GRS PhD Dissertation and Graduation Procedures
The Graduate School publishes a comprehensive guide on PhD Dissertation and Graduation Procedures, including a calendar of deadlines. Please consult this guide prior to beginning your exams. Please note the additional considerations below.
For full details about these processes, please consult the Student Handbook.
Qualifying Exams
Please consult the Graduate Student Handbook for a description of general qualifying exam procedures and discuss with your committee when and how you expect to complete them. Your qualifying exam committee should consist of your advisor and 2 to 3 faculty who you expect will serve as official readers on your dissertation committee. These committee members are typically those Earth & Environment faculty with whom you have completed coursework; other pertinent BU faculty are eligible, per your advisor’s guidance. The only form necessary is an official exam report form which can be obtained from the Graduate Program Coordinator. Your committee should complete this form after the exam: it must be signed by the Chair of your committee, the Chair of the Department, and your primary advisor and initialed by each member of your committee next to their name; and then returned to the Graduate Program Coordinator. GRS will not accept a form submitted directly by a student. P
Dissertation Defense
Dissertation Defense Tip-Sheet
You will need to schedule a room for your defense. Do this well in advance so that you will be able to find a room and your committee members will be able to make the date. Contact Fred George in Room 130 to schedule a room.
Two examination report forms will be emailed to the Chair of your committee. Please make sure that your Chair brings them to the defense. The larger of the two must be signed by your Chair and your primary advisor. The smaller must be signed by your Chair, the Chair of the Department, and your primary advisor and initialed by each member of your committee next to their name.
The date of the defense is also the best time to get official signature pages signed for the final copies of your dissertation, when all of your committee members are together in one place. Please print three copies of your signature page: one to submit to GRS after your defense, one for our departmental records, and one for your own records. After the defense, please leave all forms with Matt DiCintio, the Graduate Program Coordinator (CAS 131D).
Printing and Binding Personal Copies of the Dissertation
Dissertations will be printed upon submission to ProQuest. The Department of Earth and Environment will reimburse you for two copies: one for the Department’s collection and one for you. You will be responsible for any additional copies.