Graduate College

Information for Doctoral Students  Basic Requirements for the Doctoral Degree  The doctoral degree is awarded for excellence in research scholarship, not merely because a program of courses has been completed or a given amount of time spent in its pursuit. It signifies the attainment of independently acquired and comprehensive learning attesting to general professional competence.  A student should normally expect to spend at least the equivalent of three full academic years beyond the bachelor’s degree to obtain the doctoral degree. During this period the student shall take appropriate graduate coursework, successfully complete the General Oral and Written Examination, and submit and successfully defend the results of original dissertation research. The total number of hours, combining both formal courses and hours of research, for the doctoral degree will be at least 90 post-baccalaureate hours exclusive of the credit hours needed to gain proficiency in the tools of research. Credits accumulated to satisfy research tool requirements will not be accepted in fulfillment of the 90-hour requirement. After admission to the Graduate College, a student becomes a prospective candidate at the discretion of the student’s Advisory Committee. Full candidacy is granted only upon successful completion of the General Oral and Written Examination.

Residence Requirements 

The primary purpose of residence requirements is to encourage the educational and professional development of individuals seeking advanced degrees. The opportunity for the student to interact with the faculty and other students in the university community, while freely using all the facilities thereof and being in a position to take advantage of a wide variety of cultural opportunities, justifies a relatively extended campus stay. In addition, it is obviously necessary that the university be in a position to oversee the development of the candidate, especially during the formal stages of the student’s final preparation for the General Examination. The student must be in residence as a full-time student at OU for at least two consecutive 16-week semesters and be engaged in coursework or research activities as prescribed by the major academic unit. This requirement may not be fulfilled during the completion of a master’s degree. 

Responsibilities of the Academic Unit and Graduate Studies Committee 

Within the powers delegated to the academic unit by the university, each academic unit offering the doctoral degree shall be responsible for, and determine how, its graduate program shall function. These determinations shall include how many hours of coursework constitute a minimum for the degree; what proportion of the work toward the degree is to be devoted to research; and the role of the dissertation. Further, each division shall make its own rules regarding the time that prospective candidates may spend, or work they may do, other than toward the degree itself, in classroom, laboratory, or research assistance or instruction. Research proficiency is based in part on the development of attitudes and skills that vary considerably from one field to another. The faculty for each degree program are responsible for requiring that the doctoral candidate demonstrate proficiency in those skills deemed necessary for successful research performance. A faculty may, for example, require its students to demonstrate ability to read, write, or speak one or more foreign languages, to employ statistics in analyzing data or to program for the computer. The time and means of certifying prospective candidacy shall be decided by the academic unit of the university offering the degree. When a student has been accepted as a prospective candidate, the Graduate College shall be formally notified. 

Course Credit Requirements 

All resident credit required for a doctoral degree must be taught by members of the graduate faculty of the University of Oklahoma. Some course credit may be transferred from other institutions, under certain conditions. Courses completed through correspondence study are not acceptable towards the doctoral degree. 

TRANSFER CREDIT APPLIED TOWARD THE DOCTORAL DEGREE 

Graduate College Guidelines for Transfer Credit 

The acceptance of transfer credit toward doctoral degree programs at the University of Oklahoma is determined in accordance with the following criteria: 

• The coursework transferred represents valid graduate credit earned in graduate-level courses from an accredited college or university; and 
• The credit is not over five years old at the time of admission or readmission to the degree program; and 
• The credit is applicable toward the degree; and 
• The credit carries a grade of A, B, or S on a 4.0 scale. The S grade must be equivalent to a B or higher. For institutions with an expanded grading system (+/- system), the course grade must be equivalent to 3.00 or higher. Grades of B- do not transfer; and 
• Transfer credits are also subject to the approval of the academic unit, which may have more stringent requirements than those of the Graduate College. Applicants should consult the proposed academic unit for information about transfer credits for individual programs; and 
• The credit is approved by the Dean of the Graduate College. 

Limitations on Transfer Credit Applied Toward the Doctoral Degree 

The number of transfer hours accepted for each student is determined on an individual basis at the advisory conference. However, under no circumstances will more than 44 transfer credit hours be applied toward a doctoral degree. Correspondence, extension, and Advanced Programs credit beyond that permitted on the master’s degree is not accepted in the doctoral program. Credit used for one doctoral degree cannot be applied toward a second doctoral degree. Transfer credit for thesis research from a completed master’s degree may be applied toward a doctoral degree but is limited to the total thesis hours required for the degree. If a master’s degree has been applied toward one doctoral degree, it cannot be applied toward a second doctoral degree. 

