2.0 DEGREES

2.1 Master's Degree <back>
Outlined subsequently are general guidelines as to the procedure which a graduate student will typically follow in pursuing the master's degree and some specific measures of satisfactory performance. Specifics of the procedures, when not stated in this manual or in the graduate bulletin published by the Graduate School, will be determined through discussion of the student with his or her advisor. <top>

2.11 Educational Philosophy <back>
At the graduate level, the Department of Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences offers the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) as well as three masters degrees - Master of Science in Civil Engineering (MSCE), Master of Science in Environmental Engineering (MSEnvE) and Master of Science in Geological Sciences.

The MSCE and MSEnvE degrees are available to those students holding an undergraduate engineering degree or who have been, prior to beginning their graduate programs, accepted as qualifying to take the FE exam by an engineering licensing board. The MSEnvE degree is intended primarily for those students studying environmental engineering and the MSCE degree is primarily intended for those students studying civil engineering.

The MS in Geological Sciences degree is available to those students holding an undergraduate degree in geological sciences or who have or will have taken a minimum of three 400 or above level courses in the area of geological sciences. This degree is primarily intended for those students studying geological sciences.

The master's degree requires 30 credits beyond the bachelor's degree, including 16 to 24 credits of formal course work, with the remaining credits devoted to research. The flexibility in the distribution between courses and research is intended to accommodate the variety of educational backgrounds of students entering the Department. The master's degree also requires that a student either (a) complete a thesis which demonstrates originality and the ability to perform research or (b) pass the qualifying exam for the Ph.D. and publish an original research contribution in an archival journal. Another essential component of the master's degree is that the student be able to communicate effectively on technical matters, both with peers and with those who have a lesser understanding of a topic.

In summary, the master's degree awarded within the Department of Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences should signify that a recipient has 1) obtained mastery of a topical area through formal courses beyond that obtained at the undergraduate level; 2) demonstrated the ability to formulate original questions and answer those questions through research; and 3) developed his or her communication skills in order to interact with peers in an informal setting, to make effective technical presentations, and to participate effectively in the critique process of such presentations. Deficiencies in any one of these three areas must be remedied before a degree is awarded. <top>

2.1.2 Advisor <back>
Upon arrival at Notre Dame, each student is assigned an academic advisor who has the responsibility to help the student with course selection and acclimatization to the Department. These assignments are based on perceived research compatibility and the funding distribution within the Department. Research advisors are chosen from the regular teaching and research faculty of the Department. There may be one co-advisor. A co-advisor may be chosen from the faculty outside the Department, but such arrangements must be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies and the Graduate School.

The first step in selecting a research advisor is for the student to become familiar with the faculty and their research activities. Because we have an interdisciplinary mix of both faculty and students, you are required to arrange to meet during the first three weeks of the semester with individual faculty members in the Department. The average length of these meetings should be about 15 minutes, but will vary depending on the match between the student/faculty interests.

After meeting with all of the faculty, each student should provide the Director of Graduate Studies with a rank ordering of your top three choices for advisor by the beginning of the fifth week of the semester in which they begin their study. Shortly after student input has been received, the Director of Graduate Studies, in consultation with the Department Chair, will assign your research advisor. The assignments will be made based on information received from the students and faculty, research commitments and available resources. The Director of Graduate Studies must be kept informed of difficulties between a student and his/her advisor, as well as shifts in advisor. <top>

2.1.3 Academic Requirements <back>
A student seeking the master's degree must register for and complete at least 30 semester credit hours with grades of C or better and a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0. No graduate credit is allowed for courses below the 400 level. The advanced undergraduate courses numbered 400 through 499 may, with the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies and the Graduate School, be taken to satisfy up to 10 hours of graduate credit requirements. Courses numbered 500 through 599 are first-level graduate courses open to particularly advanced undergraduates as well as graduate students. Courses numbered 600 and above are the most advanced graduate courses and generally have undergraduate and graduate prerequisites. The Master's program normally consists of 16 to 24 credit hours earned by course work with the balance earned through thesis research. Thus research credits may total from 6 to 14 credit hours.

