Prior to the Final Oral Exam, student will present a seminar to the department. The Graduate Program Coordinator will schedule the time and room for seminar. Candidates will submit an abstract to the Graduate Program Coordinator at least two weeks prior to the seminar. The student's committee shall be invited to attend.

A copy of your thesis must be given to each member of your committee two weeks prior to the scheduled Final Oral Examination. The thesis must be in the format acceptable for submission to the Graduate School. The majority of the committee members must agree to proceed with the defense, one week prior to the scheduled Final Oral Examination.

The doctoral candidate who has satisfied all other requirements for the degree will be scheduled by the Dean of the Graduate School, on recommendation of the doctoral committee through the Department Head, to take a final examination. The final examination may not be scheduled until at least three months have elapsed after the comprehensive examination was passed, unless permission is granted by the Dean of the Graduate School. The deadline for holding the examination prior to commencement is listed in the Graduate School calendar. The examinations is oral, open to the public, and related in large part to the thesis. The final examination must be scheduled with the Graduate School at least two weeks before the examination is to be held.

The final thesis with all of the signatures of the committee members should be submitted to the head of the department, for his signature, at least one week prior to submission to the Graduate School.