Standard Format for the Ph.D. Dissertation Defense in MSE
The procedure to be followed for the “public” portion of the dissertation defense is designed to allow the Ph.D. Candidate, who, by then, has spent considerable time and effort in his research endeavors, to present the major findings of his research in the form of a seminar or invited talk.
The format is designed to allow friends and colleagues of the candidate to hear this seminar and ask questions without being required to sit through the entire defense. All MSE dissertation defenses should follow this standard format:
- Public notices of the dissertation defense should be in place several days prior to the defense. Renee will prepare your postings – provide her with the following information: dissertation title, advisor and/or co-advisor, date, time, location
- Opening remarks by the committee chairperson who introduces the candidate and explains the format of the proceedings.
- Brief biography presented by the candidate.
- Candidate’s talk; a 30 – 40 minute presentation of your work.
- Questions/discussion by the general audience for a time not exceeding 15 minutes.
- Members of the general audience are given the opportunity to leave, but are invited to stay.
- In-depth examination of the candidate by the committee.
- Private discussions by the committee.
Master’s Degree/Diploma Application Deadlines
Please see Rackham’s website for future deadlines.
Master’s Degree Diploma Application Deadlines
Students must apply to graduate in order to have the degree awarded.
Doctoral Degree Deadlines
Please see Rackham’s website for deadlines
Deadlines: All requirements must be complete, final, and approved by Rackham, no later than 5:00 pm Eastern Time on the deadline day.
Notes
- A doctoral student must be enrolled for eight hours of candidacy during the full term in which s/he defends. It is expected that the defense will occur prior to the last day of classes for the intended final term of enrollment.
- Degrees are conferred by the University of Michigan board of Regents three times a year. You may participate in commencement on or after the conferral date when all requirements have been completed.
- This is a firm deadline and extensions will not be considered. The majority of students require a minimum of two weeks to make revisions and complete all requirements.
- This is a firm deadline, and extensions will not be considered. The majority of students require at least two weeks to make revisions and complete all requirements. Additional term(s) of registration will be necessary if requirements are not met by this date.
Ph.D. Candidacy Deadlines
Please see Rackham’s website for deadlines:
A student must be enrolled or otherwise be eligible for campus privileges, for a minimum of one credit, during the term in which preliminary exams are taken. Please see the Rackham Graduate School Academic Policies section 5.1 Candidacy Requirements for more information. Keep in mind prelims taken in the Fall or Winter term (for a student being advanced to candidacy in that term) will be assessed 8 hours of 995 for that term. Students registered full-time (8 hours, or 6 if a GSI, GSSA, or GSRA) during the previous Fall and Winter terms have through the end of May to complete the preliminary examination without registering for the spring or spring/summer term.
Recommendation for Candidacy
A doctoral student may be advanced to candidacy by the graduate school upon recommendation of the student’s department. Advancement to candidacy will be granted when it is determined that the student has completed all requirements for the doctoral degree except the dissertation, and been approved for subsequent dissertation work. To recommend a doctoral student for candidacy the graduate coordinator must submit the recommendation through the online system.
Advancement to Candidacy
When candidacy is approved, the Registrar’s staff will change all 990 enrollments to 995 for the student.
Tuition will then be reassessed at the candidacy rate; only 990 registrations will be changed to 995; other courses would require an official drop/add form initiated by the student if changes are needed.
Web Registration
Registering for Classes
To register for classes, you need:
- Access to the web
- A uniqname and password
- A list of courses that you would like to take.
- Refer to the UM Schedule of Classes http://www.umich.edu/~regoff/timesched/ for a list of classes offered.
- Remember to identify any alternate courses that you might want to take in case your first choices are not available.
- Log in to Wolverine Access to find out which courses are open, waitlisted, or have entry restrictions, and to find out which courses require two or more sections.
- Keep track of the classes you want to take via one of these methods:
- Log in to Wolverine Access and add them to your Pre-Registration Backpack; or
- Fill out a worksheet and weekly planner to help you with your registration. Write down the class numbers (e.g., 19433) for the class sections that you would like to add.