The offerings of the Department of Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences, other engineering departments, the Department of Mathematics, and Science departments typically comprise the pool of courses from which students select their program of study. This program will vary from student to student depending on background and research interest. The research advisor and the Director of Graduate Studies must approve a student's slate of courses each semester. Master's students in each of their first two semesters are expected to pass at least twelve credits with no grade lower than C and to maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Master's candidates are expected to complete all degree requirements except the thesis defense and final approval of the thesis within three semesters of their enrollment. Master's candidates will not be eligible for support beyond their third semester of study unless exceptional circumstances exist. Any allegation of exceptional circumstances must be brought to a faculty meeting for formal consideration. If the faculty recommends continued support and the Director of Graduate Studies concurs, then eligibility beyond the third semester is allowed. The typical course load of a Master's candidate is 12 to 14 credits each of the first two semesters with the remainder of the 30 credits being earned in the summer and third semester.

Although both research and non-research options are currently available to students seeking the master's degree as their final Notre Dame degree, the research option is the preferred and normal route. The non-research program is allowed only in exceptional circumstances. The research option requires that six to fourteen of the thirty semester hours for the master's degree be satisfied by completing and defending a thesis as course CE 599R. In the non-research option, three of the thirty credit hours of course work must be satisfied by the special problems course CE 598R. A student may be allowed to proceed in the non-research option only by petition to the Departmental faculty through the Director of Graduate Studies. This petition should include the reason for the non-research option, the name of the advisor, and the topic for the special problem paper. The petition will be brought to the next regularly scheduled CE/GEOS faculty meeting for consideration. If two-thirds or more of the faculty in attendance recommend that the reasons for the non-research option are compelling, a student may be allowed to follow the non-research option. . <top>

2.1.4 Communication <back>
The ability to communicate effectively is considered to be an essential skill of a master's degree holder from the Department of Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences. This skill is developed through interaction with students as a teaching assistant, discussions with fellow graduate students and faculty, and through participation as either presenter or questioner in seminars. To facilitate the development of communication skills, all students are required to participate in the Department's educational mission by serving as teaching assistants. In this role, the student transfers knowledge to those striving to learn and improves his or her own understanding in a relevant technical area. Master's students are also encouraged to present their research findings through private discussions with faculty and their fellow graduate students and in an announced seminar open to faculty and students alike. These seminars should be viewed as opportunities to improve organizational and communication skills in a formal setting. Additionally, these seminars should help the speaker become accustomed to questioning and the listeners become skillful in discerning and probing the important points of a presentation. These seminars, if they are to be true learning experiences, require that the speaker and audience interact significantly in constructive discussion in the spirit of education. <top>

2.1.5 Admission to Candidacy <back>
Students must complete an application for master's degree candidacy as found in Appendix C: MASTER'S FORMS. To qualify for admission to candidacy a student must have been enrolled in the program without interruption and maintained a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in approved course work. Additionally, a student in the research option must demonstrate a research capability and receive Departmental approval of his or her thesis proposal. Admission to candidacy is a prerequisite to receiving any graduate degree. It is the student's responsibility to apply for admission by submitting the appropriate form to the Graduate School office through the Director of Graduate Studies. The applicable deadline is published in the Graduate School Calendar (See Also: Appendix E: ACADEMIC CALENDAR). <top>

2.1.6 Thesis Proposal <back>
Students should meet with their research advisor and two regular teaching and research faculty members from the Department at the beginning of their second semester of study to discuss their course selection and proposed area of study. This committee can meet on other occasions as needed, to oversee the student’s progress towards graduation.

The master's thesis proposal should be submitted to the student's advisor and the Director of Graduate Studies prior to the end of the second semester of study. The proposal should provide sufficient detail so that someone familiar with the material could assess the potential for success in the topic and the student’s preparation for conducting the proposed research. After consultation with the advisor, the Director of Graduate Studies appoints one reader in addition to the advisor to review the proposal. The proposal must be accepted by both the reader and the advisor or else modified and resubmitted. <top>

2.1.7 Thesis Requirements <back>
The requirements for acceptance of the master's thesis are as follows. The thesis should follow the guidelines in the Graduate School's Guide for the Writing of Theses and Dissertations available at the Graduate School office. The thesis advisor indicates his or her final approval of the thesis and its readiness for the readers by signing the thesis. Copies of the thesis are distributed to the two official readers. Readers are appointed from among the regular teaching and research faculty of the Department. The appointment of a reader from outside the Department must have the Graduate School's prior approval. The thesis advisor or co-advisors may not be counted as the official readers. The readers should be selected on the basis of familiarity with the material and ability to provide critical reading. It is advisable to involve readers in the thesis topic as early as possible.

