The student should schedule the thesis defense no later than 30 days prior to the end of the semester to be considered a graduate of that semester. For completion the student must successfully pass an oral doctoral thesis presentation and complete a final written doctoral thesis manuscript that meets committee approval. The student may be required to complete modifications to the written manuscript following their defense. The student’s final completed written doctoral thesis manuscript is due before the last day of the semester to recommend satisfactory completion of and graduation from the program. The student’s doctoral thesis advisor/committee chair, via the DRS Student Program Coordinator will notify all DSc faculty, staff, and students, and any additional relevant participants of the upcoming oral defense prior to the defense date.
Recommended Student Timeline:
- Week 1 of last semester expected to graduate – Meet with advisor/committee chair and begin preparing written doctoral thesis manuscript draft (Advisor/committee chair, in collaboration with student, will propose individual student timeline for completion of doctoral thesis).
- On-going within final semester – Prepare, with advisor/committee chair, doctoral thesis draft(s) for committee review (generally expect to allow 2 weeks between submission to, and review of, drafts by advisor/committee chair and committee members).
- Mid-semester – Schedule oral defense date, with advisor/committee chair and committee. 2 weeks (at a minimum), prior to oral defense – Submit final written draft of doctoral thesis to committee.
- 30 days prior to end of semester – Orally defend doctoral thesis.
- Last day of semester– Submit approved doctoral thesis manuscript/publishable product. Verify rubric for final approval and pass Doctoral Thesis.
- Following graduation – Students are encouraged to work with advisor/committee chair to refine and submit doctoral thesis manuscript for publication.