Transfer Credit From the OU Health Sciences Center 

Graduate coursework completed at the Oklahoma Health Sciences Center is considered residence credit. Upon approval of the academic unit and Graduate Dean, this credit may be used without limitations as credit toward a degree on the Norman campus. 

Transfer Credit From a Professional Degree Applied Toward a Doctoral Degree 

Up to 14 credit hours beyond the master’s degree may be applied from a professional degree (JD, MD, DVM or DDS) toward the doctoral degree if the credit is approved by the Advisory Conference Committee and the Graduate Dean. Courses transferred from a professional degree must carry a grade of S or B or better and be approved by the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center or College of Law for graduate work.  

Transfer Credit From Advanced Standing Exams 

No graduate credit may be earned by advanced standing examinations. 

Transfer Credit and Grade Point Average Computation 

Transfer credit is considered neutral in the computation of the University of Oklahoma grade point average for the purpose of determining continued admissibility and graduation.

Application of Credit From an Unsuccessful Graduate Program to Another Graduate Program 

No credit hours from a failed master’s or doctoral program can be applied directly to a doctoral program. However, if credit hours from a successful master’s degree were applied to the failed doctoral degree, the hours taken for the master’s degree may be applied toward another doctoral degree. 

Transfer of Master’s Degree Credit Applied toward the Doctoral Degree 

Credit applied to a completed master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma is regarded as transfer credit in relation to a subsequent doctoral degree at the University of Oklahoma. The Graduate College recognizes that master’s degree programs range from 30-64 hours, depending upon the discipline and the course of study. Where applicable, a student may transfer up to 44 semester hours of a completed master’s degree program (or the equivalent) toward a doctoral degree, regardless of age, provided that all transfer credits were approved by the Advisory Conference Committee, the graduate liaison and the Graduate Dean. In cases where a master’s degree program of less than 44 semester hours has been completed, a student may transfer up to 14 semester hours of post-master’s coursework or up to 14 semester hours from a second master’s degree (but not more than a total of 44 hours) toward a doctoral degree program, provided that the Graduate College guidelines concerning transfer credit are met. 

Application of Credit More than Five Years Old 

Graduate courses taken at the University of Oklahoma more than five years before admission or readmission to a doctoral program usually cannot be applied toward the doctoral degree unless the courses are part of a completed master’s degree, all of which is to be used toward satisfying the doctoral requirements. In special cases, University of Oklahoma graduate courses more than five years old may be used if recommended and validated by the student’s doctoral committee and the appropriate graduate liaison and approved by the Graduate Dean. Approval of the Graduate Dean must be obtained prior to beginning the validation process. See the section “Validating Overage Coursework.” 

COURSE CREDIT LIMITATIONS (Doctoral) 

3000/4000 Level Courses 

With approval of the academic unit, a student may apply up to 16 credit hours of 3000- and/or 4000-level courses that carry graduate credit toward the 90 hours required for a doctoral degree. A maximum of 12 credit hours of the 4000-level courses may be from the academic unit offering the degree. No 3000-level courses from the academic unit offering the degree may apply toward the degree. 

A student who has special coursework needs that cannot be met within the limitations listed above may petition the Graduate Dean for an exception to the limitations. The student must submit the petition before 12 hours of graduate coursework in the doctoral program has been completed. The petition must contain a detailed justification for requesting the exception and must list all courses to be applied toward the graduate program. The Graduate Dean will make a decision based on the merit of the petition. This decision will not be considered as a precedent for future petitions requesting an exception to the number of 3000- and 4000-level courses that can be applied toward a graduate degree. 

S/U Graded Courses 

No more than one-half of the overall coursework (OU credit and transfer credit combined), excluding research for the dissertation (6980), may be S/U graded coursework. 

