When the Graduate School has approved the dissertation, the student may apply for the final examination on a form obtained from the Graduate School. The application must be filed with the Graduate School at least one week in advance. The examination is administered by the student's advisory committee. The representative of the Graduate School, the outside reader, also attends and participates. The examination, which generally is oral but may be both oral and written, includes the major and minor fields and a defense of the dissertation.
Successful completion requires unanimous support of all members of the committee.
Any member of the Graduate Faculty may attend. If a student fails the final examination, a re-examination may be given on recommendation of the advisory committee and approval by the Dean of the Graduate School. Further examination requires exceptional circumstances and approval of the Graduate Council. In addition to successful completion of all examinations, final copies of the dissertation must be submitted to the Graduate School before the degree is conferred. The Doctor of Philosophy is conferred in recognition of the mastery of a special field of learning as shown by the satisfactory completion of a prescribed course of study and investigation, the successful passing of general examinations covering the major and minor fields, the preparation of an acceptable dissertation reflecting high achievement in scholarship and independent investigation, and the passing of a final examination on the dissertation and related subjects.