Oral Dissertation Defense

• When the dissertation research is completed, the candidate should submit a request for the dissertation defense to the graduate program director. A two-week lead time is required for scheduling the defense.

• The format of the defense is determined by the dissertation committee with the approval of the graduate program director.

• The defense is chaired by a faculty selected by the dissertation committee. The candidate's advisor should not be the chairman of the defense. The chairman will act as a moderator ruling on questions of procedure and protocol that may arise during the defense.

• A majority approval is necessary for the successful completion of the defense of the dissertation.

• There are four cases for the outcome of the defense:
  1. Pass: this is the case where the committee accepts the dissertation with possibly minor editorial changes. The changes should be checked by the chairman of the dissertation committee.

  2. Pass with modification: this is the case where the changes required are not minor and the approval of the modified dissertation must be made by the entire committee. No re-examination is necessary.

  3. Re-examination: a re-examination must be scheduled no earlier than three months but no later than one year after the first defense.

  4. Fail: in this case the candidate may be asked to leave the program.

• The result of the defense must be reported by the chairman of the dissertation committee to the dean who in turn will forward it the associate vice president for research and graduate studies. A copy of the report should be given to all members of the dissertation committee and to the student. The university Form 10 will also be submitted.

• The student must successfully defend the dissertation within seven years after the admission to the Ph.D. program.