Dissertation Defense and Summary
Graduate School: Before and After Your Defense

i. There must be a minimum of 8 months between the proposal defense and the dissertation defense.

ii. The student is required to submit two items: (1) dissertation manuscript and (2) dissertation summary to the supervisory committee 2 weeks prior to the dissertation defense.

1. Manuscript requirements:

a. See the Thesis Office Requirements

2. The Dissertation Defense Summary requirements:

a. Provide a succinct, one-page description of what you have accomplished through your research. A second page should outline deliverables achieved.

b. Your supervisory committee will have a clear understanding of the contributions you have made.

c. To be submitted with the manuscript to the supervisory committee 2 weeks prior to the dissertation defense.

iii. The student must submit at least one paper (manuscript) to a committee-approved, peer-reviewed journal by the time of the defense.

PhD Specific Registration Requirements

Students defending a dissertation must be registered for at least one credit hour during the semester of the student’s dissertation defense (see Graduate Coordinator). Once a student has passed the dissertation defense, the student does not have to register during the next term, but the final dissertation should be turned in within 90 days.

The Grad School limit for a PhD Defense is 7 years.
Defense paperwork must be completed with the Robotics Coordinator PRIOR to the defense:

    • PhD Dissertation Content Approval (required before scheduling Oral Defense)
    • Announcement Template
    • Oral Defense Report
    • Defense Summary