Graduate Handbook 2023-2024

Thesis Oral Exam

Upon approval by the thesis committee chairperson, the final thesis must be distributed to each  member of the thesis committee, ideally at least two weeks in advance of the final thesis oral  exam. It is the student’s responsibility to reserve a room and schedule the defense meeting at a  time when the entire thesis committee can attend.  

The thesis committee members must approve the thesis by signing an official signature page  (which the student has prepared and printed ahead of time) using black ink. Although this  signature page is typically signed at the defense meeting, the thesis committee members may  recommend edits to the document. If so, the committee may sign under the condition that the  student make the edits and obtain final approval from the thesis committee chair for the final  version of the thesis document. Otherwise, the committee members may choose not to sign until  the edits have been made and approved.