The Dissertation
Each Ph.D. student is required to write a dissertation demonstrating the ability to do independent research. The following policies apply to the dissertation phase:
Throughout the dissertation phase, the student must register for and complete a minimum of 24 hours of "dissertation research" (FI 699).
The Department Head officially appoints the Dissertation Committee. The students asks a faculty member to serve as chairperson of his/her Dissertation Committee, after the student has passed the comprehensive exams. Other faculty members are selected and contacted by the chairperson. The Committee is composed of not less than five members with no more than three from the finance faculty and no fewer than one from outside the Department.
The Committee Chairperson arranges a formal "proposal defense." The student should obtain from the Graduate School the form, "Application for Admission to Candidacy." The proposal defense is a preliminary oral examination during which the student orally presents and defends the proposal. The Committee may question the student's knowledge of the dissertation topic as well as the major, minor and quantitative areas. In unusual circumstances, the Committee may direct the student to prepare further for the proposal defense and another meeting may be scheduled.
At the proposal defense, the Committee should provide the student with sufficient guidance so that the student understands the Committee's expectations about research to be performed for completion of the dissertation. Upon successful defense of the proposal, the Committee members sign the "Application for Admission to Candidacy." The form is then forwarded to the C&BA Dean for signature, and finally to The Graduate School. When the Dean of the Graduate School has signed the form, the student is admitted to candidacy and has obtained "ABD" status (all but dissertation).
The student works on completing the dissertation in consultation with the Dissertation Committee. At some point, the Committee chairperson schedules a final oral examination during which time the student must present and defend the dissertation. At least ten days prior to this "dissertation defense," the Committee chairperson must notify the Dean of the Graduate School the day, time, and room of the defense. The chairperson also must invite the college faculty to the dissertation defense, and the student must make a copy of the dissertation available to all faculty (e.g., leave one with the graduate secretary.) Upon successful defense of the dissertation, the appropriate forms must be signed by the Committee and forwarded to the Graduate School.
It is the student's responsibility to maintain contact with the Graduate School and be sure that all requirements, deadlines, forms, etc., are properly completed and submitted (e.g., Application for Advanced Degrees, Dissertation/Thesis Title Card, etc.)