TIME LIMITS FOR PROGRAM COMPLETION 

Graduate College Requirements 

A doctoral student who enters the University of Oklahoma graduate program with a bachelor’s degree is expected to pass the General Examination within five calendar years of the student’s first graduate enrollment in the doctoral program at the University of Oklahoma. A doctoral student who enters the University of Oklahoma program with a master’s degree is expected to pass the general examination within four calendar years of the student’s first enrollment in a post-master’s course used toward the doctoral degree. A student becomes a doctoral candidate upon successful completion of the General Examination. A doctoral candidate is normally expected to complete all degree requirements, including the written dissertation and its defense, within five years after passing the General Examination. 

Academic Unit Time Limits 

Academic units with shorter time limits shall so indicate in those sections of the General Catalog which refer specifically to their programs. This information also is available in the academic unit and the Graduate College. Students in these programs must abide by the lesser time period. No program may set a longer period for degree completion than that established by the Graduate College. 

Extensions 

All extensions require the final approval of the Graduate Dean. When additional time is necessary and proper, the student’s committee should petition the Graduate Dean for an extension. Extensions may be granted for a variety of reasons which may include, but are not limited to, job relocation, military duty, pregnancy, illness, a serious accident, divorce, or other personal tragedies within the immediate family. Requests for an extension beyond one year require the student’s committee to document that the student’s knowledge is current and appropriate to the degree being sought. See the section, “Validating Overage Coursework.” 

Validating Overage Coursework 

Directed Readings may not be revalidated. Regular courses must be revalidated on a course by course basis. Overage transfer credit cannot be revalidated. The process for validating overage coursework must have the approval of the Graduate Dean. Once the validation is completed, a report indicating how the validation was completed and by whom should be submitted to the Graduate College. When validating overage coursework there are two issues to address: 

1. The student’s advisory committee is expected to review the content of the overage courses to determine if that content represents the current state of the discipline. The hours in question may be applied toward a degree only to the extent that they represent current knowledge. 

2. The second and most important issue is whether the student has maintained competency in the subjects currently addressed in these courses. The Graduate College will not accept an informal evaluation based on the dissertation but expects instead that the student’s currency be subject to a more thorough and rigorous scrutiny. Usually this is accomplished by means of a written examination, although strong evidence of continuing creative activities in the areas represented by the coursework also is acceptable in lieu of an examination. Generally, “continuing creative activities” are taken to be refereed publications or presentations of original research at state, regional or national meetings. 

Remember, it is the student’s currency in the subject matter that is to be determined and not an evaluation of the course as it is currently taught. 

ADVISORY CONFERENCE 

Each academic unit should schedule the prospective candidate for an advisory conference within the first year of enrollment. The purpose of the advisory conference is to aid the student in developing an overall plan for attaining a doctoral degree. 

ADVISORY CONFERENCE COMMITTEE 

Advisory Conference Committee Membership 

The Advisory Conference Committee must consist of at least five graduate faculty members, including at least one regular graduate faculty member at the University of Oklahoma from outside the major academic unit. Advisory Conference Committee membership follows the same guidelines and exclusions as those stated in the Doctoral Committee membership section. 

Advisory Conference Committee Function 

The Advisory Conference Committee will examine the student’s previous graduate record to determine the coursework required to meet the student’s individual needs. If there are deficiencies, the Advisory Conference Committee will advise the student how best to correct them. The committee’s standard of judgment shall be a well-balanced program suitable to the background, as well as the educational and professional needs of the advisee. 

Report of Advisory Conference 

After the advisory conference is held, the student must file a completed Report of Advisory Conference with the Graduate College. This report contains: 

• the courses the student will complete in order to meet the doctoral degree requirements; and 
• the members of the student’s doctoral committee. 

The report must be signed by the student, the advisory committee, and the graduate liaison of the academic unit, and approved by the Graduate Dean. 

Changes to the Advisory Conference Report 

If a change in the Report of Advisory Conference becomes necessary, a Request for Change in Doctoral Advisory Conference Report must be filed with, and approved by, the Graduate Dean. All members of the committee must approve the request.

Doctoral Committee 

Doctoral Committee Membership 

Members of the Advisory Conference Committee and the Doctoral Committee shall be selected by the chairperson of the academic unit, or the chairperson’s designee, in consultation with the student. In most cases, the Advisory Conference Committee will become the student’s Doctoral Committee. The majority of the Advisory Conference and Doctoral Committee’s members must be from within the student’s major academic unit. The Graduate Dean must approve any exceptions to the required composition of the committee. 

