Dissertation & Thesis Information

Current Student Resources

If you are in a program that requires the completion of a master's thesis or PhD dissertation, we have the resources and information to help you successfully complete your thesis or dissertation.

Each quarter has firm deadlines for:

  • Applying for graduation
  • Completing required forms to organize and schedule your defense
  • Submitting and formatting your thesis or dissertation

To avoid delays and last-minute stress, begin planning early and familiarize yourself with all requirements.

Graduate-Level Culminating Research Projects

PhD Dissertation

The dissertation represents the culminating research experience for doctorate students through which degree candidates are expected to complete quality original scholarship that contributes to the theoretical/research knowledge base of the field of study.

Policy pertaining to the Doctoral Dissertation can be found in the .

All forms and deadlines referenced on the Dissertation & Thesis Deadlines and Forms webpage apply to the PhD Dissertation.

Master's Thesis

The master’s thesis represents the culminating research of the master’s degree program. It is a scholarly presentation of original research that is defended as partial fulfillment of requirements for the master’s degree.

Policy pertaining to the Master’s Thesis can be found in the .

All forms and deadlines referenced on the Dissertation & Thesis Deadlines and Forms webpage apply to the Master’s Thesis.

EdD Dissertation in Practice

The Morgridge College of Education requires their doctor of education candidates to complete a dissertation in practice instead of a dissertation and should consult with their program regarding requirements for the dissertation in practice.

The forms and deadlines referenced on the Dissertation & Thesis Deadlines and Forms webpage do not apply to the EdD Dissertation in Practice. EdD students are not required to complete these forms and should consult with their program to determine what internal paperwork is necessary.

EdD candidates are invited to submit their Dissertation in Practice to ProQuest for publication. Please note that this is optional. If you would like to pursue this option, you must follow the published submission and formatting deadlines found on the Dissertation & Thesis Deadlines and Forms webpage.

PsyD Major Doctoral Research Paper

The Graduate School of Professional Psychology requires their doctor of psychology candidates to complete a doctoral paper instead of a dissertation and should consult with their program regarding requirements for the doctoral paper.

The forms and deadlines referenced on the Dissertation & Thesis Deadlines and Forms webpage do not apply to the PsyD doctoral paper. PsyD students are not required to complete these forms and should consult with their program to determine what internal paperwork is necessary.

PsyD candidates do not upload their doctoral paper to ProQuest for publication.

Dissertation and Thesis Overview

  • Proposal

    Students are encouraged to begin thinking about a dissertation/thesis topic early in their program. Programs reserve the right to require that students submit a proposal of their research interests. Communicate with your department to determine if a dissertation/thesis proposal is required and if it is, to understand the steps involved.

  • Committee Approval
    • Assemble your committee with the support of your department and dissertation/thesis director.There are criteria for the overall committee composition as well as for the individual roles for both a and committee.
    • Complete the Oral Defense Committee Recommendation Form found on the Dissertation & Thesis Deadlines and Forms webpage. Obtain all required signatures and submit the form to gradservices@du.edu.
    • You will receive email correspondence should anything else be required as well as to indicate committee approval.
  • Research and Write
    • As you begin to write your paper, familiarize yourself with the Formatting Requirements and use the Formatting Template both found on the formatting webpage.
    • The Writing Center can be utilized as a resource in both the writing and formatting process.
    • Continue to conduct research, write your dissertation/thesis, and discuss your defense timeline with your committee.
  • Schedule Defense
    • It is your responsibility as the student to coordinate with you entire committee a date and time that works for your defense.Please also be cognizant of the published deadlines as the last day to hold your defense is not the last day of the quarter.
    • Book the room you will use for your defense and/or create the corresponding virtual meeting space to be used for your defense.Share this information with your committee.
    • Complete the Schedule of Oral Defense Form found on the Dissertation & Thesis Deadlines and Forms webpage.Submit the form to gradservices@du.edu.
    • You will receive email correspondence should there be any questions as well as to indicate that your defense has been added to our calendar.
    • Our office will reach out to your committee directly with corresponding information and defense forms.
    • Hold your oral defense – good luck!
  • Complete Revisions
    • At the conclusion of your defense, you committee will vote on the outcome of your oral defense.They will have access to a Result of Oral Defense Form sent directly from our office to the committee members via DocuSign to document that vote.
    • If your committee indicates that you require major or minor revisions, it is your responsibility to complete those and to work with dissertation/thesis director to obtain approval of the content revisions.Please be conscious of the deadlines to obtain approval as listed on the Dissertation & Thesis Deadlines and Forms webpage and provide your director with enough time to review the revisions.
    • When your content revisions have been approved, your dissertation/thesis director will complete the Final Approval Form.To maintain the integrity of the form, it is sent directly from our office to your dissertation/thesis director via DocuSign.
  • Submission
    • Submit the final approved copy of the dissertation/thesis to the University through ETD/ProQuest two weeks prior to the end of the term. The final dissertation/thesis must comply with the formatting guidelines.
    • More details regarding publication restrictions such as embargos, opt-out and permanent suppression can be found on the Submitting the Dissertation or Thesis webpage.
  • Formatting
    • Once you upload to ETD/ProQuest, our office will be notified, and we will download your paper and complete a review of the formatting.We will email you with a list of any formatting edits that need to be made. It is important that you complete the requested edits and re-upload your corrected paper in a timely manner as most students take approximately three rounds of revisions before they receive approval.
    • Submit your revised copy of your dissertation/thesis to ETD/ProQuest.Be sure to “Revise my ETD” and do not create an entirely new submission.
    • Our office will be notified when you have submitted a revised copy and we will email you with any further formatting revisions that are required.
    • This process will continue back and forth until all formatting requirements have been met and we email you letting you know that your formatting has been approved.If formatting is not completed and approved by this deadline, your graduation will be delayed.
Person looking at laptop

Virtual Oral Defenses

The oral defense is expected to take place in person with the student and all committee members physically present. However, if circumstances prevent the student or any committee member from attending in person, a virtual format (conference call, webcast, or similar medium) is allowed with agreement from the student, the dissertation director, and all committee members.

If disagreement arises about the defense format, the Senior Vice Provost (or designee) will work with the student, chair, and committee to resolve the matter.
  • For Committee Members

    Before the Defense

    • Practice using Zoom, including Host controls and Breakout Rooms (used during the voting process).
    • Review .
    • Exchange phone numbers with the student for backup communication.

    During the Defense

    • Decide who will serve as Host during the voting portion (typically the outside chair).
    • Use Manage Participants to transfer Host role.
    • Create and manage a Breakout Room for committee-only discussion.
    • Keep a timer visible—virtual sessions can move quickly.
  • For Students

    Before the Defense

    • Download and log into Zoom with your 91ɫ credentials.
    • Add your Zoom link to the required Schedule of Oral Defense form (due 4 weeks before the defense).
    • Adjust recommended settings:
      • Mute participants on entry
      • Disable chat
      • Disable join/leave sounds
    • Increase meeting security:
      • Require a password
      • Restrict screen sharing to Host
      • Lock the meeting once all committee members have joined
    • Do a full practice run, including audio, video, screen sharing, and environment.
    • Exchange phone numbers with your committee.

    During the Defense

    • Assign Host controls to the selected committee member.
    • Keep paper/pen or use Zoom’s Whiteboard for real‑time explanations.
    • Optional: Have a second device (muted) as an alternate camera.
    • Enter the Breakout Room when asked and wait for re‑admittance.

Contact

 

OGE Student Services