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Guidelines for Ph.D. Degree Students

Document History:
March 2007 - approved by the faculty

Note from Doctoral Program Team:
This document is periodically revised in an effort to improve the program and comprehension of its many facets. Please send comments or suggestions to Charles McClure, Coordinator, Doctoral Program Team (cmcclure@ci.fsu.edu).

[PDF] version of these guidelines

Table of Contents

Goals
Admission Requirements
Doctoral Program Structure
General Regulations
Doctoral Student Coursework
Advancing to Candidacy
Doctoral Candidates
Appendices

FSU College of Information — Doctoral Program Guidelines

“The doctor of philosophy degree is a research degree designed to produce the critical scholar. The degree is granted only to students who: 1) have mastered definite fields of knowledge so that they are familiar not only with what has been done in their specific fields but also with the potential and opportunity for further advances; 2) have demonstrated capacity to do original and independent scholarly investigation or creative work in their selected fields; and 3) have the ability to integrate their selected fields of specialization with the larger domains of knowledge and understanding” (Graduate Bulletin, p. 48).

1. Goals

The Ph.D. in Information Studies offered by the Florida State University College of Information is a research degree designed to produce astute and creative researchers for academic, corporate, nonprofit, or governmental settings. Doctoral students will become familiar with a wide range of research methods, developing a background in social science, science, and/or humanities theories as they explain information phenomena, past and present. Doctoral students will also become aware of the multiplicity of problems in the information field to which these research techniques may be applied. To demonstrate this familiarity, they will perform original research, and report the results of their research in a clearly written dissertation.

2. Admission Procedures

Admission to the doctoral program is selective, based upon the assessment and balancing of a number of factors (including past performance) that, when taken together, provide evidence of superior scholastic ability and potential for success in a rigorous graduate program of research study. Given the interdisciplinary nature of the Ph.D. in Information Studies, applications from prospective students representing a wide range of fields are strongly encouraged.

All application materials must be submitted by February 1 for admission in the fall semester of that same year.

2.1 University Requirements

Applicants must meet the minimum requirements for admission to the Florida State University Graduate School as stated in the Graduate Bulletin.

2.2 College Requirements

In addition to the University requirements, application to the College of Information requires:

College of Information Application Form;

GRE scores of 1200 or higher on the combined verbal and quantitative portions of the examination, or substantial strength in other admission criteria;

An example (in the English language) of recent academic or professional writing;

Letters from three or more references who can attest to the experiences of the applicant and his or her potential to complete advanced study and research successfully; and

A personal statement detailing career objectives and general areas of research interests, and identifying the applicant’s reasons for undertaking advanced study.

After reviewing the application materials, the College may wish to interview the applicant in person or by phone to clarify the applicant’s goals and expectations.

2.3 Requirements for Students without Master’s Degrees

Applicants to the doctoral program typically hold a master’s degree or equivalent in a related field of study. In certain situations, the College may accept a student without a master’s degree into the doctoral program. In this case, the College will determine an appropriate program of study to ensure that the student meets all doctoral program requirements and has adequate knowledge and skills upon completion of coursework.

Students without master’s degrees who are accepted to the doctoral program will have to comply with all University doctoral program admissions policies. Florida State University requires students admitted to a doctoral degree program without a master’s degree either to complete a master’s degree or to complete thirty (30) credit hours of graduate work before beginning the twenty-four (24) credit hour residency requirement for the doctoral program.

2.4 Requirements for Non-Native English Speakers

Students for whom English is not their first language must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), achieving a score of 600 or higher on the paper-based version, 100 or higher on the Internet-based test, or 250 or higher on the computer-based test; or comply with other university standards if exempt from the TOEFL (see the Graduate Bulletin for more information about TOEFL).

The Office of the Dean of Faculties requires that students who hold teaching assistantships (see below) must be certified to be competent in spoken English. Students who are non-native English speakers and are applying for a teaching assistantship are required to pass an English competency exam that is held prior to the beginning of each semester. The TOEFL does not substitute for this exam.

2.5 Beginning the Doctoral Program

Admitted students are strongly encouraged to begin doctoral work in the fall semester to establish the proper sequence of courses. Students who wish to begin their studies earlier should consult with the College’s Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Research. Students whose records indicate a need to do additional preparatory work may be counseled to enroll earlier. Admitted students who are unable to begin their studies at the designated time may be required to re-apply if they wish to enroll at a later date.

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3. Doctoral Program Structure

The Ph.D. program at the FSU College of Information is overseen by the College’s Doctoral Program Team (DPT) in cooperation with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Research (ADAAR) and with assistance from the staff of the Dean’s Office. Each student’s individual progress through the program is guided by a Major Professor (MP) and a Supervisory Committee (SC).