THE OUTSIDE MEMBER 

In addition to the responsibilities shared by all committee members, the outside member is charged with assuring that the rights and interests of both the student and the Graduate College are maintained. As such, no meeting of the doctoral committee should be convened without the outside member’s presence. The outside member must be familiar with the rules, regulations, policies and quality standards of the Norman campus Graduate College. The definition of the outside member as a “regular graduate faculty” precludes faculty from the College of Law, the Health Sciences Center and adjunct faculty from other universities and organizations, as well as retired University of Oklahoma Norman campus faculty from serving as the outside member on a student’s Advisory Conference or Doctoral Committee. The Graduate Dean may exercise the prerogative to appoint another outside member to serve as an evaluator for the Graduate College. The evaluator may be one of the required five graduate faculty members of the Doctoral Committee or may serve only at the time of the examination. Faculty members from the College of Law, Health Sciences Center, etc., may,  under appropriate circumstances, serve as members of Advisory Conference or Doctoral Committees. Indeed, it is the policy of the Graduate Council to encourage such interdisciplinary participation. Although College of Law faculty is automatically approved to teach graduate level courses, they may not serve on doctoral committees unless they receive an appointment to the graduate faculty. 

SPECIAL FACULTY MEMBERS 

Students may have a special member (adjunct faculty or faculty members from another university) appointed to their doctoral committee. If a student wishes to have an adjunct faculty member with a current special membership to the graduate faculty serve on an Advisory Conference or Doctoral Committee, the student’s academic unit must provide justification for allowing this person to serve on the Committee. All special members to the graduate faculty must have the approval of the Graduate Dean to serve on any doctoral Committee. Two special members may be approved if the student has a six-member committee. In no case can the majority of the committee be made up of special members. Special members to the graduate faculty may not, under any circumstances, serve as the outside member to a Doctoral Committee. 

Doctoral Committee Function 

Members of the student’s doctoral committee will be responsible for advising, directing, assisting and encouraging the student throughout the student’s career as a doctoral candidate. The student’s doctoral committee will: 

1. prepare and conduct the General Examination, 

2. supervise the preparation of the dissertation, and 

3. conduct the final oral examination over the dissertation. 

In addition, the doctoral committee may also handle other assignments regarding research tool requirements, qualifying examinations, etc. 

CHANGES TO THE DOCTORAL COMMITTEE 

If a doctoral student decides it is appropriate to change the composition of the doctoral committee, the student will seek counsel from the academic unit’s graduate liaison and the chair of the doctoral committee (the major professor). If it is determined that a committee change is appropriate, the student must process the Request for Change in Doctoral Advisory Conference Report form. If the major professor or a committee member from outside the academic unit is being replaced, the signatures of all current members of the committee, the new committee member(s), and the graduate liaison are required. If any other committee member is being replaced the signatures of the major professor, the member being replaced, the new committee member, and the graduate liaison are required. The Graduate Dean will inform all current and proposed members of the doctoral committee of the decision made on the composition of the doctoral committee. No change in membership is permitted within 30 days of the general examination or the dissertation defense.

Faculty on Leave 

Faculty members on leave may give blanket or individual written approval for committee changes that become necessary during their absence. If faculty members on leave have not given written approval for changes which become necessary during their absence, the department chair will have authority, with the approval of the Graduate Dean, to act for them on these changes. 

Retired Faculty Members 

When a member of the advisory conference or doctoral committee terminates employment with or retires from the university and wishes to continue to serve on the committee, that member, in consultation with the student, must request permission, in writing, from the Graduate Dean to continue to serve. The request should be made prior to the member’s leaving the university. The Graduate Dean will review the request and make a decision concerning whether it is appropriate for the member to continue to serve on the doctoral committee. The chair of a doctoral committee who terminates employment or retires from the university cannot continue to serve as chair, but may, with approval of the Graduate Dean, become co-chair of the committee. A request in writing countersigned by the student and the other co-chair should be submitted to the Graduate Dean prior to the faculty member’s leaving the university. The Graduate Dean will review the request and decide whether it is appropriate to permit the faculty member to remain on the committee as co-chair. In all cases, a member who is leaving the university should not expect to remain on the doctoral committee unless the following criteria can be met: 

1. The faculty member is willing to consult regularly with the student, read the student’s dissertation and attend the student’s final oral examination. These all must be accomplished with no cost to the university. 

