UMMC Policy and Procedure Manual E-SPH-GEN-GEN-PO-00073
Subject: SOPH Thesis and Dissertation Defense
Revised Date: 7/22/2021 Effective Date: 12/6/2016
Prepared By:
Jeanna D. Wilkes
Approved By:
Natalie W. Gaughf

Reviewed By:
Sydney R. Murphy

John D. Bower School of Population Health

DOCUMENT TYPE: Policy

REVIEW PERIOD: 1 Year

TITLE: Thesis and Dissertation

PURPOSE: To establish policy for student theses and dissertations in the John D. Bower School of Population Health.

POLICY: The thesis or dissertation defense is conducted by the student’s advisory committee and consists of a public presentation and oral defense of the thesis/dissertation. 

A public oral defense of the thesis or dissertation is mandatory. The public oral defense must be publicly announced at least ten (10) working days before the student’s public defense date, as described in the SOPH Thesis and Dissertation Guidelines.

The thesis or dissertation must be submitted to the advisory committee and uploaded to ProQuest at least ten (10) working days before the defense date.

All advisory committee members as approved on the Masters Advisory Committee Nomination Form/Doctoral Advisory Committee Nomination Form must be present at the public oral defense. 

In private deliberation, the advisory committee determines the acceptability of the oral defense and thesis or dissertation. Further questioning of the student may be included in the committee’s deliberations. Upon successful completion of the oral defense, the advisory committee must complete the Thesis Defense Certification Form or Dissertation Defense Certification Form as appropriate.

Following a successful thesis or dissertation defense, the student must complete any editing mandates or suggestions made by their advisory committee. The student also must address formatting changes suggested by the Designated Official in the SOPH Office of the Dean.

The student must submit a final draft of the thesis/dissertation to ProQuest no later than ten (10) working days after the Thesis/Dissertation defense.

SCOPE: All SOPH Students

REFERENCES: University of Mississippi Medical Center. SOPH Thesis and Dissertation Guidelines. Retrieved from: www.umc.edu/soph