When the thesis is complete, a thesis defense is arranged, before the student’s doctoral committee. Three weeks’ notice to the Office of Graduate Programs is needed for the scheduling of the examination, and the student should give a copy of the thesis to each member of the committee at least two weeks before the defense.
The defense consists of an oral presentation of the thesis, followed by a period of questions and responses. The questions will mostly relate to the thesis but may cover the candidate’s whole program of study. The portion of the examination in which the thesis is presented is open to the public.
The defense may be held fully in-person or with partial remote participation. The student, adviser, and Ph.D. Committee Chair/Co-Chairs must be physically present for the examination. Other members of the Ph.D. committee may participate remotely with the agreement of the student and adviser.
If the student, adviser, and/or committee chair/co-chair is not able to participate in-person due to extenuating circumstances, the Director of Graduate Studies may approve at their discretion the remote participation of one or more individuals or approve a fully remote examination. If the Director of Graduate Studies does not approve the request for remote participation, either the student or adviser may appeal to the Graduate Program Head (Department Head).