3.1 Doctoral Program Team (DPT)

The DPT formulates policy for the Ph.D. program in the College of Information, and comprises at least four faculty members appointed by the Dean and three doctoral students elected by current doctoral students to represent first-year, second-year, and third-year students. The Chair of the Doctoral Program Team (DPTC) is a tenured faculty member with doctoral directive status who leads the formulation of policy and advises on procedures for the doctoral program in cooperation with the ADAAR, and advises students and faculty of relevant deadlines with assistance from the staff of the Dean’s Office. Student members of the DPT may participate in all DPT meetings except those related to doctoral student admissions and evaluations.

The DPT, in cooperation with the ADAAR, monitors each student’s progress through his or her first year of residency and assists in planning the student’s academic program of study, as well as advising the student on appropriate faculty to serve on the student’s SC. Staff members from the Dean’s Office provide clerical and record-keeping services for doctoral student files.

3.2 Major Professor (MP)

Upon entering the program, each student will be assigned an academic advisor to help guide him or her through the first year of the program; this advisor will also conduct the student’s first annual review (see below) if the student has not selected a Major Professor by that time.

During their first year of study, doctoral students should discuss ideas for possible dissertation topics with their academic advisor and other faculty members to benefit from their broad variety of experiences. Once the student has settled on a general area for his or her dissertation topic, and after consultation with the DPTC and the ADAAR, the student must select a Major Professor (MP) no later than the end of the first semester of the student’s second year in the program, and file a “Supervisory Committee Members” form in the Dean’s Office (see below).

The MP, who must have doctoral directive status,

serves as chair of the student’s Supervisory Committee (SC);

conducts the student’s annual reviews (with the assistance of the SC);

helps the student identify opportunities for research collaborations;

directs the student’s preliminary examinations; and

supervises the development of the candidate’s prospectus and dissertation.

The appointment of the MP must be approved by the ADAAR.

3.3 Supervisory Committee (SC)

The SC consists of the MP as chair, at least two other faculty members from the College of Information (at least one of whom must have doctoral directive status), and a representative-at-large drawn from the graduate faculty of the University who holds doctoral directive status but does not have an appointment in the College of Information. The SC may include additional faculty members with or without doctoral directive status.

The SC assists the MP by

participating in the student’s annual reviews;

writing preliminary examination questions as necessary;

evaluating preliminary examinations;

helping the candidate prepare his or her prospectus; and

advising the candidate on all aspects of the dissertation process.

The appointment of SC members must be approved by the ADAAR, and students must form a Supervisory Committee no later than the end of the first semester of the student’s second year in the program, filing a “Supervisory Committee Members” form in the Dean’s Office.

As their research evolves, students may feel the need to change MP or SC members. This is a natural part of the research process, and such changes are accomplished by submitting an updated “Supervisory Committee Members” form and obtaining approval from the ADAAR. Excessive changes over time, however, are discouraged and may not be approved.

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4. General Regulations

Doctoral students in the College of Information are expected to be active members of the College community, and as such, they are required to make adequate progress each year toward the completion of their Ph.D.

4.1 University Regulations and Record Keeping

Doctoral students are required to check the policies and procedures of the Office of Graduate Studies frequently, and to ensure adherence of their program procedures to all appropriate University policies governing the doctoral degree. They are also required to keep accurate and up-to-date records of their progress (including personal copies of all official forms), and to make sure these records are properly submitted to the Dean’s Office. Each student’s annual review will not be conducted unless all the student’s records are current.

4.2 Residency Requirements

While there is no specific residency requirement beyond the University’s minimum residencyrequirement of twenty-four (24) credit hours earned in a consecutive 12 month period for those with a relevant master’s degree, the student will need to take a minimum of thirty-six (36) credit hours beyond the master’s degree to satisfy the College’s minimum requirements for the doctoral degree (Directed Individual Studies courses do not count toward the residency requirement).

At least twenty-four (24) credit hours in the student’s program must be taken in the College of Information; dissertation hours cannot be used to fulfill the residency requirement. The student’s SC will determine how many additional credit hours may be necessary for the student to gain the knowledge and background required to pass the preliminary examination.

4.3 Residency Requirements for Students without Master’s Degrees

Florida State University requires students entering the program without a master’s degree to complete thirty (30) credit hours of graduate work before beginning the twenty-four (24) credit hour doctoral residency requirement.

4.4 Orientation

Each year, just prior to the beginning of the fall semester, all new doctoral students are required to attend an orientation meeting with the DPT, the ADAAR, and available faculty (continuing doctoral students are encouraged to attend). This meeting provides the student with an opportunity for initial contact with faculty and fellow students who may share common academic interests.