2. The student must have passed the general examination before the faculty member leaves the university. 

3. The student should be in the final year of dissertation research when the faculty leaves the university.

General Examination 

When the student is enrolled in or has completed the final semester of coursework, and all tools of research have been completed with a grade of B or better, the student should prepare for the General Examination. The General Examination consists of a written and oral portion. It is intended to test the student’s mastery of a number of related fields, as well as the student’s capacity for synthesis, sound generalization and critical ability. 

Application for the General Examination 

The student must be in good academic standing during the semester the General Examination is taken. In addition, the student must enroll in at least two graduate credit hours at the University of Oklahoma in the semester the General Examination is held. The student must apply for the General Examination at least two weeks before any portion of the General Examination will be held. The Application for General Examination must be completed and signed by the student, the members of the Doctoral Committee, and the graduate liaison of the academic unit. It is then submitted to the Graduate Dean for approval. Failure to have authorization prior to taking the General Examination could invalidate the General Examination.  

Arranging the General Examination 

After the Graduate Dean authorizes the General Examination, the student should arrange with the doctoral committee a time and place for the General Examination. The General Examination cannot be scheduled when classes are not in session, during finals week, or at any time when the doctoral committee cannot be assembled. The student must complete the General Examination during the semester in which the authority is given. Both the written and oral portions should be taken during the same semester. If the examination is not held, a report indicating the reasons why it was postponed must be submitted to the Graduate College, and the student must reapply for the General Examination. 

The General Examination 

The first part of the General Examination consists of written examinations in the major and (if any) the minor fields and is the responsibility of the Doctoral Committee. The written examination is followed by an oral examination in the presence of the entire committee. The doctoral committee should meet to determine the results of the written examination. If the examination is failed, proceed to the section below “Failed General Examination.” A student cannot proceed to the oral portion of the General Examination until the written examination has been satisfactorily completed. 

Results of the General Examination 

Within 72 hours of the oral portion of the General Examination, the chair of the Doctoral Committee will submit a written report signed by all members of the committee to the Graduate Dean. This report should indicate whether the student has passed or failed the examination. If the student has passed, the Graduate Dean will admit the student to candidacy for the doctoral degree. 

MARGINAL EXAMINATION RESULTS 

If the student’s performance is marginal, but not failing, and the examining committee wishes the student to do further reading, coursework, investigations, etc., the results of the examination can be held in abeyance with approval of the Graduate Dean. The committee’s request for an abeyance should state a specific time period (usually limited to two months but no longer than one semester) in which the student has to complete the extra work. At the end of the time limit the committee must file a report with the Graduate College indicating whether the exam was satisfactory or unsatisfactory. 

DISSENTING REPORTS 

The Graduate Dean will review any report with a dissenting vote received in the Graduate College. The Graduate Dean may choose to confer with the dissenting member(s), the committee chair, or the entire committee. The course of action taken by the Graduate Dean is dictated by the circumstances of the individual case. The decision of the Graduate Dean is final. 

FAILED GENERAL EXAMINATION 

If any portion (written or oral) of the general examination is failed, a report must be submitted to the Graduate Dean indicating that the General Examination was failed. If the General Examination is failed, the student may, on the decision of the committee, make application to repeat the examination a second time in a subsequent semester. If a student fails any portion of the general examination on the second attempt, the student will be terminated from the doctoral program. The General Examination may not be given a third time. 

Doctoral Dissertation 

The doctoral dissertation is the final and most important component of the series of academic experiences that culminate in the awarding of the doctoral degree. Three major functions are fulfilled by the dissertation experience: 

1. It is a work of original research scholarship that makes a contribution to existing knowledge. 

2. It demonstrates the candidate’s mastery of research methods and tools of the special field. 

3. It demonstrates the student’s ability to address a significant intellectual problem and arrive at a successful conclusion. 

Aided by the major professor, the student should select a dissertation topic. After the General Examination, most of the student’s time will be devoted to research and composition. The student also must enroll in enough hours of 6980 to meet the minimum requirements of the academic unit. 

