasons in and still overwhelmingly grateful to be a part of such an important show and one which has completely revolutionised the nature of the sports documentary. Hope everyone enjoys the series. Box to Box have done a great job with it pic.twitter.com/kDIfA0JE5h — Will Buxton (@wbuxtonofficial) February 23, 2024

"It's been an amazing driver of the series," Buxton said. "We now have 1.5 billion viewers in 180 territories, which is insane. And one in three have been watching for five years or less."

The 2024 Formula One season

Verstappen rattled off four wins in the first five races this year and looked set for another dominant season.

Then McLaren's Lando Norris won his first career race in Miami . And Ferrari's Charles Leclerc won in Monaco . For the first time in years, the balance of power changes from race to race. Seven different winners in 2024 is the highest since eight in 2012.

Buxton credits Formula 1's budget cap and a sliding development scale, instituted in 2021, for leveling the playing field.

"The big teams with the big money can't just outspend their rivals anymore," he said. "They have the same pot of cash as every team... now you have this competitive convergence and the opportunity for those at the back to catch up and a kind of stifling for the top teams where they have to work with less time and less money."

It's led to close racing and some controversial finishes. Late contact between Norris and Verstappen in a fight for the lead at the Austrian Grand Prix took both out of contention and gave Mercedes' George Russell an opportunistic victory. Russell is one of four drivers to win the last five races.

This playing field benefits a generation of drivers, including Norris and Russell, who are more familiar with each other than any before them.

"From go-karts through junior formula all the way up the ladder to Formula 1, they've all been competing with one another," Buxton said. "They have a great understanding of how to race one another."

That familiarity on the track's led to friendship off it in a world that Buxton says can be quite lonely.

"[Verstappen] and [Norris] are a great example," Buxton explained. "Two great friends who this year have become absolute rivals, who have made contact with each other on track. These are guys who hang out together ... they're seen in Ibiza at Martin Garrix parties together. Then you see a race like Austria where they were hunting each other down."

Norris and Verstappen will be at odds for the rest of the season with Oscar Piastri, Russell, and Hamilton in the mix as well.

"It's a fascinating position we find ourselves in," Buxton said. "Both championships are genuinely up for competition. The driver's championship will be a little bit more difficult but all it takes is a couple of races where [Verstappen] has an off day and doesn't score and it's game on."

Highest-paid Formula One drivers: Verstappen, Hamilton lead list

A guide for new Formula One fans

As more fans tune in, Buxton's new book "Grand Prix" offers a resource. It started out as a children's book about Formula One but expanded to an all-ages guide on the iconic motorsport.

"We thought there was an opportunity to do something that hasn't been done before," Buxton said. "If we want to tell the story of the sport and get people involved, why don't we talk to the new fan base but also keep it relevant to the old fan base?"

Vibrant illustrations help explain tracks and technological innovations as well as build visual profiles for the top drivers of different decades.

"I loved the unique nature that those illustrations brought to the vibe of the book," Buxton said. "When I was a student on my wall at university, I had this beautiful watercolor print of all of the great Ferrari Formula 1 cars and I guess that's part of where that comes from."

Buxton released his first book in 2019 and featured interviews with winners and champions from across many motor racing formulas, including NASCAR, Formula One, and IndyCar. "Grand Prix" strikes a different tone. Buxton likened it to current NBA fans learning about the 1990s Chicago Bulls or Showtime-era Lakers.

"We have to break the barriers of the perceived knowledge that everyone has and take it down to basics and lay it out in a way that isn't scary," Buxton said. "And hopefully is accessible."

Buxton admits its similar to his role on "Formula 1: Drive to Survive."

"They kind of get me in to explain the obvious bits," he said. "Or at least the things that seem obvious if you've been watching for ages but if you're new to the sport, they're key questions to answer."

"Grand Prix" is available now that Formula One has returned from the summer break.