Health Professions Division Dissertation Guide

47 DISSERTATION DEFENSE All candidates are required to orally defend their dissertations. The defense is the final presentation and clarification process for a candidate’s research committee and invited guests (invited guests are an option). The program will post notification to PCHCS faculty and students. The candidate must defend her/his research and the conclusions and recommendations drawn from it to the committee in person or by face-to-face technology. The dissertation oral defense can be scheduled only after the dissertation committee has agreed that the dissertation report is sufficiently complete with all major concerns and questions adequately addressed by the candidate. The purpose of the defense is to ensure that the candidate is thoroughly competent to articulate, explain, and defend any aspect of the dissertation. The defense is the final presentation and clarification process between the candidate and committee. The third member may participate by conference call or face-to-face technology instead of inperson. Candidates should be prepared to explain in detail the rationale for the approach and the findings and their interpretation. The candidate will summarize the dissertation, critique it, and then answer questions asked by the committee members. Candidates should be prepared to explain the dissertation's contribution to knowledge and professional practice as well as answer questions. A unanimous vote of all committee members is required for candidates to pass the dissertation defense requirement for degree completion If a committee member disapproves and the committee is deadlocked, the dissenting opinion is filed with the chair, Program Director, and Dean. The Dean resolves the deadlock by overriding the dissenting opinion, rejecting the dissertation, obtaining the opinion of another faculty member, or by taking other appropriate actions. If two committee members disapprove, and there is a deadlock, then the dissertation is considered disapproved. Candidates will be notified in writing of final approval or rejection of the final report. The Final Dissertation Defense must be scheduled as per each program’s requirements. Occupational Therapy candidates must defend in person on the main campus. They may also defend in person at the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) national conference with committee approval. Physical Therapy and Health Science candidates must defend in person on main campus. DISSERTATION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES The candidate must allow sufficient time for committee review (15 working days minimum) with each dissertation draft or revision and post-defense revisions and review. The final pre-defense copy of the dissertation must be submitted to the chairperson and committee members at least 4 weeks before the desired defense date to allow sufficient time for review and approval by all committee members. The defense date can be scheduled only after all committee members agree that the candidate is ready to defend. The defense date must be coordinated with all members of the committee and should not be scheduled during a university holiday.