Summer Dissertation Programs 2026 Draft

*Please note that we usually provide the upcoming summer schedule in May*

The Graduate Writing Center holds several summer programs to support graduate students working on dissertations, dissertation proposals, or master's theses. All programs are free of charge for UCLA graduate students.

Note: All summer programs will be held via Zoom unless otherwise indicated. We encourage you to participate and have a productive summer.

How to Apply: Submit an application by the deadline listed for the each program. Applications are reviewed to ensure participants are in the appropriate field and at the appropriate stage, but, otherwise we accept as many participants as possible.

Eligibility: Only UCLA graduate and professional students are eligible to apply. Participants should also be at the appropriate stage and in a relevant field for the selected program.

If you have any questions, please contact gwcprograms@gsa.asucla.ucla.edu

1) Dissertation Boot Camp (Humanities & Arts)

This program is designed for humanities and arts graduate students who have advanced to candidacy and are writing their dissertations. It provides strategies and structure to support drafting a dissertation chapter. Graduate students in social science fields using humanities approaches (e.g., historians or political theorists) are also encouraged to apply.

The program is also an opportunity to participate in a community of writers from related fields and discuss writing strategies and concerns. Since the workshop occurs midday, there will be a short lunch break in each session—participants are encouraged to prepare lunch or snacks in advance of the session.

Meets via Zoom | Mondays, 10:00 AM–1:00 PM | June 22–July 27 (6 weeks) | Deadline to apply: Tuesday, June 16th

CLICK to see application instructions and program details.

How to Apply: Complete the humanities dissertation boot camp application (Google form) by Tuesday, June 16th. Space is limited.

Preparation and homework (for accepted participants)

Before the first session, participants should:

Read or skim a recently completed dissertation from your department (preferably chaired by your advisor) to get a sense of overall structure (search ProQuest Theses & Dissertations database by advisor).
Prepare a brief outline (1–page maximum) of an analytical chapter in the dissertation you reviewed, paying attention to
- content (primary source analysis, secondary criticism, theory, historical or biographical background), and
- form (narrative arc, argument, and language that signposts what the writer is doing).
Organize notes, sources, and data for the analytical chapter you will work on during the program. Consolidate materials into a single physical and/or electronic location to simplify your workflow.

Bring to the first session:

Your outline of the sample dissertation chapter you reviewed.
A 1– to 2–page outline of the chapter you will work on during the program (or a bulleted list if in early stages).

Subsequent Sessions: Each session after the first will expect 5–10 pages of new writing. Additional readings or exercises may be assigned.

Recommended reading: Joan Bolker. (1998). Writing Your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes a Day. (Chapters 3, 4, and 8 especially.)

Not sure which Boot Camp is right for you?

Your dissertation probably aligns with the humanities if you:

study texts, aesthetic objects, or theories
do not have separate literature review and methods chapters
do not work with human subjects (in a manner requiring IRB approval)
organize chapters thematically

Your dissertation probably aligns with the qualitative social sciences if you:

include separate methods and literature review chapters
work with human subjects and went through IRB review
use interviews, observation, or ethnographic methods
analyze data through coding
present findings in results and discussion sections (or chapters)

Some projects (e.g., oral histories or studies of language and performance) fall between humanities and qualitative social sciences. If you are unsure about which program to choose, contact the GWC Director (Marilyn Gray: mgray@saonet.ucla.edu).

Deadline to apply: Tuesday, June 16th.

2) Dissertation Boot Camp (Qualitative Social Sciences)

This program is designed for graduate students using qualitative social science methods or mixed methods with a qualitative emphasis. Applicants should have defended their proposals, begun data collection and analysis, and be ready to write (or already be writing) results and discussion chapters. It is not necessary to have completed all data collection before the program begins. The program addresses writing issues specific to qualitative research as well as general writing and organizational strategies. Graduate students using mixed or quantitative methods are also welcome if they plan to work on a qualitative or descriptive section. The program is also an opportunity to participate in a community of writers from related fields and discuss writing strategies and concerns.

Meets via Zoom | Wednesdays, 1:00–4:00 PM | June 24–July 29 (6 weeks) | Deadline to apply: Tuesday, June 16th

CLICK to see application instructions and program details.

How to Apply: Complete the qualitative dissertation boot camp application (Google form) by Tuesday, June 16th.

Preparation and homework (for accepted participants)

Before the first session, participants should:

Read or skim a recently completed dissertation from your department (preferably chaired by your advisor) to get a sense of overall structure (search ProQuest Theses & Dissertations database by advisor).
Prepare a brief outline (1–page maximum) of an analytical chapter in the dissertation you reviewed, paying attention to
- content (data analysis, secondary criticism, theory, historical or biographical background), and
- form (narrative arc, argument, and language that signposts what the writer is doing).
Organize notes, sources, and data for the analytical chapter you will work on during the program. Consolidate materials into a single physical and/or electronic location to simplify your workflow.
Prepare a 1– to 2–page outline of the analytical chapter you will work on during the program (or a bulleted list if in early stages).