USE OF HUMAN SUBJECTS 

All research involving human subjects or the use of data generated via human subjects research, which will result in publication or presentation, must be reviewed and approved by the University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus Institutional Review Board (OU-NC IRB) prior to subject recruitment and data collection. All human subjects research to be performed by faculty, staff or students of the University of Oklahoma Norman campus, Tulsa campus, or conducted by Cameron University faculty, staff or students must be reviewed by the OU-NC IRB. The primary role of the OU-NC IRB is to determine if the rights and welfare of human subjects who volunteer to participate in research studies are adequately protected and to ensure that adequate informed consent procedures are used. The University of Oklahoma Norman campus policy for the protection of human subjects in research activities and IRB application materials can be accessed at the following: http://www.ouhsc.edu/irb-norman/

If you have questions about compliance or the IRB approval process, you may contact the Office of Human Research Participant Protection at (405) 325-8110 or e-mail irb@ou.edu. 

USE OF VERTEBRATE ANIMALS IN RESEARCH 

All research performed on live vertebrate animals or teaching that uses live vertebrates must be described for review and approval by the University of Oklahoma - Norman Campus, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (OU-NC IACUC) prior to obtaining animals and data collection. The primary role of the IACUC is to assure compliance with the U.S. Animal Welfare Act and Amendments and to assure that animals receive humane care during procedures in accordance with federal regulations of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare of the Public Health Service (OLAW/PHS). 

Information on the OU-NC IACUC can be found on the web site http://iacuc.ou.edu/. If you have questions on the IACUC review process, you may contact the Office of Laboratory Animal Resources (405) 325-2609 or visit the web site http://iacuc.ou.edu. 

ENROLLMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR RESEARCH FOR DOCTOR’S DISSERTATION 

The initial enrollment in “Research for the Doctor’s Dissertation” (6980) must be for at least two credit hours. Following the initial enrollment in “Research for Doctor’s Dissertation” (6980), the student must maintain continuous enrollment on the University of Oklahoma Norman campus in this course until dissertation hours are completed and the doctoral degree program is completed. 

Number of Dissertation Credit Hours 

The minimum enrollment in 6980 is two hours each semester. The number of dissertation credit hours for each semester’s enrollment is determined by the faculty adviser on the basis of the amount of faculty and university services required by the individual student. However, each enrollment will not be less than two hours. Individual programs may specify a total number of required dissertation hours. However, a student working full-time on the dissertation and using university facilities should enroll in at least nine hours of 6980 in regular semesters and four hours of 6980 during summer sessions. 

Summer Enrollment in 6980 

Students are not required to enroll in 6980 during the summer session unless any one of the following apply: 

• the student is actively working on the dissertation; or 
• the student is seeking committee advice on the dissertation; or 
• the student is otherwise using university facilities; or 
• the degree is conferred in the summer session. 

Exceptions to Continuous Enrollment in 6980 

The continuous enrollment regulation can be waived for a student who is not working on the dissertation and who is enrolled in at least nine graduate credit hours per regular semester. However, if dissertation work is being done during a regular semester or summer session, a student must enroll in 6980 regardless of the number of other hours of enrollment. Other exceptions to the continuous enrollment regulation are considered on an individual basis by petition to the Graduate Dean.  

Enrollment Non-compliance 

In the event that a graduate student does not comply, or has not complied, with the enrollment provisions above, the student must enroll during the semester in which graduation is expected in the exact number of hours of 6980 which that would have been completed with continuous enrollment. In addition, the student must pay a late enrollment fee for each of these semesters. Retroactive fees and tuition are assessed at the current semester rates. The final determination of the number of hours of 6980 in which the student must enroll in the final semester of the degree program, along with the collection of the appropriate fees, is the responsibility of the Graduate College and the Bursar’s Office. 

Enrollment Requirements for Music 6880 

The same regulations as listed above for continuous enrollment in 6980 apply for the Doctor of Musical Arts document (MUS 6880). 

Oral Examination/Dissertation Defense 

PREPARATION FOR THE ORAL EXAMINATION 

Graduation Application 

The Application for Graduation indicates the student’s name exactly as it is to appear on the diploma and gives the exact degree to which the student has been admitted to candidacy. This application must be filed with the Office of Academic Records.

Degree Check 

The student must complete the online degree check at http://gradweb.ou.edu at least two weeks prior to the submission of the reading copy. 

DISSERTATION READING COPY 

The doctoral candidate should prepare and distribute reading copies of the dissertation to each doctoral committee member at least one month prior to the defense. The reading copy should be in an acceptable dissertation format and must include all figures and tables, numbered pages and a complete bibliography. It should not contain grammatical or spelling errors. 

