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{Home > Graduate : Graduate Handbook: Ph.D.: Dissertation Committee }

Dissertation Committee

Your dissertation is written with the help and guidance of your advisor.* Often the faculty member who advised you through the examination stage of the program serves as the dissertation advisor. But this is not necessarily the case.  As with the preliminary examination committee, this must have four members, at least one of whom must be from outside the department.  If you have a formal minor or supporting program, its faculty must be represented.  Usually, but not always, examination committee members continue to serve on the dissertation committee.  Two members of the committee, including the outside member, are formal “readers” or "reviewers." They read chapter-by-chapter as your advisor approves them.  The fourth person is a “member,” who reads the defense draft and participates in the final oral examination.  Only your advisor and the two reviewers are required to sign the "Final Reviewers Form."  Discuss this process with your committee.

The committee members and the designation of who will be reading and signing the reviewers form and who will chair your final oral defense are all designated on the Thesis / Project Proposal Transmittal & Title forms (GS 63a, b, & c). 

On this form you'll note that there are two boxes that can be checked next to each committee member's name.  They are "Rev" for reviewer and "Chr" for Chair.  One member, not your adviser, is to be the chair of the final oral examination.  The role of the chair is to orchestrate the exam by introducing your formal presentation, keeping the committee's questions on task, and ensuring that everything goes smoothly.  The Chair of your committee may also be a reader/reviewer.   The Thesis/Project Proposal Transmittal form is turned in after you and your committee have agreed on your thesis proposal, also known as your prospectus proposal.

 

* Your advisor must be a Senior Member of the R&STC faculty.  Some dissertations have  co-advisors, one of them must be a Senior Member.