Essential Instructions

• Here are sample proposals from Maharishi Vedic Science and Physiology:
  
• MVS_Proposal1
• MVS_Proposal2
• MVS_Proposal3
• Physiology_Proposal1

• Work on your proposal with the chair of your committee. Once the chair feels that your proposal is in good shape, then you should send it to the members of your committee. Give them two weeks to respond to your proposal. Incorporate their changes and defend the final version.

Committee Structure:

While you are writing your proposal, work with the chair of your dissertation to form a committee of 4-5 researchers. Your committee should include at least four members who cover five roles:

• the chair of the committee, from your department
• one other faculty member from your department
• one faculty member from another department at MIU
• one faculty member from another university
• The fifth “role” is responsible for the Maharishi Vedic Science and Graduate Committee issues. This role can be covered by a fifth member or by one of the above members of your committee.
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• Points on your Dissertation

To bring Maharishi Vedic Science into your dissertation all students create a Richo Akshare line and Unified Field Chart, or a Chart of Validation of Experiences ( MVS’s Reading Vedic Literature Program).

The guidelines are explained at the links below:

• Richo Akshare Line
• Unified Field Chart
• Chart of Validation of Experiences during MIU’s Reading Vedic Literature Program

Finishing Your Dissertation

• Dissertation Style and Formatting Aids

• Timeline for Finishing Your Dissertation

• This is important.  If you wait until the last minute—a month before graduation—it is stressful for you, your chair, and the library.  To make this process comfortable for everyone, follow this schedule.
  1. Four months before you plan to graduate, you should give your chair a version of your dissertation that is complete to your satisfaction. You can send then chapters before them.  Work with your chair to see what they prefer,
  2. Work with your chair polishing your dissertation—this could take 4-6 weeks. Writing is re-writing.  Plan for this time.
  3. Once you and your chair have a polished draft, send it to the two MIU committee members. They can have up to 2 weeks to respond, out of respect for their other duties.
  4. Once you receive and address their corrections, working with your chair, then send it to the outside committee member—again they have up to two weeks to respond.
  5. Then once you receive and address the last corrections, prepare for your defense. Send two or three possible times to hopefully fit everyone’s schedule. 
  6. Send an announcement to the Dean of Faculty so that the MIU community can be aware of your dissertation.
  7. Once you have defended your dissertation, send an electronic copy of what you defended to the library, so they are aware you wish to finish. Then make the corrections—if any—from your defense and bring that to the library. Along with all the items–see tab PHD Dissertation Checklist
  8. You need to have your final version—fully complete—into the library two weeks before graduation—that means you want to send it to the library three weeks before graduation so you can deal with any other issues.