Provides for sustained reading and reflection for students to identify their primary research question (or thesis) and the subsidiary questions and structure of argument required to answer it. Guided by the student's primary dissertation mentor. Student and faculty mentor will plan the readings or other work. At this point in the proposal process, students should begin to write their dissertation proposal. In rare instances, and with the mentor's approval, this course can be substituted for an elective that is particularly germane to the topic.