At least one month prior to the defense, written notification of the date, time, and place is to be submitted to the Graduate School. While the oral examination is open to the general university community, only the members of the dissertation committee shall have the authority to recommend acceptance of the dissertation. The recommendation must be unanimous.
Departments differ concerning the time of the defense of the dissertation, some holding it prior to approval for final typing, some holding it subsequent to final typing. The following schedules apply in the two cases.
Prior to Approval for Final Typing In this case a candidate defends the dissertation on the basis of an approved preliminary copy. If the defense is satisfactory, the committee then signs the Approval for Final Typing Card; if additional work is required, the card is signed at a later date. When the committee has signed the Approval of Dissertation for Final Typing, the card should be immediately submitted by the candidate to the Graduate School.
The final typewritten copy of the dissertation, together with an abstract signed by the committee chair, the signed signature page, and triple card, must be presented to the thesis editor at least three weeks prior to the end of the semester in which the degree is to be received. Approval of format and acceptance by the university will be noted on the triple card which then must be presented to the Degree Progress Department by the student. See Regulations for Format and Presentation of Theses and Dissertations, available from the Graduate School,Grace Ford Salvatori Hall 315.
The student's dissertation committee is responsible for the content and bibliographical consistency of the dissertation. The university thesis editor reviews the original copy for conformance to university regulations. The final typed dissertation must be accepted by the university within six months after the Approval of Dissertation for Final Typing Card has been signed by the dissertation committee. For requirements concerning preparation of dissertations, the student should obtain the brochure Regulations for Format and Presentation of Theses and Dissertations, available from the Graduate School, Grace Ford Salvatori Hall 315.
The student must sign a file card in the Graduate School granting permission to make positive microfilm copies at the request of institutions or individuals. This is done when the dissertation is submitted to that office. Authors who wish to withhold dissertations from circulation for one year pending publication should so inform the Graduate School.
Each student whose dissertation is accepted must pay a $113 publication fee, for microfilming and binding the dissertation, at the Cashier's Office, King Hall, prior to or upon completion of all requirements for the Ph.D. The publication fee receipt must be submitted to the university thesis editor, Grace Ford Salvatori Hall 315.
It is the student's responsibility to submit the triple card, with all required signatures, to the Degree Progress Department of the Office of the Registrar (SAS 010).
Produced by the USC Division of Student Affairs, Office of University Publications, May 1, 1995