Thesis Dissertation

The preparation of a dissertation exhibiting independent research in your major subject is required. Your advisor will periodically evaluate your progress on the dissertation. If your progress is judged to be unsatisfactory, the advisor may recommend a new topic or may recommend to the department that you not be allowed to continue graduate work. The title of the dissertation is to be approved by the advisor and submitted to the dean on the degree application by the deadline for the degree date sought.

 

The dissertation represents the summation of your independent research and adequate time must be set aside for preparation of the dissertation and for your thesis committee members to evaluate your work. The dissertation is to be prepared in consultation with your thesis advisor. When the document is complete to the satisfaction of both you and your thesis advisor it should be submitted to the first reader for evaluation before the dissertation can be submitted to your thesis committee. The first reader must have at least two weeks to evaluate and comment on the dissertation. Any changes to the dissertation deemed necessary by the first reader must be incorporated into the document and approved by the first reader and your thesis advisor before it is submitted to the thesis committee. The dissertation must be submitted to your thesis committee a minimum of one week prior to your private thesis defense. This time line must be agreed to by each member of your thesis committee before they receive your thesis.  Any changes to your thesis that are required by your thesis committee after your private defense must be made prior to scheduling a date for your public thesis defense. 

 

After the Final Defense

Approved dissertations must be taken to the Graduate School Office for inspection before permanent binding/storing. The following sites contain more detailed instructions.  Be sure to read about CD submission and digital format. The Dept. of Microbiology is submitting  dissertation copies on CD to the library.

  • You do not need to bring any paper copies to the GSAS or Alderman Copy Center
  • The department of Microbiology has blank CDs, labels, and large envelopes if you need them. Please label CDs, CD cases and envelopes according to website instructions, using the short title (36 characters, including spaces). Each CD must be in a hard plastic CD case.
  • The signed title page must be inserted into the dissertation file on the CD; in other words, it must be scanned and then inserted.
  • The document must be in PDF format.

 

Dissertation submission to GSAS and Alderman Copy Center
Please allow a couple of hours to submit all of your paperwork to the GSAS Office and the Alderman Copy Center.  At the end of the semester there can be lines in both places.

  • GSAS office (438 Cabell Hall - Doris Lamb - 4-6741 make sure she is there) 

GSAS requires:

    • A paper copy of your signed title page (degrees are now conferred in May, Aug. and Dec.)
    • A paper copy of your abstract (350 words or less)
    • 3 labeled CDs (2 for library, 1 for copy center for bound copies). CDs and cases must both be labeled.
    • Large envelopes - 1 for library and one for each bound copy.
    • Final Examination form, signed by your mentor and Dr. Parsons
    • Microfilm Agreement Form
    • Survey of Earned Doctorates

The last three forms can be found here.
 

  • Alderman Library Copy Center: There, you can order the bound copies.  If you have color figures, you need to know exactly which page numbers are in color and tell the staff at the copy center.

 

Payment:
    • The cost for 2 bound copies and the microfilm will be paid by the MII account - please see Sandy for the PTAO. One copy is for the Micro library and one copy is for the student.
    • Please ask if mentor would prefer a bound copy or a digital copy on CD. A CD copy is free and if they want a bound copy, they should provide a PTAO.
    • The MII budget will not pay for copyrights.

Bring the receipt for the MII account back to Sandy Weirich and make arrangements for a copy of your bound thesis to get back to the Micro library. Feel free to call or email if you have questions and when you have completed all of the above, you are finally finished!

Congratulations!

(last updated 9/24/09)

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