CGS/ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Award

Objective selection criteria are not provided by the CGS. The primary criteria presented by the CGS are that, "The nominated dissertations should represent original work making an unusually significant contribution to the discipline. Both methodological and substantive quality will be judged." Thus, the abstract and the letters of recommendation should emphasize the "unusually significant contribution" that is made by the dissertation.

The abstract should provide a summary of the dissertation work that includes relevant background research, the work's purpose, primary hypotheses/research questions, methodology, results related to primary hypotheses, and conclusions.

We also strongly recommend that the abstract is written in a manner that can be understood by a broad audience. Nominations will be reviewed by individuals with research backgrounds related, though not identical, to the nominee's area of research. Therefore, it is important that the work is summarized in a way that can be understood by individuals who are not experts in the nominee's specific field or area of research.

Award categories

Humanities
The following list, although not all-inclusive, illustrates the fields considered as Humanities/Fine Arts by the CGS: history; philosophy; language; linguistics; literature; archaeology; jurisprudence; the history, theory and criticism of the arts; ethics; comparative religion; and those aspects of the social sciences that employ historical or philosophical approaches. If the dissertation is multi- or interdisciplinary in nature, at least one of these fields should comprise a significant portion of the work.

Biological and Life Sciences
The following list, although not all-inclusive, illustrates the field considered as Biological and Life Sciences by the CGS: biology; botany; zoology; ecology; embryology; entomology; genetics; nutrition; plant pathology; plant physiology; anatomy; biochemistry; biophysics; microbiology; pathology; pharmacology; physiology; and related fields. Also included are agriculture, forestry, and related fields. If the dissertation is multi- or interdisciplinary in nature, at least one of these fields should comprise a significant of the work.

Social Sciences
The following list, although not all-inclusive, illustrates the fields considered as Social Sciences by the CGS: agricultural economics, geography, anthropology, archaeology, economics, education, sociology, government (political science), demography, and psychology. (For purposes of this competition, history is considered with the humanities.)

Engineering, Mathematics, and Physical Sciences
The following list, although not all-inclusive, illustrates the field considered as Mathematics, Physical Sciences and Engineering by the CGS: mathematics, statistics, computer sciences, data processing, systems analysis, chemistry, earth sciences, physics, geology, meteorology, astronomy, metallurgy, geophysics, pharmaceutical chemistry; aeronautical, architectural, biomedical, ceramic, chemical, civil, and electrical engineering sciences; environmental health engineering; geological, mechanical, mining, nuclear, and petroleum engineering. (For purposes of this competition, engineering technologies are not included).