An oral defense is an opportunity for you to demonstrate how much you know about your subject area. It is also a time for the committee to come together and, at the proposal stage, articulate their suggestions and concerns for your project. Your final oral defense is a time for the committee to “quiz” you on the area in which you are now an “expert.”
How long? An oral defense takes approximately one hour. The Chair will direct the oral; let them lead. Typically, you will prepare a 10-20 minute presentation (see question following); after your presentation, the committee will ask you questions and give you feedback.
Your prospectus and dissertation will go through so many revisions before you get to the oral stage, that when it comes, you will be more than ready for it.
Here are some general guidelines:
Prepare a presentation of no more than 20 minutes (maximum). Prepare a handout or PowerPoint presentation that you can email to your committee members prior to the teleconference. Your proposal presentation should include:
- The background of the study (include a brief
summary of the
important literature guiding your work). - The purpose of the study.
- The research question and hypothesis.
- The method of research/design.
- Implications for Social Change.
Your General Dissertation presentation should include:
1. The background of the study (include a brief summary of the
important literature guiding your work).
2. The purpose of the study.
3. The research question and hypothesis.
4. The method of research/design.
5. What you found.
6. Your conclusions.
7. Implications for Social Change.
- After your presentation, the Chairperson will
invite the other
committee members to ask questions about your research and related
topics. - After other committee members have completed
their questioning,
the Chair will ask questions and then wrap up. - The Chair will take notes to provide to you that
include required
revisions of the thesis. - The chair will take a vote. The options are:
o Accepted as presented.
o Accepted, but requires minor revisions.
o Not accepted and requires major revisions, but an additional oral not required.
o Not accepted and requires major revisions, and an additional oral
is required.
