It is within the scope and function of the Dissertation Committee to recommend modifications to the research as it proceeds. Upon submission of the proposal defense approval form to the Doctoral Programs Office, the student is admitted to candidacy for the degree. At least two weeks in advance of the final dissertation defense, an abstract of the dissertation should be submitted to the Doctoral Programs Office and an announcement will be made to all academic units regarding the scheduling of the candidate's dissertation defense. While any interested faculty member or graduate studen may attend the examination and participate in the discussion, only those individuals who are members of the candidate's Dissertation Committee may vote on the dissertation's approval or disapproval. Upon successful defense of the dissertation, a dissertation defense approval form will be signed by the members of the Dissertation Committee and submitted to the Doctoral Programs Office.
Unanimous approval is required.
Only after the assistant director for the doctoral programs has approved the format of the dissertation can the candidate submit the three copies required for graduation. For graduation, three copies of the dissertation must be submitted to the Doctoral Programs Office two weeks prior to the anticipated date of graduation. Guidelines for the dissertation are available from the Doctoral Programs Office. The Dissertation Committee must be appointed, the dissertation proposal defense must be held, and the student's dissertation proposal must be approved within one year after completion of the preliminary examination. All requirements for the doctoral degree, including the dissertation, must be completed within seven years from the semester of entry into the doctoral program.