Timely reading of the thesis by the readers is expected, as is timely response by the student to the comments and requests of the readers. The thesis, in updated form, must be available to all students and faculty for two weeks prior to the Comprehensive Master's Examination. This thesis must be signed by the student's advisor and deemed, by the readers, to be acceptable for defense (though not necessarily unconditionally approved) prior to the student's Comprehensive Master's Examination. The process of approval must be driven by the quality of the work and not related to deadlines which may exist in regard to awarding of a degree, job responsibilities, travel plans, etc. In the spirit of quality assurance, all faculty and students are encouraged to provide comments on the thesis to the author and to participate, as appropriate, in the Examination. The research requirement for the degree is satisfied when the readers give their unconditional approval to the thesis.

After the thesis has been accepted by the readers and successfully defended, the candidate should deliver to the Graduate School Office two typed copies signed by the advisor. There it will be verified for compliance with the style manual. The candidate then delivers the verified copies and the Graduate School approval form to the Hesburgh Library, where he or she pays the binding cost. The candidate must also provide one hard-bound copy of the thesis to the Department.

Should a student and advisor decide to microfilm a thesis, information concerning the University Microfilms International Master's Publishing Program may be obtained from the Graduate School office.

An alternative procedure for satisfying the master's degree research requirement is available to students studying for the Ph.D. as the final degree. A student who has completed the course requirement for the master's degree, passed the university candidacy examination for the doctorate, and been first or second author on a research manuscript published in a refereed technical journal may request a non-research master's degree (i.e. the degree is designated as "non-research" on the student's transcript because no thesis is submitted). The publication must be based on work performed while the student has been a graduate degree candidate at Notre Dame. The candidate will be required to present his or her research paper in a format similar to the Comprehensive Master's Examination and subject to the same standards. Upon sustaining this exam, a master's degree will be awarded. In the event of failure, the student will forfeit eligibility for a master's degree without a thesis. This procedure must be completed at least one month
prior to the Defense of Dissertation. <top>

2.1.8 Comprehensive Master's Examination <back>
In the Comprehensive Master's Examination, the student must demonstrate that he or she has acquired sufficient skills in this area. A student who has performed satisfactorily in course work and research but does not make a professional presentation cannot sustain the Examination. In such a case, awarding of a degree will be delayed or denied. Satisfactory communication requires that a degree candidate be able to a) present a well-organized and concise account of his or her research, b) defend the thesis or research paper and the presentation when subjected to questioning, and c) demonstrate mastery in technical matters which warrants official recognition. Failure, as determined by the examining committee (composed of the student's research advisor and two research document readers), in any of these three areas is failure of the Comprehensive Master's Examination.

In the Department of Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences, the first part of the Comprehensive Master's Examination is a 20 minute presentation of key aspects of the candidate's thesis. This is considered to be a formal technical presentation. The candidate should be appropriately attired for such an event; prepared with neat, quality overheads or slides; ready to begin when introduced; concise and to the point; and professional in demeanor. If the candidate fails to make a satisfactory presentation, the formal examination may be immediately terminated, the question portion of the exam suspended, and the candidate determined to have failed the Comprehensive Examination. Any member of the examining committee or of the faculty in attendance at the presentation may demand that the committee vote on terminating the exam at the conclusion of the presentation. In the event of a majority vote to terminate the examination at this point, the candidate will have failed.

The subsequent portion of the examination consists of questioning by those in attendance at the exam. All present are encouraged to participate in serious dialogue with the speaker concerning his or her work. The first questioning is done by those not on the examining committee. Subsequently, the committee members will examine the candidate in depth based on the presentation, the thesis or paper, and the background needed for the research reported on.

At the conclusion of the examination, the committee, along with other faculty members who wish to participate, discusses the candidate's performance. The committee members vote pass/fail on the presentation, the candidate's ability to respond to questioning, and on the student's mastery of the subject. The exam is passed if the committee vote, by majority, is "pass" in each of these three areas. Failure in any of the areas results in automatic forfeiture of degree eligibility, unless the Department recommends a retake. If a retake is recommended, the student must retake the entire examination, which must be completed by the end of the following semester. The Graduate School allows only one retake of the master's examination. <top>

2.1.9 Degree Eligibility <back>
Failure to complete all requirements for the master's degree within five years results in forfeiture of degree eligibility. A master's program that is pursued during the summer and the academic year must also be completed within five years. A student attending Summer Session only must complete all requirements within seven years. <top>

2.2 Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) <back>
The Ph.D. awarded within the Department of Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences is the highest degree which is conferred by Notre Dame. As such, this degree should signify that a recipient has 1) obtained mastery of a topical area through formal courses and/or independent readings; 2) demonstrated the ability to formulate original questions and complete a research program to address those questions (resulting in the student's dissertation); and 3) developed his or her communication skills in order to interact with peers in both formal and informal settings, to make effective technical presentations, and to participate effectively in the critique process of such presentations. Deficiencies in any one of the areas outlined above must be remedied before a degree is awarded.

