What is a Thesis/Dissertation Proposal Defense and do I need a form for that?

After you have written your thesis or dissertation proposal and have approval to move forward from your Supervisory Committee chair, your entire committee will convene to discuss the proposal. Your chair will arrange for that meeting.  At that meeting, members of your committee will give you feedback about the viability of your project, its scope, additional sources you might consider, etc.  Then the committee will ask you to briefly leave the room so that they can vote on approving the proposal.  After the vote, the committee may ask for revisions to the proposal or they may approve the proposal with the caveat that you agree to their suggestions.  Before the meeting is over, the committee should sign and date the Thesis/Dissertation Proposal Defense Form.  It is your responsibility to bring this filled-out form to the thesis/dissertation proposal defense meeting.  This form simply formalizes the agreement between the student and the committee members regarding the topic and content of the thesis or dissertation. After you have signatures of all your committee members, put the form in DGS’s mailbox (Evelyn Funda, DGS).  

NOTE: Students proposing a Plan B thesis do typically meet with their committee to defend; however, they do not need to fill out a form.

Fill out the Thesis/Dissertation Proposal Defense Form here.  
***If you are having troubles viewing the document, it may be that you need to upgrade software on your computer. You can also pick up a hard copy from Candi Checketts, RWST 312 E.***