Dissertation Defense

The final oral examination in defense of the doctoral dissertation is conducted by the doctoral committee and need not be confined to materials in, and related to, the dissertation. Students must submit a graduation application and associated paperwork for the scheduling and advertisement of the dissertation defense to the program liaison at the start of the term in which the student intends to graduate. Note that the date, place, and time of the examination must be published in the University Times, well in advance of the oral examination and dissertation defense. For this reason, the student shall report the date, place and time of the open portion of the final oral examination and dissertation defense to the graduate program liaison at least 30 days prior to the defense date. The graduate program liaison will arrange for publication of the announcement in the University Times, and for dissemination of the information to School of Pharmacy faculty and other interested parties via email, and via a special seminar flyer posted at least two weeks prior to the oral examination and dissertation defense.

Only members of the doctoral committee may be present during final deliberations and may vote on the passing of the candidate. After completing the examination, and after the Chair of the doctoral committee has ensured that the dissertation is in final form, the student will submit the form to the graduate program liaison. If the decision of the committee is not unanimous, the case is referred to the dean for resolution.

In order to allow for final corrections, changes and/or additions to the dissertation to be made and approved by the dissertation committee, the final oral examination and dissertation defense should be held no later than one month prior to the last day of the term in which the student wishes to graduate. The report must be filed before 5:00 PM on the last day of the term in which the student is to graduate. Students are also required to submit the final dissertation in electronic format (ETD) no later than 30 days following the date of graduation. No exceptions can be made to these rules.

The date and results of the final oral examination and dissertation defense will be entered into the student’s permanent graduate academic record as a “Milestone.”