Outlined in the subsequent sections are general guidelines as to the procedure which a graduate student will typically follow in pursuing the Ph.D. and some specific measures of satisfactory performance. Specifics of the procedures, when not stated in this manual or in the graduate bulletin published by the Graduate School, will be determined through discussion of the student with his or her advisor. . <top>

2.2.1 Research Advisor <back>
Fundamental to the successful completion of the Ph.D. is the relationship of the student to the research advisor. Establishing a student/advisor relationship will be based on common research interests, a desire on the part of the advisor to lead the student in the pursuit of the Ph.D., a desire on the part of the student to work with the advisor, and development of research support from the advisor or the Department. As such, the research advisor is often not identified prior to the first semester of class work.

Upon arrival at Notre Dame, each student is assigned an academic advisor who has responsibility to help the student with course selection and acclimatization to the Department. These assignments are based on perceived research compatibility and the funding available within the Department. Research advisors are chosen from the regular teaching and research faculty of the Department. There may be one co-advisor. A co-advisor may be chosen from the faculty outside the Department, but such arrangements must be approved by the Department and the Graduate School.

The first step in selecting a research advisor is the student to become familiar with the faculty and their research activities. Because we have an interdisciplinary mix of both faculty and students, you are required to arrange to meet during the first three weeks of the semester with each of the faculty in the Department. The average length of these meetings should be about 15 minutes, but will vary depending on the match between the student/faculty interests.

After meeting with all of the faculty, each student should provide the Director of Graduate Studies with a rank ordering of your top three choices for advisor by the beginning of the fifth week of the semester in which they begin their study. Shortly after student input has been received, the Director of Graduate Studies, in consultation with the Department Chair, will assign your research advisor. The assignments will be made based on information received from the students and faculty, research commitments and available resources.

Interaction with additional faculty during the establishment of the research proposal and during the completion of the research for the Ph.D. can often dramatically increase the quality of the learning experience of the student. The degree of additional interaction with such committees will be determined by the student in conjunction with the advisor. The Director of Graduate Studies must be kept informed of difficulties between a student and his/her advisor, as well as shifts in advisor. <top>

2.2.2 Research Presentation <back>
The ability to communicate research ideas is fundamental to developing a successful research career. Students are therefore expected to seek out opportunities to improve their communication skills through such avenues as submitting abstracts and/or presenting talks/posters at professional conferences, presenting research summaries to research sponsors, preparing manuscripts for submission to technical journals, and aiding their advisor in the development of research proposals.

Many students will find it advantageous to regularly present their research in front of a group of faculty and students. This will commonly occur either in regular research meetings at which faculty and graduate students are present, or in front of four or five faculty recommended by the advisor. The benefits of such oral presentations include providing the student with input as to the merit and deficiencies of the research proposed or completed, identifying topics of study which should be pursued to better prepare the student to complete the research, and identifying deficiencies in the student's ability to communicate ideas. Each Ph.D. candidate should discuss the benefits of such presentations with his/her advisor. <top>

2.2.3 Academic Requirements <back>
A student seeking the doctoral degree must register for and complete at least 72 semester credit hours with grades of C or better (in all courses for which a letter grade is given) and a cumulative GPA greater than 3.0. The credits may include any combination of formal courses, directed studies, and research, but must include at least 18 credits of formal courses at the 500 or 600 level. With the approval of the Department Chair, courses numbered 400 through 499 may be taken to satisfy up to 10 hours of graduate credit requirements. Students who have completed master's degrees at other institutions may be able to transfer up to 24 credits towards a Notre Dame Ph.D. (See Also: Transfer Credits).

Doctoral candidates are expected to complete all requirements for their degrees within eight (8) semesters of their initial enrollment. Ph.D. candidates will not be eligible for support beyond their eighth semester of study unless exceptional circumstances exist and the Department formally recognizes the existence of exceptional circumstances at a faculty meeting. <top>

2.2.4 Completion of the Written Exam Requirement <back>
Students wishing to pursue the Ph.D. must demonstrate mastery in a number of subject areas related to their research topic. To encourage depth in the study of a select number of these areas and to provide a direct measure of the student's mastery of related subjects, all Ph.D. candidates must pass a written examination within the Department. This exam will occur at the beginning of the fourth semester.

