Dissertation: Ultimate hurdle a Ph.D. candidate must pass
A topic that used to be confined to discussions in the hallowed halls of universities has become part of hot servings in coffee shops, steaming debates over radio air lanes, and animated arguments of commentators in print, broadcast and online media, thanks to Marites Danguilan Vitug through her book, “Shadow of Doubt.”
Is a dissertation necessary for one to earn a doctor in philosophy (Ph.D.) degree? This stems from the Ph.D. in law conferred on Chief Justice Renato Corona by the University of Santo Tomas at the celebration of its 400th year.
For this piece, the author interviewed four doctoral colleagues to shed light on dissertations and Ph.Ds: Diane A. Desierto, JSD; Jose R. Lacson Jr., PhD.; Lorraine Salazar, Ph.D., and Noriel C. Tiglao, Ph.D.
What is a dissertation? A doctoral dissertation is a research paper of the highest level, in terms of wide-ranging research, depth of analysis and assurance of originality. It is supposed to be the penultimate achievement in one’s education.
Professor and lawyer Diane A. Desierto, JSD (Doctor of the Science of Law), points out: “To qualify for the J.S.D. degree, an admitted candidate must submit a dissertation that is a substantial contribution to legal scholarship.” Speaking of the highest rung in legal education, she points out: “A dissertation is an example of legal scholarship that should make an original contribution, not just to the polemics subsisting within an academic discipline, but ultimately, to the very same society that academic disciplines seek to enrich and serve in the first place.”
“A dissertation is the ultimate test a Ph.D. candidate must pass,” says Professor Jose R. Lacson Jr., Ph.D. (Communication), who is chair of the Graduate Studies Department of the College of Mass Communication of the University of the Philippines in Diliman. He adds: “It is assumed that his or her course work has been completed and has passed the comprehensive examinations.”
“American and European academic traditions all require a dissertation as the culmination of a long exercise to get a Ph.D.,” states Lorraine C. Salazar, Ph.D. (Political Economy). She notes: “The process is an exercise that trains a person in the art and science needed in the academic world, as well as gives the person key skills necessary for success even in non-academic fields.”
Dr. Tiglao asserts: “The dissertation is a journey the Ph.D. student has to travel, with his or her adviser, beginning the day he or she joins the doctoral program. The student ‘sails in academic waters’ during the dissertation process: The Adviser steers the boat; the student rows it. Overall, the dissertation process is the litmus test before one can be conferred a Ph.D. There are no ifs and buts on this matter.”
Up close
Dr. Desierto holds two degrees from Yale Law School—JSD earned in 2011 and Master of Laws, earned in 2009. For her dissertation, titled, “Necessity and National Emergency Clauses: Sovereignty in Modern Treaty Interpretation,” the Yale Law Faculty awarded the highest degree in law in 2011, not the scheduled 2014, since she completed coursework and dissertation in two straight years—and thus ahead of the five-year timetable.
Dr. Desierto’s dissertation was awarded the Ambrose Gherini Prize in International Law, Yale’s highest prize for international law scholarship. She shares this distinction with the only other Filipino to receive this award—outstanding Yale Law School alumnus, former Senate President and Dr. Jovito R. Salonga, in 1949.
(For our local readers, please note the distinctions made by Dr. Desierto on various law degrees: The JSD is the highest advanced graduate degree issued by Yale Law School. It is different from Juris Doctor (JD), which is the other name for Bachelor of Laws (LlB). JSD also stands higher than Master of Laws (LLM). “For this reason,” Dr. Desierto stresses, “JSD candidates are expected to produce even more advanced graduate level contributions.”)
Professor Lacson holds a Ph.D. (Communication) earned from UP Diliman, after finishing his Master in Communication from the same school, and BS in Agriculture from UP Los Baños. On his doctoral work, he speaks volumes of the rigor, challenge, humbling effect of writing and defending a dissertation. His dissertation topic, “Satellite Communication and Its Uses by Various Sectors of Society,” can be accessed at the libraries of UP.