4.5 Teaching Experience

There are many opportunities for students to gain teaching experience through teaching assistantships in the College. All new doctoral students are required to attend the University’s Program in Instructional Excellence just prior to the fall semester, and students who have teaching assistantships are required to read A Resource Manual for Teaching Assistants and Visiting Instructors.

4.6 Annual Review

Doctoral students are required to prepare a portfolio of work for review by their SC no later than February 1 of each calendar year; it is the student’s responsibility to schedule this annual review. If the student fails to schedule an annual review in the spring semester, he/she will not be permitted to register for courses in the subsequent fall semester.

Students, in consultation with their MP, will determine the format of their portfolios (e.g. notebook, website, etc.), and are responsible for keeping them up-to-date during their time in the program. The following headings should be used to assist in the organization of the portfolio, but with the approval of MP may be modified to meet particular student needs:

Updated Doctoral Program Worksheet with suggested plan of study;

Annual review letters written by the MP from previous years;

Current CV;

Copies of papers, exams, and other significant items completed for courses while a Ph.D. student at FSU;

Copies of any presentations, electronic manuscripts, papers published, delivered, or submitted for publication or review while a Ph.D. student at FSU;

Statement of student self-assessment of past year’s activities and how these activities have been supportive of goals toward the Ph.D. and subsequent career objectives;

Statement of student perceived needs for coursework or study in the coming year to prepare for preliminary examinations, or if preliminary examinations are completed, to defend the prospectus; and

Other items deemed important by the student or the SC to faithfully represent the student’s progress or goals.

Students must submit their updated portfolio to their SC at least two weeks before the annual review is scheduled to take place. Once the annual review is complete, the MP is responsible for:

completing the Report on the Annual Review Form;

writing an annual review letter that describes the student’s progress during the year; and

making sure the completed form and letter are filed with the DPTC and ADAAR for inclusion in the student’s academic folder no later than March 1 of each calendar year.

As part of the annual review, the MP is required to indicate whether the student is making satisfactory progress toward the completion of the Ph.D., and the DPTC will use this information to present a summary report on the yearly progress of all College of Information doctoral students for discussion at the March faculty business meeting.

Doctoral candidates who have successfully defended their prospectus need not prepare a portfolio of work for review by their SC each calendar year, but their MPs are still required to submit a statement each year to the DPTC and ADAAR indicating whether the candidate is making satisfactory progress toward the completion of the Ph.D.

If the student’s SC determines the student is not making satisfactory progress toward his or her degree at the annual review, the MP will formulate a plan for improvement with specifics outlined in the annual review letter. If the student’s SC determines the student is still not making satisfactory progress at the next annual review, the student will be dismissed from the program.

4.7 Dismissal Policy

Doctoral students may be dismissed from the program for any of the following reasons:

Two unsatisfactory annual reviews in a row;

A doctoral coursework GPA less than 3.0;

Failure to pass any part of the preliminary exam after two attempts, or within six months of being notified of failure for the first time;

Failure to complete all requirements for the doctoral degree within five calendar years from passing the preliminary examination;

Failure to pass the prospectus defense;

Failure to pass the dissertation defense; and

Violations of any other University policy, including plagiarism and the academic honor policy.

Dismissal from the program will take the form of a written letter from the Dean of the College. The MP is responsible for overseeing adequate documentation of all aspects of a student’s progress through the program and for communicating with the ADAAR when issues arise concerning a student’s satisfactory progress.

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5. Doctoral Student Coursework

Doctoral students in the College of Information are required to take a number of graduate courses beyond the 30 hours satisfying the University’s requirements for beginning a doctoral program. These courses include doctoral seminars offered by the College, courses in a minor area outside the College, a statistics course, research collaborations, and other courses as determined by their SC.

5.1 Doctoral Seminars

Doctoral students are expected to take College of Information doctoral seminars each semester they are in residence before advancing to candidacy. Each student is required to take three core seminars:

LIS 6919 (Foundations of LIS);

LIS 6279 (Research in Information Studies); and

LIS 6278 (Issues in Theory Development).

Each student must also take three additional 6000-level courses, including special topics courses (LIS 6919) approved by the DPT but excluding Directed Individual Study (LIS 6909) and Research Collaboration (LIS 6911) courses.

5.2 Minor Courses

Each student must earn a minimum of 9 semester hours at the graduate level in a minor area with a 3.0 or higher GPA. Minors may cover aspects of information phenomena related to traditional academic disciplines like psychology, sociology, linguistics, communication, history, literature, and computer science, or may address relevant cross-disciplinary topics proposed by the student and agreed to by his or her SC. In general, no more than one methodology course may be counted toward the student's minor, unless the student's minor area is focused on a specific methodology.

