Dissertation Defense

After the research for a degree has been completed, it must be written and published as a thesis or dissertation. Normally the research leads to one or more published articles in well-known physics or astronomy journals as well.

Allowed formats of the dissertation are defined by the Graduate College in the Format Manual, which must be followed very closely. Several formats have been programmed for various word-processing languages, and are available through the research groups. It is also good practice for students to familiarize themselves with the American Institute of Physics (AIP) Style Manual, which provides information on the preparation of figures, including sizes of lettering, which meet the standards of most scientific journals. It may be followed in thesis preparation to the extent that it is compatible with ASU’s Format Manual. A thesis must be written in good English.

Upon completing all requirements, the student should apply for a formal final examination. This examination has two parts: (1) Committee members will read and approve the thesis (or, in many cases, ask for modifications), and (2) a final oral examination. A minimum of ten working days (usually two weeks) is required between submission of the thesis to the Graduate College for format approval and the date of the final examination. The examination must also be announced in ASU Insight and within the department.

The final examination normally consists of a public seminar in which the student presents the thesis material and during which the audience may ask questions for clarification. After this initial discussion, the committee may excuse the public audience and proceed to a thorough examination of the details of the thesis. The committee may also examine the student’s general knowledge of science. The committee will then excuse the candidate and deliberate on its findings.