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2005 Grad Handbook: Doctor of Philosophy Program

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Doctoral Dissertation

It is expected that students will be working on their doctoral dissertations between their third and fifth years in the doctoral program. Students who have not completed the dissertation by the end of the fifth year must meet with the Doctoral Committee by the first week of classes of the sixth year. To continue in the program, the major advisor must file a statement of support for the student’s retention in the program. The student will file an explicit plan for completing the degree, along with a time table.

Rules governing the written format and oral defense of a dissertation are set by the Graduate College. A student should consult the Graduate College Thesis and Dissertation Manual (pdf file) for details.

A penultimate rather than a final draft of the dissertation will be sufficient to schedule the Final Oral Examination. This draft should be given to each committee member several weeks prior to the Final Oral Examination. A clean final draft of the dissertation must be delivered to all Doctoral Committee members seven working days prior to the exam. Students should check with the Graduate College Degree Certification Office with ample lead time to make sure that all degree requirements are met.