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Degree Requirements — Ph.D.

The Ph.D. final exam is the oral defense of the student’s dissertation. When the defense has been passed and the student’s dissertation officially accepted by the Graduate School, the Ph.D. degree is awarded.

Timing

The final exam occurs at the end of a student’s Ph.D. program, upon completion of a draft of the dissertation.

Requirements

  • Successful completion of the general exam in a previous quarter
  • Completion of a minimum of 27 dissertation credits (EE 800)
  • Registered for a minimum of two credits for the quarter of expected graduation
  • A reading committee, which must read an entire draft of the dissertation prior to the exam

The Reading Committee

The student must establish a dissertation reading committee approximately one quarter before scheduling the final exam. The committee is comprised of faculty who will read the dissertation thoroughly and sign the approval form. The committee must be formally established with the Graduate School.

The Exam

The final examination is an oral defense of the dissertation.

Following the Exam

The candidate must submit their dissertation to the Graduate School by the Friday of finals week. The degree is awarded the quarter when the student’s dissertation is accepted by the Graduate School.