Dissertations take significant effort and thought. They are often re-written, and change in both direction and complexity, it’s easy to become overwhelmed.
We are here to help you through the process.
Between the many workshops, advising sessions, networking opportunities, and outreach programs, an aspiring thesis or dissertation author can find the support they need to complete their work. Below, review the support resources available to you.
Dissertation House
The Dissertation House is comprised of a series of workshops, meetings, and seminars that are held on college campuses and at conferences to facilitate successful completion of the doctoral degree. The workshops emphasize writing the dissertation, preparing for the defense, and communicating with faculty.
The Dissertation House is sponsored by PROMISE, The UMBC Graduate School, The UMCP Division of Graduate Studies, and the Council of Graduate Schools’ Ph.D. Completion Project.
Writing Advisor
The Graduate Student Association (GSA) has an in-house Writing Advisor available to all graduate students. The writing advisor can assist in providing fact-checking, content structure, style formatting, or simply a second opinion.
Schedule an appointment with the Writing Advisor by emailing GSA@umbc.edu.
Office of Postdoctoral Affairs
Many workshops and networking opportunities are announced by our Office of Postdoctoral Affairs on our student portal, myUMBC. Workshops on how to develop portfolios, writing proposals, and academic articles may help hone your writing ability and develop your professional skills. Visit and follow the Group on myUMBC for the latest event announcements.
Writing Center
The Writing Center is located in the Library, and is designed to provide editing services for students looking for assistance with their papers. While the Writing Center will try to assist graduate students in any way they can, please be aware that this is mostly an undergraduate service.