Bring to the first session:

The brief outline of the sample dissertation chapter you reviewed.
The 1– to 2–page outline of the chapter you will work on during the program (or a bulleted list if in early stages).

Subsequent Sessions: Each session after the first will expect 5–10 pages of new writing. Additional readings or exercises may be assigned.

Recommended reading: Joan Bolker. (1998). Writing Your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes a Day. (Chapters 3, 4, and 8 especially.)

Not sure which Boot Camp is right for you?

Your dissertation probably aligns with the qualitative social sciences if you:

include separate methods and literature review chapters
work with human subjects and went through IRB review
use interviews, observation, or ethnographic methods
analyze data through coding
present findings in results and discussion sections (or chapters)

Your dissertation probably aligns with the humanities if you:

study texts, aesthetic objects, or theories
do not have separate literature review and methods chapters
do not work with human subjects (in a manner requiring IRB approval)
organize chapters thematically

Deadline to apply: Tuesday, June 16th.

3) Dissertation Proposal Boot Camp (Social Sciences)

The Social Sciences Dissertation Proposal Boot Camp is designed to help graduate students make substantial progress on developing and drafting a dissertation proposal or prospectus. Sessions cover strategies for writing proposal components and managing the writing process. (For guidance on decisions about research design, methodology, and other field-specific issues, participants are encouraged to consult with faculty mentors.) The program is also an opportunity to participate in a community of writers from related fields and discuss writing strategies and concerns.

Meets via Zoom | Tuesdays, 3:00–5:00 PM & Thursdays, 4:00–5:00 PM | June 23–August 6 (7 weeks) | Deadline to apply: Tuesday, June 16th

CLICK to see application instructions and program details.

Program Update: This program has been reorganized so that graduate students may attend sessions most relevant to them and their stage. We still recommend attending the full program, especially if you are at an early stage.

How to Apply: Complete the social science dissertation proposal application (Google form) by Tuesday, June 16th. Space is limited.

Preparation and homework (for those accepted)

For the first session you attend, participants should have the following:

Annotated Bibliography: Prepare a bibliography of your secondary and theoretical sources. Select four or five key sources and write a paragraph or two for each, explaining how they relate to your research question and to one another. Maintain organized notes for all sources. For those included in your literature review, we recommend at least a brief annotation (2–3 sentences) per source.
Project description: A 200–300 word description of your dissertation project. Please be prepared to articulate your research topic clearly and concisely.
Research questions: A description of your specific research questions, or, if appropriate, your hypotheses and aims.
Session Homework: Each session after the first will have assigned writing to help you make progress on your proposal/prospectus There may also be readings that we will make available electronically.
Recommended Reading: Joan Bolker. (1998). Writing Your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes a Day. (Chapters 3, 4, and 8 especially.)

Not sure which Boot Camp is right for you?

Your dissertation probably aligns with the social sciences if you:

include separate methods and literature review chapters
work with human subjects and went through IRB review
use interviews, observation, or ethnographic methods
analyze data through coding
present findings in results and discussion sections (or chapters)

Your dissertation probably aligns with the humanities if you:

study texts, aesthetic objects, or theories
do not have separate literature review and methods chapters
do not work with human subjects (in a manner requiring IRB approval)
organize chapters thematically

Deadline to apply: Tuesday, June 16th.

4) Dissertation Prospectus Boot Camp (Humanities & Arts)

The Humanities Dissertation Prospectus Boot Camp is designed to help graduate students make substantial progress developing and drafting a dissertation prospectus or proposal. The program focuses on demystifying the prospectus and provides strategies for writing its components, managing deadlines, and working with a committee. For guidance on field-specific issues, participants are encouraged to consult with faculty mentors.

Meets via Zoom | Wednesdays, 11:00–2:00 PM | July 1–August 5 (6 weeks) | Deadline to apply: Monday, June 22nd

CLICK to see application instructions and program details.

How to Apply: Complete the humanities prospectus boot camp application (Google form) by Monday, June 22nd.

Preparation and homework (for accepted participants)

For the first session, participants should bring:

Annotated Bibliography: Prepare a bibliography of your secondary and theoretical sources. Select four or five key sources and write a paragraph or two for each, explaining how they relate to your research question and to one another. Maintain organized notes for all sources. For those included in your literature review, we recommend at least a brief annotation (2–3 sentences) per source.
Project description: A 200–300 word description of your dissertation project. Please be prepared to articulate your research topic clearly and concisely.
Reading Assignment: In preparation for the first session, please read Joan Bolker's Writing Your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes A Day. 1998. Chapters 1, 3, and 4.

