Step Three: Defending the Thesis or Dissertation

The Graduate School strongly recommends that a student provide three weeks of reading time for the members of her/his Thesis or Dissertation Committee. The student should provide each member of her/his Thesis or Dissertation Committee with a version of the thesis or dissertation fully edited, corrected, and suitable for defense. The student's Thesis or Dissertation Committee Chair must submit an announcement of the student's thesis or dissertation defense to the Osprey Update.

Beginning Fall 2013, all defenses must be held no later than four weeks prior to graduation. 

The student will also need to provide the Thesis or Dissertation Director with a certificate of approval.  It is highly recommended your signature page be printed on 20-24 pound, acid free paper. Only one certificate of approval is required.

Checklist

❏ Copies of the thesis or dissertation suitable for defense were provided to all the members of the Thesis or Dissertation Committee at least three weeks prior to the Thesis or Dissertation Defense.

❏ The Thesis or Dissertation Defense was held no later than four weeks prior to graduation.

❏ The certificate of approval was created and signed subsequent to the Defense.