The exam will consist of four individual exams, each of which covers a different subject area and is prepared by a different faculty member. The entire exam will cover a two-day period with a different subject exam being given each morning and each afternoon of that two day period. Each subject exam will cover a two-hour period and may be either open or closed book as decided by the faculty member writing that subject exam. The student should interview each faculty member preparing a subject exam well in advance of the exam to determine both the subject matter covered and the format of the exam.

The exam will be graded by the faculty who prepared the exam. It is necessary that the student pass three subject exams in order to pass the written exam. A student who fails the written may petition the faculty for a second opportunity to pass the exam. If the faculty vote to allow a second exam, the student must complete the exam by the end of the fourth semester. Only one retake will be allowed. A student failing this exam for the second time or a student failing this exam and not obtaining faculty permission to retake it will be considered ineligible for the Ph.D. <top>

2.2.5 Research Proposal <back>
Prior to the University candidacy exam, the Ph.D. candidate must submit a research proposal to the Director of Graduate Studies. This proposal should outline the literature pertaining to his or her research area, the hypothesis (hypotheses) to be addressed in the research, the techniques to be employed, and a projection of the time requirements to complete the research. Enough detail should be provided that faculty who will sit on the student’s candidacy exam can critically review the choice of topic, the potential for success in the topic, and the students preparation for conducting the proposed research. The proposal should be submitted to the Director of Graduate Studies a minimum of three weeks prior to the candidacy exam. <top>

2.2.6 University Candidacy Exam <back>
The University Candidacy Exam must be passed by the end of the eighth semester of study, but only after completion of the written exam and submission of the research proposal. This exam will test the candidate's preparation for research in the chosen subject area, the quality of the proposed study plan, the ability of the student to relate course work and independent study to the research area, and the quality of the preliminary research performed. The exam is an oral exam in front of a board of four voting members. The committee is formed by the Director of Graduate Studies based on recommendations by the student's advisor. Normally, this board has the same membership as the student's dissertation committee. Board members are chosen from the teaching and research faculty of the Department and include the dissertation advisor or co-advisors plus three official members. The Graduate School should be consulted before the Department or the student invites a faculty member outside the Department to be a board member.

A faculty member appointed by the Graduate School from a department other than the candidate's Department chairs the examination board. This chair represents the Graduate School and does not vote. After completion of the examination, the chair calls for a discussion followed by a vote of the examiners. Three passing votes are required to pass the examination. The chair should, before the examination begins, ask the candidate's adviser to confirm Departmental regulations for conduct of the examination and voting procedures. The chair sends a written report of the overall quality of the oral examination and the results of the voting immediately to the Graduate School. The Graduate School officially notifies the student of the results of the candidacy examination.

In case of failure in either or both parts (i.e., presentation by the student and the subsequent questioning by those in attendance) of the doctoral candidacy examination, the Department Chair, on the recommendation of a majority of the examiners, may authorize a retake of the examination. An authorization for retake must be approved by the Graduate School. A second failure results in forfeiture of degree eligibility and is recorded on the candidate's permanent record. <top>

2.2.7 Degree Eligibility <back>
The student must fulfill all doctoral requirements, including the dissertation and its defense, within eight years from the time of matriculation. Failure to complete any of the Graduate School or Departmental requirements within the prescribed period results in forfeiture of degree eligibility. <top>

2.2.8 Continuation of Research Funding <back>
The Department of Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences makes every effort to maintain competitive stipends for all graduate students. However, continuation of research support is predicated on continuing progress towards the final degree requirements. The faculty will, on an annual basis, review the performance of all graduate students. Each student is required to submit a Graduate Student Progress Report (see Appendix F) during the fall semester every year. This review will provide an opportunity to adjust stipends based on academic and research performance (including either increases or decreases in stipend). The Department maintains the right to terminate funding of any graduate student not making satisfactory progress towards his or her degree requirements. Students have a maximum of 8 years of academic and financial eligibility. All funding is cut off after those eight years. <top>

