Dissertation Defense

When the semester arrives during which you will complete your dissertation and undergo an examination in defense of it, you register for EDF8985. An oral defense of the dissertation is conducted at a time and place suggested by the major professor, who presides at the examination. An announcement of the examination is published in an official University publication at least two weeks before the date of the examination based upon information supplied by the major professor. In addition, the defense will be publicly announced on the program listserv. The defense is open attendance by all members of the graduate faculty, graduate students, and other guests (in other words, it is in a formal sense a public examination) and should be held in a large enough room.

After receiving approval from your major professor regarding the content and format of your dissertation, you will submit printed and/or electronic copies as requested to all committee members at a designated time prior to the defense. If revisions are required following the defense, the final revised version of the dissertation must be reviewed and approved by your committee members, or by designated members as agreed upon at the meeting.

The examining committee completes and signs appropriate forms certifying to the Dean and the Graduate School the results of the examination: passed, failed, or to be re-examined. The report following a reexamination must be pass or fail.