RECOMMENDED TIMELINE
To insure that the quality of theses and internship defenses represent a finished, concise product, the Graduate Committee has developed the following guidelines to help students in this process.
Research Defense
Before considering a thesis defense, students should have completed the final draft of their thesis. Once this point is reached, preparation for the defense should be relatively easy.
Format
- Student presentation - 30 to 45 minutes
- General questions from the audience - 15 minutes
- Questions from thesis committee - 15 to 20 minutes
- Committee deliberation on the project and presentation - 15 to 20 minutes
The presentation should include a detailed description of the reason for conducting the study, with ample references to other studies previously conducted. Methodology used to conduct the study should be presented so that an untrained person could understand why the methodology was used. Results should be presented in a well organized fashion, using graphics that serve to indicate critical trends in the data. In the discussion section of the presentation critical results should be considered in light of other published studies. The presentation should end with a succinct conclusions section, including the potential for future research. All visual aids must be clearly legible to an audience in a fairly large room. All fonts should be the largest possible to fit the presentation graph or table. It is recommended that defense presentations be prepared using software such as Microsoft Power Point, or another similar program. Specific questions about the presentation should be addressed to the thesis advisor.
Internship Defense
Before considering a thesis defense, students should have completed the final draft of their internship report. Once this point is reached, preparation for the defense should be relatively easy.
Format
- Student presentation - 30 to 45 minutes
- General questions from audience - 15 minutes
- Questions from thesis committee - 15 to 20 minutes
- Committee deliberation on the project and presentation - 15 to 20 minutes
The presentation should include a detailed description of the reasons for undertaking the internship. Specific objectives of the internship should be indicated. Descriptions of experience gained during the internship should be given including discussion of specific projects worked on during the internship. If the student can present enough information about their involvement in one project, that will suffice. However, if the student was involved in multiple projects during the internship, an accounting of each project should be made. The student should make a final decision as to the material to present by talking with their committee and advisor. To conclude the presentation, the student should discuss whether original objectives were met and the potential relevance of the experiences gained during their internship to their future career. All visual aids must be clearly legible to an audience in a fairly large room. All fonts should be the largest possible to fit the presentation graph or table. It is recommended that defense presentations be prepared using software such as Microsoft Power Point, or another similar program. Specific questions about the presentation should be addressed to the thesis advisor.
Timeline
The Graduate Committee has established the following timeline to insure that the best possible thesis is written and defense is given. Meeting dates for the thesis committee have also been suggested.
The amount of time available will be much less during Summer sessions. Check with your committee members to be certain they will be available for review of your thesis and to attend your defense before scheduling any meetings. Check with the Graduate Office to verify the last date that defenses can be scheduled during Summer sessions.
TIMETABLE FOR THE SEMESTER OF PLANNED GRADUATION - THESIS DEFENSE
Week 1 -9
The student should have a formal meeting of their thesis committee
to discuss a nearly final version of their thesis. Students should provide
as close to a finalized version of the thesis to the thesis committee
no later than three weeks prior to the scheduled defense, and at least
one week prior to this committee meeting. In the event that the thesis
is not deemed ready for defense by the committee the student may attempt
to complete one additional draft before the tenth week of the semester
and schedule another committee meeting. Attempting a second committee
meeting is the least desirable option, possibly pushing a defense date
back past the thesis submission deadline.
Week 9-10
Defense should occur
during this week.
Week 11
Finalized version of thesis is due in the Graduate
School office.
Week 15
Final copies of thesis, including all pages with signatures of committee
members, Graduate Program Director, and Department Head due. All fees
for binding must have been paid. In addition to bound copies for Lupton
Library and the Graduate School, at least one copy should be bound
for the departmental thesis collection. Additionally, the student should
provide a copy of the final thesis (not necessarily bound) for the
thesis committee chair. A copy of the final thesis in a suitable electronic
format should also be left with the thesis committee chair.
TIMETABLE FOR THE SEMESTER OF PLANNED GRADUATION - INTERNSHIP DEFENSE
Week 1-9
The internship defense may not occur the same semester that
the internship is undertaken. Sometime between the first and ninth weeks
of the semester the student should have a formal meeting of their internship
committee to discuss the final version of their internship report.
Students should provide a near-finalized version of the internship report
to the internship committee no later than three weeks prior to the scheduled
defense and at least one week prior to this committee meeting. In the
event that the internship report is not deemed ready for defense by
the committee the student may attempt to complete one additional draft
before the tenth week of the semester and schedule another committee
meeting. Attempting a second committee meeting is the least desirable
option, possibly pushing a defense date past the last date allowed to
complete the defense.
Week 10-Reading Day
Internship defense should occur sometime
during this period. The student should be sure to bring adequate copies
of the Sign-Off form to the defense. If the committee considers that
the report and defense have presented evidence that the objectives
of the internship have been met, the committee members should sign the
Sign-Off sheet on the lines above their names. These sheets should be
included in bound copies of the internship report that are submitted
to the department, the internship committee chair, and any other copies
requested from committee members. The Internship advisor should be certain
that a grade for the internship is turned in by the last date for graduating
students. At least one copy prepared in a permanent binder should be
provided for the departmental Internship Report collection. The student
should provide a similar copy of the final thesis for the internship
committee chair. A copy of the final internship report in a suitable
electronic format should also be submitted to the internship committee
chair.
