The Final Examination is a defense of the doctoral dissertation by the student’s examining committee. The committee will include the dissertation advisor, History Department faculty serving on the committee, the outside member of the committee, and the examiner appointed by the Dean of the Graduate School. The dissertation defense is a public event and normally lasts two to three hours.  The Graduate School requires that a defense be scheduled while classes are in session. The defense may not be scheduled between semesters or during the period between the end of the second summer session and the start of the fall semester. 

In addition:

• The History Department must advise the Graduate School at least eight weeks prior to the final examination that a student wishes to defend a dissertation.
• The Dissertation Approval Form and an acceptable copy of the dissertation must be presented to the Graduate School at the time the final examination is scheduled. (An acceptable copy must contain a table of contents, complete citations, preliminary pagination, and a formal bibliography).
• Upon passing the final examination, the candidate must submit final copies of the dissertation to the Graduate School within 60 days of the examination. These copies must be signed by the Major Professor and the Director of Graduate Studies. The final copy must also include all changes requested by the examining committee.