Following successful completion of the qualifying examination, the student prepares a thesis proposal in consultation with his or her dissertation chair (see Selection of Dissertation Chair and Dissertation Committee). The proposal shall be formally presented for approval at a public meeting of the dissertation committee within no more than four months of passing the qualifying examination. Immediately following the proposal presentation, the student's dissertation chair, in consultation with the rest of the student's dissertation committee, will provide the student with a written evaluation of his or her proposal, providing specific suggestions on how the student can improve his or her dissertation research.
