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During the academic years 1984-86, the Executive
Committee of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences conducted a review of
practices and issues relating to the Ph.D. dissertation, including such
matters as the formulation of a dissertation proposal and procedures for its
approval; criteria for sponsorship of doctoral dissertations; composition, size
and selection of the dissertation defense committee; and evaluation of the
dissertation and the candidate. During and after the Committee’s deliberations,
numerous faculty members were consulted on particular points and discussions
were held at a faculty forum on the “Ph.D.
Dissertation and Defense: Monitoring Quality” held in November 1985.
Some modifications have been made since 1987-88, most significantly
the “Report on Progress in Candidacy in Doctoral Program” and the
revision of rules for evaluation at the defense. These rules were updated in 1998-99 and revised
most recently in December 2005. Their substance remains
as approved by the Executive Committee of the GSAS in 1992.
This web page provides
guidelines and procedures governing the final stage of doctoral candidacy. The
forms and procedures were developed over the years by the Faculty and have been
given coherence and specificity by the decisions of the Joint Committee on
Graduate Instruction and by the Executive Committee of the
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. They apply also to the Graduate School
programs in the professional schools in which the Ph.D. is offered.
The Dean’s Office of the Graduate
School of Arts and Sciences thanks the faculty and students who
over the years have participated in discussion on evolving policy, particularly
those
serving on the Executive Committee of the Graduate School.
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