2.2.9 Award of Master's Degree to Doctoral Students <back>
A doctoral student may receive the master's degree without completing a master's thesis if the student has completed the course requirement for the master's degree, passed the university candidacy examination for the doctorate, and been first or second author on a research manuscript accepted for publication or published in a refereed technical/scientific journal. The publication must be based on work performed while the student has been a graduate degree candidate at Notre Dame. The candidate will be required to present his or her research paper in a format similar to the Comprehensive Master's Examination and subject to the same standards. Upon sustaining this exam, a master's degree will be awarded. In the event of failure, the student will forfeit eligibility for a master's degree without a thesis. This procedure must be completed at least one month prior to the Defense of Dissertation. Because no thesis is submitted, the degree is designated as "non-research" on the student's transcript. <top>

2.2.10 Admission to Candidacy <back>
Following completion of 48 approved credit hours with a grade of C or better and an overall GPA higher than 3.0, as well as completion of the Departmental written exam and the university candidacy examination, a student qualifies for admission to doctoral candidacy. Admission to candidacy is a prerequisite to receiving the Ph.D. degree. It is the responsibility of the student to apply for candidacy admission by submitting the appropriate form (See Also Appendix D: PH.D. FORMS ) to the Graduate School office through the Director of Graduate Studies. Consult the Graduate School Calendar for the appropriate deadline. <top>

2.2.11 Dissertation and Defense <back>
The dissertation should follow the guidelines in the Graduate School's Guide for the Writing of Theses and Dissertations, available at the Graduate School office. The dissertation advisor indicates his or her approval of the dissertation and its readiness for the readers by signing the dissertation. The candidate then delivers typed copies of the finished dissertation, signed by the advisor, to the Director of Graduate Studies for distribution to the three official readers who are appointed by the Director of Graduate Studies based on the recommendation of the advisor. The readers will be selected on the basis of familiarity with the material and ability to provide critical reading. The dissertation advisor or co-advisors may not be counted as the official readers. The Graduate School must be consulted before the Department invites a committee member from outside the teaching and research faculty of the Department.

Timely reading of the dissertation by the readers is expected, as is timely response by the student to the comments and requests of the readers. Readers normally have two to four weeks to read the dissertation, decide whether it is ready to be defended, and so indicate on the appropriate form to the Graduate School. Reader approval of the dissertation for defense does not imply reader agreement or support; it implies reader acknowledgment that the dissertation is an academically sound and defensible scholarly product. Only a dissertation which has been unanimously approved for defense by the three readers may be defended.

The dissertation, in updated form, must be available to all students and faculty for two weeks prior to the final defense. The process of approval must be driven by the quality of the work and not related to deadlines which may exist in regard to awarding of a degree, job responsibilities, travel plans, etc. All faculty and students are encouraged to provide comments on the dissertation to the author and to participate, as appropriate, in the defense.

Even though the dissertation has reader approval, revisions may be required at the time of the final defense of the dissertation. If defects in the dissertation come to light at that time, the candidate may be asked to revise the dissertation before it is accepted by the Graduate School and the degree is conferred. In such a case, it will be the responsibility of the candidate's advisor to report to the Graduate School that such revisions have been completed satisfactorily.

In defending the dissertation, the doctoral candidate supports its claims, procedures, and results. The defense is the traditional instrument that enables the candidate to explore with the defense board the dissertation's substantive and methodological force, particularly in regard to any unexpressed assumptions or unstated consequences it might entail. In this way, the candidate and the board acquire a mutually confirmed insight into the candidate's scholarly grasp of his or her chosen research area.

The defense board consists of four voting members, including the dissertation advisor and three official readers, nominated by the Department and appointed by the Graduate School. The defense is chaired by a faculty member who is appointed by the Graduate School from a department other than the candidate's department. This chair represents the Graduate School and does not vote. After the examination is completed, the chair calls for a discussion followed by a vote of the examiners. At least three votes (out of a maximum of four) will be required to pass a candidate. The chair sends a written report of the examination's overall quality and of the voting results promptly to the Assistant Vice President for Advanced Studies. <top>

2.2.12 Graduation Procedure <back>
To receive the degree at the next commencement, the doctoral student who has successfully defended his or her dissertation must present two clean copies, signed by the advisor, to the Graduate School office. The delivery deadline is published in the Graduate School Calendar (See Also Appendix E: ACADEMIC CALENDAR). The Graduate School office will verify the dissertation for compliance with the approved style manual. The candidate then delivers the approved copies along with the Graduate School approval form to Hesburgh Library where he or she pays the microfilming costs. The Graduate Council requires that all doctoral dissertations be microfilmed by University Microfilms, Ann Arbor, Michigan. The microfilming office in Hesburgh Library handles this publication requirement. <top>