The doctoral candidate who has successfully completed all other requirements for the degree must defend the dissertation orally in a public format. The defense will be scheduled by the chair of the dissertation committee in consultation with the other committee members. Without permission from the entire doctoral committee, the final oral defense may not take place during regularly scheduled University holidays and breaks. Students must submit the dissertation title, date, time and location of the oral defense at least two weeks prior for publication by the Graduate School. Defenses should not be scheduled during holidays, or at other times faculty and students are not regularly expected on campus.

The dissertation committee administers the oral defense according to program guidelines. The defense is open to all members of the University community who may wish to attend, as required by state laws on public meetings. However, the deliberations of the Dissertation Committee are private. The results of the defense are to be reported in writing to the Dean of the Graduate School.

It is not uncommon for a student to be required to complete additional work on the dissertation after a successful defense. The Doctoral Committee Chair should sign the dissertation approval page only after the student has satisfied the required additional work. Committees should not pass a student on a defense if the additional work required is significant.