- A registration appointment start date and time. Note: To view your appointment, go to the Wolverine Access web site, select Student Business and log in with your uniqname and password, Next, click View Enrollment Appointment and then select the appropriate Term and Academic Career. After your appointment, you may register anytime during Wolverine Access business hours.
- Electronic permission, if instructor or department permission is required or the class/section has entry restrictions, etc.
Can I register at any time?
You may register within Wolverine Access business hours anytime after your official registration appointment start time. The system will not allow you to register prior to your appointment. Note: After the first day of classes, you do not need an appointment to register.
What is the difference between a class number and a catalog number?
A class number is a unique identifying number that is assigned to each class and specific to each term. Class numbers appear in the UM Schedule of Classes and are the numbers that you use to register for classes. A class number may be up to five digits.
A catalog number is the number that identifies a course within a subject. For example, in the case of “Math 115,” the catalog number is “115”. You do not use the catalog number when actually registering for classes. However, you may use the catalog number in conjunction with a subject code to search for information on a class.
How do I find out if a class has a prerequisite?
View the information in Wolverine Access or your school bulletin, or, contact your advisor, department, or school or college.
How do I find out if a class is open or closed?
There are two ways to find out if a class is open or closed. One way is to select Student Business from the Wolverine Access home page and log in with your uniqname and password. Then click Backpack/Registration and select the appropriate Term and Academic Career.
- If the class is already in your Pre-Registration Backpack, the Class Status column indicates whether the class is Open or Closed.
- If the class is not already in your Pre-Registration Backpack, locate it by entering the class number or performing a class search using the Find Classes section at the top of the page. The system displays the class status (Open or Closed) in the Status fields on the Class Search Results and Class Enrollment Options pages.
The second way is to click Class Search on the Student Business home page, then enter the appropriate Term and click the Search button. Locate the class by entering the class number or performing a class search. The system displays the class status (Open or Closed) in the Status field on the Class Search Results page.
How do I find out if a class has seats reserved for a specific group of students?
Information about seats reserved for a specific group of students, including the number of reserved seats appears in a field called Open Seats Reserved for on the Class Enrollment Options page. This field does not display unless the class was set up with seats reserved for a specific group of students.
How do I waitlist a class?
If a class is closed and has a waitlist available, the ‘Add me to waitlist if this class is closed’ checkbox appears as on the Class Enrollment Options page.
Can I register for two classes offered at the same time?
Yes. You may register for two classes offered at the same time by checking the ‘Time Conflict is okay’ checkbox on the Class Enrollment Options page.
How do I take a class as pass/fail?
If a class has an optional grading basis, like pass/fail, the Choose Grading Basis link appears on the Class Enrollment Options page.
How do I specify that I want to take a class to satisfy the Upper-Level Writing Requirement (ULWR)?
The ULWR requirement is applied to specific class sections. Students who need to fulfill their ULWR requirement need to enroll in one of those specific sections.
How do I register for a class that requires special permission or consent?
If a class requires consent, you need to go to the department or instructor to request permission. The department enters an electronic permission into the system that allows you to enroll in the class. Once the permission has been entered, you must register for the class just as you would any other class.
How do I register for classes that require more than one component, such as a lecture and discussion, that must be taken together?
If a class has multiple required components, such as a lecture and discussion, the components will be linked in the system. When you add the primary component (designated with a checkmark icon on the Class Search Results page), the system will prompt you to select the required secondary component before it adds it to your backpack or enrolls you in the class. It does not allow you to enroll in one component without enrolling in the other component.
Some class components have automatic enrollment. A message displays at the top of the Class Enrollment Options page if a primary component has related auto-enrollment components. Details for the auto-enrollment components display at the bottom of the Class Enrollment Options page. You will be automatically enrolled in these class components when you enroll in the primary component.
How will I know that I’m actually enrolled in the classes that I selected?
After clicking Register for Class, if your enrollment request was successful, Wolverine Access displays a message stating that “You have successfully registered for class xxxxx.” In addition, after you register, click the View Printable Schedule link on the Backpack or Registration pages, or click View Class Schedule on the Student Business page and select the appropriate Term and Academic Career. The system displays all classes that are currently in your schedule, including those that you have waitlisted.