Dr. Lacson is a respected consultant and adviser on specialized fields in communication, and is a firm believer in the infinite value of communication theory to direct and guide communication planning and execution by individuals and by organizations.
Dr. Salazar earned her Ph.D. from the Australian National University in Canberra. Her topic is in the realm of political economy, titled: “States, Market Reforms and Rents: The Political Economy of Telecommunications Liberalisation in Malaysia and the Philippines.”
She finished her master’s degree in Political Science from the UP Diliman, where she also obtained her bachelor’s degree in the same course. She is currently Southeast Asia expert in one of the top management consulting firms in the country down under.
Dr. Tiglao holds a Ph.D. in Engineering, earned from Tokyo University, with this dissertation topic: “Small Area Estimation and Spatial Microsimulation of Household Characteristics in Developing Countries with Focus on Informal Settlements in Metro Manila.” A licensed civil engineer, Dr. Tiglao earned his doctorate, after acquiring his M.S. and B.S. in Civil Engineering from UP Diliman.
No shortcuts
In fairness (as our actors and actresses preface their answers), there are some academic institutions which issue doctoral degrees (note: not doctorate degrees) to individuals who have contributed extensively to study and research in certain disciplines. But that is the exception rather than the rule.
Dr. Salazar asserts that if there is no dissertation work, the doctorate is at best “honorary.”
“There have been many who have completed their doctoral course work and have passed their comprehensives,” reveals Dr. Lacson. “But, without this comprehensive research work, the students are what we call ‘ABDs’—All But the Dissertation!” Dr. Lacson warned this writer that I almost became an ABD—until I passed by dissertation on stakeholder relations!
“From my vantage point,” says Dr. Tiglao, “there is no other way (but through dissertation). There is no shortcut. After all, the dissertation is the embodiment of the student’s scholarly work. It demonstrates that the student has done extensive research on a particular subject of inquiry and has acquired mastery of the subject.”
Dr. Tiglao quotes Simon Lei: “A dissertation is very formal, extensive, highly-focused, and addresses a specific, well-defined research problem or question.
Shouldn’t a dissertation contribute to the established body of knowledge, since every study is a useful item to the growing “mosaic” of established knowledge?
Dr. Salazar’s candor shows: “A dissertation has do this, otherwise it’s a waste of time. If it doesn’t add new knowledge; recasts in a new light something that had always been viewed in a certain way; or challenges established viewpoints—then the study is not worthwhile.”
Dr. Desierto makes distinctions: Contributing to a body of knowledge “is not an attribute unique to dissertations alone. The same can be said of many other types of legal writing and scholarship, such as journal articles, essays, papers, book chapters, working papers, etc.”
And yet, UP’s summa cum laude is quick to add: “The substantiality of the contribution is what spells the difference between these forms of legal scholarship.”
She has something more to say about legal scholarship—and her academic commitment is unmistakable: “As a legal scholar and academic, one inhabits spaces where we recognize and identify social, political, cultural and economic phenomena in the nature, design, and processes of law and regulation. We constantly assess, theorize, propose and seek to improve the latter—ultimately for the benefit of the very same communities on whom such laws and regulations are imposed.”
Finally, she says: “A dissertation can provide useful training and preparation for these ends, as with many other forms of legal scholarship and academic methods.”
Rites of passage
Great accomplishments are preceded by great sacrifice. No pain, no gain, as they say. This is true for dissertations. The only reason Ph.D. holders have a tingling feeling every time they attach the “Ph.D.” to their names is that the three letters were hard-earned and hard-won.
“What!,” my law student son exclaimed, noting the many sleepless hours, the thick research papers, the voluminous interview results covering my large tables in both office and home. You worked so hard for only three letters—“Ph.D.”! I could only smile—with satisfaction. I am so humbled I was speechless.
(Editor’s note: The author is the Inquirer’s regular contributor to “Executive Read.” He is also chair and CEO of Creative Point International Inc., Philippine affiliate of global PR firm Hill & Knowlton.)