At least five members of the committee must read and determine whether the dissertation demonstrates the student’s ability to conduct original research and makes a significant contribution to the student’s discipline. The committee may accept or reject the dissertation. If the committee rejects the dissertation, the student will have another opportunity to submit an acceptable dissertation to the committee. If the committee accepts the dissertation, it may require changes and corrections. 

When the reading copy has received preliminary approval by the major professor and the other members of the committee, it is submitted to the Graduate College along with the completed Request for Authority for Defense of Dissertation, signed by the chair and the graduate liaison. The signature of the graduate liaison will not be interpreted as approval of the reading copy but will acknowledge that all academic unit requirements have been satisfied. The reading copy should be submitted to the Graduate College at least two weeks prior to the defense. In addition, it should be submitted according to the deadlines printed in the front of the class schedule for each semester or summer session. 

Printed instructions for the preparation of the dissertation are available at http://gradweb.ou.edu. 

FINAL ORAL EXAMINATION (DISSERTATION DEFENSE) 

The Final Oral Examination is a defense of the dissertation and is open to the public. Only one attempt is afforded in defending the dissertation.  

Authority Form for Final Oral Examination 

Authority to hold the dissertation defense must be obtained from the Graduate College. When the reading copy of the dissertation is acceptable and a degree check indicates that the student has completed all coursework with acceptable grades, the Graduate College will issue to the student the Authority Report Form for Final Oral Examination. The student will also receive the Survey of Earned Doctorates form, the Entry Form for Dissertation Title and the Graduation Exit Survey. 

Deadlines 

The Final Oral Examination must be taken during the semester it is authorized to be given. The examination must be given no later than the last day of classes of the semester it is authorized. For deadlines, refer to the Graduate College website (http://gradweb.ou.edu). 

The Examination 

If the committee has five members, then the student and at least four members of the Doctoral Committee, including the outside members and major professor, must be present in person to conduct the examination. If the committee consists of six members, then the major professor, the outside member, and three other committee members must be present for the examination. The Final Oral Examination may not be held when the university is not in session, during the period of final course examinations, or at any time when the Doctoral Committee cannot be assembled. In unavoidable circumstances, a student and committee can petition the Graduate Dean for an exception to these rules. The Graduate Dean may exercise the prerogative to appoint an outside member to serve as an evaluator for the Graduate College. The evaluator may be one of the required five members of the Doctoral Committee or may serve only at the time of the examination. 

DECISION 

Within 72 hours after the examination, the chair of the committee will report its decision to the Graduate Dean using the Authority Report Form for Final Oral Examination. A unanimous vote from the doctoral committee is expected; however, on occasion some dissenting reports are received. 

Dissenting Votes 

If one member of the doctoral committee dissents, the dissent is recognized as a minority report. If two members dissent, the Graduate Dean will investigate and make the final decision. If more than two members dissent, the defense is judged a failure. 

Unsatisfactory Oral Examination 

If the defense is determined to be unsatisfactory, this decision is final and the defense cannot be repeated. Further, the student will be disenrolled from the Graduate College and his or her candidacy for the doctoral degree terminated. A student who is disenrolled from a graduate program may apply to pursue a graduate degree in another major field, provided that, at the time of the new admission, the student satisfies all applicable requirements under the rules and regulations of the University of Oklahoma, its colleges, and its academic units. 

Satisfactory Oral Examination 

Once the dissertation has been successfully defended, the student must deliver two originally signed, unbound copies of the dissertation on white, 20-pound weight, 100-percent watermarked cotton or rag bond paper to the Graduate College. These copies should be brought to the Graduate College within 60 calendar days following successful defense of the dissertation. Students who are planning to graduate in a particular semester must meet specific deadlines and may not have 60 days available. Along with the two copies, the candidate should complete and return to the Graduate College the Survey of Earned Doctorates form, Entry Form for Dissertation Title and Graduation Exit Survey form. The Graduate College will review the dissertation. If all is in order, the student will receive a Dissertation Deposit Receipt that must be signed by library personnel and returned by the student to the Graduate College. The student is responsible for making sure all of the pages are in each of the two copies. 