Subsequent sessions: Each session after the first will have assigned writing to help you make progress on your prospectus/proposal. There may also be readings that we will make available electronically.

Not sure which Boot Camp is right for you?

Your dissertation probably aligns with the humanities if you:

study texts, aesthetic objects, or theories
do not have separate literature review and methods chapters
do not work with human subjects (in a manner requiring IRB approval)
organize chapters thematically

Your dissertation probably aligns with the social sciences if you:

include separate methods and literature review chapters
work with human subjects and went through IRB review
use interviews, observation, or ethnographic methods
analyze data through coding
present findings in results and discussion sections (or chapters)

Deadline to apply: Monday June 22nd

5) Online Summer Writing Retreat (All Fields)

This program is designed for graduate and professional students working on large-scale writing projects (e.g., theses, dissertations, proposals, or manuscripts). It provides dedicated writing time and, for STEM students, workshops on scientific writing.

Dates: June 30–July 2
Deadline to apply: Monday, June 22nd

CLICK to see application instructions and program details.

SCHEDULE (via Zoom): June 30 – July 2

Daily Schedule:

9:00–10:00: Online productivity workshop & discussion
10:00–12:00: Online writing group
12:00–12:45: Lunch break
12:45–1:45: Online scientific writing workshops or individual work
2:00–4:00: Online writing group

Online Writing Groups

These sessions follow a two-hour format with brief check-ins, focused writing time, and a short break.

Morning Productivity Writing Workshops (9:00–10:00 AM)

These sessions focus on project organization, time management, and productivity strategies.

Project Organization for Writing—Tuesday, June 30th, 9:00–10:00 AM
This workshop addresses how to set up an organized system for a large-scale research and writing project.
Time Management and Productivity Tips for Writing—Wednesday, July 1st, 9:00–10:00 AM
This workshop focuses on effective strategies for time management, goal setting, and productivity for large-scale research and writing projects.
Demos of Tools—Thursday, July 2nd, 9:00–10:00 AM
This informal workshop demonstrates organizational tools that support large-scale writing projects.

Afternoon Scientific Writing Workshops (12:45–1:45 PM)

Strategies for Writing Effective Scientific Papers—Tuesday, June 30th, 12:45–1:45 PM
This workshop covers core principles of scientific writing, strategies for avoiding common pitfalls, and key points from Joshua Schimel's book Writing Science on developing good narrative structure.
Creating Effective Figures and Visual Aids—Wednesday, July 1st, 12:45–1:45 PM
This workshop focuses on designing clear, effective visuals and introduces tools for creating high-quality figures.
Strategies for Writing About Statistics—Thursday, July 2nd, 12:45–1:45 PM
This workshop addresses how to report statistical findings results from ANOVAs, linear and logistic regression, and t tests, as well as how to use APA formatting for statistics. It also discusses how to present statistical findings clearly and accurately when writing results and discussion sections.

How to sign up for the Writing Retreat:
Fill out the online retreat Google form by Monday, June 22nd.

Further Resources

Advice for Thesis Writing
If you haven’t seen a final thesis or dissertation in your field, we recommend looking one from your department in the ProQuest Dissertation database available through the UCLA Library. This database allows you to search by institution, advisor, and manuscript type (master's thesis versus dissertation).

Optional Reading:
Joan Bolker. Writing Your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes A Day. 1998.
Paul Silvia. How to Write a Lot. 2007.

6) In-Person Summer Writing Retreat (All Fields)

This program is designed for graduate and professional students who are writing large-scale projects (e.g., theses or capstones, dissertations, proposals, or manuscripts). The program provides dedicated time to focus on your writing and build some momentum towards goals.

Dates: July 14–16 (on campus)
Deadline to register: Tuesday, July 7th

CLICK to see application instructions and program details.

Daily Schedule:

9:30–10:00: Coffee and Check-in
10:00–12:00: Individual work
12:00–1:00: Lunch break
1:00–2:00: Optional workshop/discussion
2:00–4:00: Individual work

How to Sign Up for the Writing Retreat:
Fill out the in-person retreat Google form by Tuesday, July 7th.

Further Resources

Advice for Thesis Writing
If you haven’t seen a final thesis or dissertation in your field, we recommend looking for one from your department in the ProQuest Dissertation database available through the UCLA Library. This database allows you to search by institution, advisor, and manuscript type (master's thesis versus dissertation).

Optional Reading:
Joan Bolker. Writing Your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes A Day. 1998.
Paul Silvia. How to Write a Lot. 2007.

Deadline to Apply: Tuesday, July 7th.

Previous Workshops and Programs

Click here to see an archive of past programs and workshops.

If you have any questions, please contact gwc@gsa.asucla.ucla.edu