Final Oral Examination
The final oral examination consists of a public presentation of the dissertation, followed by a public question and answer session, and an oral defense of the dissertation held in private conference with the candidate’s defense committee. Prior to scheduling the final oral examination, research results must be submitted for publication. Once results have been submitted for publication, submit a Final Oral Examination Permission Form with signatures obtained from all committee members, confirming that the dissertation has progressed sufficiently to be defended by the proposed date. Members of the defense committee must receive the defense version of the dissertation a minimum of one month in advance of the defense date, unless other arrangements have been approved by the committee. Students are strongly encouraged to schedule their defense during the normal academic year.
A defense committee consists of the supervisory committee and an additional nonvoting graduate faculty representative (GFR) appointed by the Dean of the Graduate College. The GFR will chair the final oral examination in accordance with procedures established by the Graduate College. The outcome of the final exam is determined by a majority vote. A tie vote is a fail.
Administrative Steps for Your Dissertation Defense
| Steps | Description |
|---|---|
| Meet with your supervisory committee and provide draft of dissertation | A minimum of two months prior to your anticipated dissertation defense date, meet with your Supervisory Committee to verify that your dissertation is sufficiently well developed to likely be defendable. Establish an anticipated defense date that works for all members of your committee. |
| Submit “Final Oral Examination Permission” form | At least 5 weeks prior to anticipated defense date, submit your dissertation to Supervisory Committee along with the program form “Final Oral Examination Permission”. This form must be signed by all and returned before the next step can proceed. This ensures that your dissertation is ready to defend and allows your defense to be scheduled. |
| Submit final copy of dissertation | At least one month prior to your anticipated defense date, submit your dissertation to Supervisory Committee and provide a copy to the Graduate College (Associate Dean and Thesis and Dissertation Coordinator), cc program administration on this email. Provide your dissertation to all members of your Supervisory Committee. Program administration wills send to Graduate Faculty Representative (GFR). |
| Work with the Biomolecular Sciences Program office to schedule your defense (same time) | Inform the program office of the defense dates that your entire supervisory committee is available. The program office will contact GFR to determine the defense date, time, and place. |
| Submit Graduate Defense Notification form | This form is located on the Graduate College webpage. |
| Distribute Announcement | Work with the program office to ensure that a defense announcement is distributed. This announcement must also be sent to the Graduate College so they can post it on the Master’s’ and Doctoral Defense page. |
| Take to defense | Use template on Graduate College webpage to prepare the Defense Committee Approval page and the Final Reading Approval page. Obtain all signatures at end of defense and promptly return to Program Office for delivery to Graduate College. |
*Failure to meet this deadline will require the student to defend the subsequent semester. As a result, you will be required to register for at least one credit of BMOL 693 in the semester you defend.