In addition to the two printed copies of the dissertation that are filed in the library, the student also should submit one electronic copy of the dissertation via http://dissertations.umi.com/ou. The electronic copy should be sumbitted following the same deadline as the final printed copies. The signature page of the electronic copy should not include the signatures of committee members. Any technical issues while uploading a submission should be referred to Proquest/UMI directly at (510) 665-1200, ext. 2. 

Deposit of Dissertation in the Library 

The doctoral candidate is responsible for the complete and accurate collation of the dissertation before submitting it to the Library. 

FAILURE TO DEPOSIT DISSERTATION 

The defense of the dissertation is valid for 60 days. If the student has not deposited the dissertation in the library by noon on the 60^th day following the defense, the results of the defense are set aside and the student must re-defend the dissertation in person. The date of graduation is determined as indicated below and not by the date of the dissertation defense. In particular, the 60-day time limit on the validity of the defense in no way waives the time limits associated with the semester of graduation. If the dissertation is not deposited in the semester or session in which the final examination is given, the student is required to enroll in additional hours. 

GRADUATION 

Semester of Graduation 

To graduate, a student must adhere explicitly to the deadlines published each year in the University of Oklahoma Class Schedule. Deadlines are absolute and no extensions can be granted. Failure to meet these deadlines will result in graduation being delayed until the following semester. 

Checklist for Doctoral Students 

• Apply to the Office of Admissions for admission to the Graduate College. (Have all transcripts of previous college studies sent to the Office of Admissions and Records.) 
• After admission, obtain registration materials. Consult with the graduate liaison of your major department for an adviser. To plan your program of study, check the doctoral degree requirements with your academic unit and the Graduate College Bulletin. Register for coursework. 
• During your first academic year of enrollment, in consultation with the graduate liaison and/or chairperson of the Graduate Studies Committee, schedule your Advisory Conference to plan your program of study. At the conference, it is the duty of the chair to secure approval of each committee member and file the Advisory Conference Report in the Graduate College. 
• Obtain IRB and/or IACUC approval if necessary. 
• Proceed with coursework. If any changes become necessary in the Advisory Conference Report, file in the Graduate College a Request for Change in Doctoral Advisory Conference which has been approved by all members of the Advisory Conference Committee and the graduate liaison. 
• Complete tools of research as specified in Advisory Conference Report. 
• When all required coursework and research tools have been completed, file the Application for General Examination in the Graduate College two weeks prior to the General Examination. Approval by the Graduate Dean is required if membership of the Doctoral Committee conducting the General Examination is different from that assigned at the Advisory Conference. 
• After the Graduate Dean authorizes the General Examination, arrange with the Doctoral Committee for time and place of examination. General Examinations should be completed during the semester in which approval was given. 
• Within 72 hours after the General Examination is completed, a report signed by the entire committee must be submitted to the Graduate Dean. 
• Following initial enrollment in “Research for Doctor’s Dissertation” (6980), maintain continuous enrollment in a minimum of two credit hours each semester until all degree requirements are completed. 
• File the Application for Graduation with the Office of Academic Records.  
• Submit the Request for Degree Check to the Graduate College at least two weeks before submission of the reading copy.
  Deadlines are Fall – October 1; Spring – March 1; Summer – July 1. 
• Prepare reading copies of the dissertation (one for each Doctoral Committee member). When approved by the committee chairperson, present one copy to the Graduate College with a completed Request for Authority form. Reading copy deadlines are published in each semester’s class schedule and are available on the Graduate College Web site (http://gradweb.ou.edu). 
• If approved, the reading copy will be returned with the Authority for the Final Examination. The Graduate Dean must approve any change in membership of the Doctoral Committee. 
• Arrange with members of Doctoral Committee the time and place of Final Oral Examination. Only one attempt to defend is afforded to the candidate. If a report of unsatisfactory is received, the student must discontinue candidacy. 
• Incorporate any corrections and comments into the final dissertation copy. 
• Within 60 days after the successful defense of the dissertation, submit two copies of your dissertation signed by all committee members to the Graduate College. In addition, submit one electronic copy of the dissertation to UMI Dissertation Publishing using the link http://dissertations.umi.com/ou. 
• Deposit your dissertation copies with the library. The library will date and sign your Dissertation Receipt. 
• Return the signed Dissertation Receipt, Survey of Earned Doctorates, Graduate College Exit Survey, and Entry Form to the Graduate College. 
• Congratulations!