Graduate Student Handbook
Dissertation
You must register for and complete at least 18 units of PtyS 920, Dissertation (graded S, P, E, K, W).
A procedure for submission of the dissertation is described in the manuals for electronic submission for a thesis/dissertation.
Once you complete your dissertation, you will need to schedule your dissertation defense. There are two parts:
- A public section which is open and advertised to the University community. This is a 30-45 minute presentation in which you outline the key aspects of your work.
- A closed section in which your committee grills you yet again. You will be expected to defend your research and to consider the impact of your work on other areas of planetary sciences.
The Department expects students to fulfill all requirements for the Ph.D. within three to four years following successful completion of the Comprehensive Exam. Students continuing beyond the fourth year after their orals must petition their Ph.D. committee for permission to continue in the Ph.D. program.
The procedure for final defenses is similar to that of your orals. Your Ph.D. committee, if you haven't changed your topic, will generally (but is not required to) remain the same as your orals committee. You do not need a graduate college representative. You are expected to provide a copy of your dissertation to each member of your committee and turn in your forms (Announcement of Final Oral Examination) to Pam Streett at least three weeks in advance. Two unbound copies of the final draft of your dissertation must be deposited with the LPL/PtyS library, as well as the copies required by the Graduate College, after you successfully defend.