Completion and Defense of the Dissertation

Once the dissertation is completed and reviewed by the Dissertation Committee, the candidate schedules the oral dissertation defense. Like the prospectus defense, the dissertation defense is a scheduled public meeting that is open to fellow students, faculty, friends, and family. The dissertation defense date is set by the Dissertation Committee Chair, with the approval of the Ph.D. Director.

To ensure sufficient time for review, students must distribute the completed dissertation to their Dissertation Committee at least one full month prior to the scheduled defense. For students planning for May degree conferral, the last possible date for a defense is April 1st, meaning the completed dissertation must be distributed no later than March 1st. For students planning for October degree conferral, those dates are September 1st and August 1st, respectively.

An official Dissertation Defense Announcement is to be distributed to all SCJ faculty, staff, and Ph.D. students at least two weeks prior to the defense date by the Assistant Dean of Graduate Programs and Enrollment Services. The announcement is to include the following information provided by the student: date, time, and location of the dissertation defense; dissertation title; names of the candidate, dissertation chair, and committee members; and an abstract of approximately 350 words. A paper copy of the Dissertation Defense Announcement will be prominently displayed on School of Criminal Justice bulletin boards. Except with permission from the Ph.D. Director and Dissertation Committee, the dissertation defense must take place during the academic year. It is the candidate's responsibility to ensure that all timelines, deadlines, and procedures are met.

Prior to the dissertation defense, the candidate shall obtain the Dissertation Defense Report for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy form from the Graduate School-Newark. Ordinarily, the dissertation defense begins with a presentation by the candidate, followed by questions from members of the Dissertation Committee, then questions from other members of the audience. Once this portion of the defense is complete, the candidate and audience will leave the room so that the Dissertation Committee can deliberate. The Dissertation Committee alone is responsible for deciding the outcome of the dissertation defense. They will evaluate the candidate on (1) their dissertation, (2) their presentation, and (3) their demonstrated competence in addressing committee members' and others' questions and concerns. Once a decision is rendered, the candidate will be invited back in the room. The candidate may (1) pass the defense; (2) provisionally pass, pending successful completion of required revisions; or (3) fail to pass.

Following the successful dissertation defense, the candidate shall provide a cover sheet for the Dissertation Committee to sign. In addition, each member of the Committee shall sign Part I of the Dissertation Defense Report for Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. It shall be presented to the Ph.D. Director, along with an electronic copy of the dissertation. 

Dissertation Format, Deadlines, and Graduate School-Newark Requirements

Once the Ph.D. Director certifies that all program requirements have been completed for the degree Doctor of Philosophy, the candidate returns the signed Dissertation Defense Report for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the Assistant Dean of Graduate Programs and Enrollment Services, to copy and file in the student's academic file. The original form shall be taken by the candidate to the Graduate School-Newark, Dean's Office. Additional materials to be submitted at this time include two paper copies of the title page of the dissertation with the original signatures in black ink of all Dissertation Committee members, an electronic copy of the dissertation uploaded to http://etd.libraries.rutgers.edu , and additional surveys and forms as required. Both copies of the title page must be printed on 8 ½  x 11 white, 16 or 20 pound weight, 100% rag content paper. The final dissertation should be prepared in strict accordance with the instructions provided in the Electronic Doctoral Dissertation Instructions: Guide for Preparing and Uploading , available from the Graduate School-Newark. In addition, a ll materials must be submitted to no later than the announced deadlines for completing degree requirements. For further details about deadlines and requirements, see http://gsn.newark.rutgers.edu/ . The names of those who fail to meet the Graduate School's deadlines will be removed automatically from the commencement list for that degree date. It is the candidate's responsibility to ensure that all Graduate School-Newark deadlines and requirements are met.

Failure to Pass the Dissertation Defense

A student failing the oral defense will be provided with a second opportunity for an additional defense within six months of the original defense. The timing and requirements of the subsequent defense, including any revisions to the dissertation, will be determined by the Dissertation Committee. The second defense must follow the procedures described above. Students normally will not be permitted to have a third dissertation defense. Instead, they will be dismissed from the program. Students who are dismissed from the doctoral program may appeal the decision.