Dissertation Manuscript

A Guide to the Preparation of Theses and Dissertations is available through the Student Portal on the School of Education website, and the website for the University Graduate School. This document contains detailed instructions for the preparation and submission of the dissertation manuscript.

Dissertation Defense

A Dissertation Defense is scheduled at the completion of the dissertation research, after the dissertation manuscript is complete, allowing the student to defend the dissertation research. This examination may not be scheduled less than six months subsequent to the date of research committee approval. Committee members must receive a copy of the dissertation manuscript two weeks prior to the final Defense.

For Ph.D. students a Defense Announcement is available via OneStart. The Defense Announcement must be received by the University Graduate School at least 30 days prior to the defense. Since this document must be approved by both the Graduate Studies Office and committee chair before it reaches the University Graduate School please allow an additional week for processing time beyond the 30 day requirement. 

For Ed.D. students, a Defense Announcement must be submitted to the Graduate Recorder in the Graduate Studies Office one month prior to the examination. The announcement should be one to two pages and must contain:

• Date of the defense
• Time and place of the examination
• Title of the dissertation
• Name of the author
• Department or program area
• Summary of the study
• Signature of the research committee chair

The summary should be from 150 to 300 words in length and must include a statement of the problem, research procedures, findings, and conclusions.

Graduation

Ph.D. Students: The Ph.D. degree is conferred by the University Graduate School, Kirkwood Hall, Room 111. Submission of the dissertation defense announcement to the University Graduate School constitutes an application for conferral of the Ph.D. degree. Students who intend to participate in the Commencement must fill out a graduation application form which is available online via OneStart. Please check with the University Graduate School for deadlines to be included in the Commencement Program.

Ed.D. Students: The Ed.D. degree is conferred by the School of Education. The Application for Graduation Form is available via the Student Portal on the School of Education website.

NOTE: All Ed.D. students must apply to graduate at least one month before the graduation date. To be included in the Commencement Program you will need to apply earlier. Please check with your department or the Graduate Studies office for Commencement deadlines.