Thesis proposal
The thesis proposal generally will be presented to the Dissertation Committee (see below) reasonably early in the student’s tenure as a Ph.D. student, within the time limits specified by the department. The purpose of the thesis proposal is to allow the student to demonstrate that the proposed research is likely to meet the criteria for doctoral dissertations, stated below, and that the proposed research can be accomplished in a reasonable period of time.
Ph.D. dissertation committee
The dissertation is prepared under the supervision of a faculty advisor who also usually serves as the chair of the Dissertation Committee. The Dissertation Committee shall consist of a minimum of four members. At least two of these will be full time Carnegie Mellon faculty affiliated with the candidate’s academic department, and at least one will be a person who is not primarily affiliated with the candidate's department. Departments may impose additional constraints on the make-up of the Committee.
The Dissertation Committee shall review and approve satisfactory thesis proposals, and act as the examining body for the final public examination of the candidate on the thesis subject. It is recognized that faculty leaves or other absences may require substitutions to be made on the Dissertation Committee. Any such substitutions, however, should conform with the rules on the composition of the Committee.
Ph.D. dissertation
The doctoral dissertation must embody the results of extended research, be an original contribution to knowledge, and include material worthy of publication. It should demonstrate the candidate’s ability to conduct an independent investigation, to abstract principles upon which predictions can be made, and to interpret in a logical manner facts and phenomena revealed by the research. (In the event that irreconcilable differences arise between a student and his or her faculty advisor on whether the dissertation research is ready to be defended, appeal may be made to the Department Head to resolve those differences.) The dissertation must be prepared in accordance with the College of Engineering thesis and dissertation document standards.
Ph.D. dissertation time table
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Completion of Written Dissertation—not more than six years after being admitted to candidacy.
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Submission of Dissertation to Committee—at least one and one-half months before the Final Grade due date for the semester in which completion is planned.
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Public Announcement of Defense—at least two weeks before Dissertation Defense.
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Dissertation Defense—at least 15 days before the Final Grades Due date for the semester in which completion is planned.
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Submission of Dissertation to the Department—by the following due dates: May graduates, 10 days before the Final Grades for Graduating Students Due date; August graduates, two days before the Final Grades Due date; December graduates, two days before the Final Grades Due date.
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Submission of Dissertation to the Dean of the College of Engineering—by the Final Grades Due date for the semester in which completion is planned.
Upon completion of the dissertation, copies must be submitted to the Dissertation Committee according to the departmental regulations. If the dissertation is accepted by the Committee, the candidate is eligible for a final public examination. A public announcement of the date, time, place, candidate name, title, and dissertation committee must be posted in each engineering department at least two weeks prior to the date of the exam.
Upon satisfactorily passing the final public examination, the candidate will be recommended for the doctoral degree. Copies of the dissertation must be presented to the appropriate Department Head and to the Dean of the College of Engineering for approval, as described in the college's thesis and dissertation document standards.
(policy revised 1/6/2010)
