Office of Graduate Studies

Doctoral Degree Final Examination and Filing of the Dissertation

Final step in completing all requirements to receive the Doctoral Degree.

Student obtains form from the graduate coordinator.

Procedures

  • The doctoral committee shall supervise and pass on the student's dissertation and conduct the final oral examination.

  • The Final Report must have the original signatures of all members of the doctoral committee, and the department graduate adviser and chair. Proxy signatures are not acceptable.

  • The doctoral dissertation must be submitted to each member of the doctoral committee at least four weeks before the final examination.

  • A student must make an appointment with OGS for a preliminary check of his/her dissertation. At that appointment the format is checked, instructions on the final preparation and submission of the dissertation are given.

  • The final version must conform to procedures outlined in the publication, Preparation and Submission Manual for Doctoral Dissertations and Masters' Theses.

Requirements

  • A student must have completed 6 quarters of academic residency, of which 3 quarters must be between advancement and final examination.

  • A student must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or above in upper division and graduate course work, have no more than 8 units of "F" or "U", and resolve all outstanding grading problems.

  • A student must be registered and enrolled or file a general petition to pay the filing fee in lieu of registration.

  • The student submits the dissertation along with the final report, and degree and diploma application to OGS. Upon approval by the dean of Graduate Studies, the student files the dissertation with the university archivist, who accepts it on behalf of the Graduate Council. Acceptance of the dissertation by the archivist, with second approval by the dean of Graduate Studies, represents the final step in the completion of all requirements for the doctor of philosophy degree.

Withdrawn Student Returning Only to Complete/Defend and Submit Dissertation

If student returns with a completed dissertation acceptable to the department chair and dissertation advisor within the specified time, the following shall occur:

  • The student or department will ask members of the previous committee if they are willing to continue to serve. If they are not, the committee will be reconstituted.

  • The student will be readmitted.

  • The student will be re-advanced to candidacy upon the recommendation of the doctoral committee and approval of the department chair. The doctoral committee may decide on a "paper" advancement without retaking the qualifying examination or require that the student retake the qualifying examination if the time away from the program has been lengthy, the dissertation field has changed substantially, or if other conditions specified by the doctoral committee occur.

  • Student defends and submits dissertation.

  • The student will pay the following fees, which are subject to change:

  • Readmission Fee, $80;

  • Re-Advancement Fee, currently $90;

  • Filing fee, in lieu of registration, currently $162.

All paperwork for this process is to be submitted to OGS at the student's final appointment for submission of the dissertation or thesis.

Students are advised to discuss and coordinate the above with their graduate coordinator well in advance of the final appointment.