- Assign members to your doctoral final oral exam committee at least one month prior to the exam. Not all faculty may serve on your committee. Find committee members in the Graduate Faculty Role List Database; search under 'Kinesiology Ph.D.'. If you cannot find the member in the list, please contact the Graduate Program Coordinator.
- Request the Graduation Packet after your final oral exam committee has been fully approved. Your graduation packet should be requested no earlier than the beginning of the semester you plan to graduate.
- Send your dissertation to your committee two weeks prior to your final oral exam date. [NEW] Acquire signatures on your Reviewers Report Form (online form through the graduation packet) prior to your final oral exam date. Faculty committee members will receive email invitations to complete the form as students initiate it. - Guidelines
- Schedule your oral exam with the Graduate School at least one week in advance of the date/time agreed upon by committee members. Contact the Graduate Program Coordinator to reserve a room for your exam. [NEW] Students will receive the Final Oral Exam Form via email once the final exam is scheduled online. - Guidelines
- Fill out the Final Oral Defense Announcement Form.
- [NEW] After the final defense, students should initiate the Final Oral Exam Form. Faculty committee members will receive email invitations to complete the Final Oral Exam Form as students initiate it. - Guidelines
Alternative to the traditional dissertation:
Although most students at the University complete traditional dissertations (i.e., a single and extensive quantitative and/or qualitative study described in detail in a five- or six-chapter dissertation), students have the option of proposing an alternative format to the traditional dissertation. This may include a series of studies completed during the Ph.D. program and possibly published previously by the student.
The Graduate School allows the thesis to include materials that students have published while University of Minnesota graduate students, provided the research was carried out under the direction of the graduate faculty and approved by the adviser for inclusion in the thesis. Such publication is welcomed as the best demonstration of quality in a student's research, and the Graduate School encourages the practice. The adviser should notify the Graduate School in writing of the intention to publish part of the thesis material, but the Graduate School's approval is not required.
Should a student decide to propose an alternative to the traditional dissertation, s/he must develop a written proposal and present it to the examining committee and DGS for review, discussion, and approval. In addition, the student should contact the Graduate School for information on format and presentation of an alternative thesis.