All minor coursework must be taken outside of the College of Information. Doctoral-level courses from other institutions not counted toward a degree may be included in the minor with SC approval. In some instances, master’s level courses proposed by the student to broaden his or her background may be approved by the SC.

5.3 Statistics Requirement

The College of Information views competency in statistics as important to success in the program. Students must demonstrate competence in established statistical methodologies in one of two ways: a) students must complete at least one graduate course in statistics (taken within three years prior to the date of application) with a grade of B or better prior to being admitted; or b) students must demonstrate competence in statistics by taking a statistics course on campus during their first semester of enrollment. Should students choose the second option, the statistics course may be included as part of the 24 semester hours required for residency, but cannot count as part of the total number of hours taken within the doctoral program.

Additional coursework in statistics and other specific research methodologies (e.g., content analysis, survey research, experimental design, qualitative analysis, or historiography) may be required by the student’s individual program of study and areas of interest. Appropriate statistics and methods courses are offered by a variety of departments at the university.

5.4 Research Collaborations

Doctoral students are required to complete a minimum of six credit hours (maximum 12 credit hours) of research collaboration (LIS 6911); any hours above 12 credit hours are counted as duplicate credit. These research collaborations may or may not be with their MPs, but must meet with MP approval. The objective of the research collaborations is to provide students with:

an opportunity to work with faculty engaged in research in mutual areas of interest;

firsthand experience in the practicalities of research investigations;

an opportunity to develop and strengthen research skills;

experience in specific research methodologies;

experience in interpreting and writing up research results; and

a foundation to support dissertation research.

After consultation with the MP, the doctoral student will approach faculty with related research interests to develop a formal contract (see sample template) that articulates:

the student’s anticipated tasks and responsibilities in the research project;

the amount of time expected from the student during the semester and an initial projection of how the time might be distributed;

working arrangements in terms of the location(s) of work, need to travel, the identity of other collaborators on the project, and other logistics specific to working on the project;

the student’s specific learning objectives (which may include developing a conceptual mastery of a topic area and/or specific research-related skills); and

an agreement on how the student’s performance will be evaluated.

Specific research activities will vary based on the contract negotiated between the student and the faculty member and will reflect the student’s need to acquire skills and gain experience in completing specific research tasks and responsibilities. Required readings will vary with the nature of the research project and the specific tasks or skill development for which the student will be responsible. All projects are subject to final approval by the MP, the DPTC, and the ADAAR.

Doctoral students are encouraged to give a public presentation that demonstrates experience in the research generated by research collaborations. These public presentations may be scheduled into the College’s regular Research Colloquium or other research presentation series.

5.5 Directed Individual Studies

Doctoral students may take up to 12 credit hours of Directed Individual Study (DIS) courses, LIS 6909; any hours above 12 credit hours are counted as duplicate credit. During the semester in which the student is registered to take the preliminary examination, he or she may register for up to twelve (12) hours of LIS 6909, six (6) of which may be added retroactively as dissertation hours (LIS 6980) following the successful completion of the examination.

5.6 Additional Credit Hours

If deemed necessary by the student’s SC, additional credit hours may be required to fulfill individual program requirements in various areas such as research methods, foreign languages, statistics, or computer technology.

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6. Advancing to Candidacy

When the student is ready to advance to candidacy, the MP works with the other members of the SC to develop and administer the student’s preliminary examination, which confirms that a doctoral student has attained the required level of comprehensive scholarship and possesses knowledge of appropriate techniques for conducting research in selected areas of library and information studies.

Before taking the preliminary examination, the doctoral student must have completed all required course work with no unresolved incompletes.

6.1 Preparing for the Preliminary Examination

There are no common, predetermined subject areas in which all students are examined; each examination is individualized according to the student’s area of specialization and plan of study.

Examination criteria generally relate to the following factors:

mastery of specific knowledge in an area of specialization;

familiarity with current trends in that area;

knowledge of scholarly investigation in that area;

knowledge of the interrelationships between the minor field and the area of specialization; and

ability to relate the selected area of specialization to larger domains of knowledge and scholarship.

The SC determines when the student is ready to take the examination, and is responsible for setting dates for the preliminary exam and developing a set of preliminary examination questions. The student must register for LIS 6984 Doctoral Preliminary Examination (zero credits) during the semester in which the examination will be taken.

With the assistance of the SC, the student must prepare a statement of goals pursued in his or her program of study that identifies and defines the student’s major and minor areas of specialization. Examination questions will be based on the student’s statement and typically comprise four parts covering the student’s:

major area of specialization

minor area of specialization;

theory; and

methods.

The outside member of the SC may prepare the question for the minor in consultation with the MP. Examination questions must be approved by the ADAAR; questions must be submitted for approval two weeks before the date the examination is to begin.

6.2 Preliminary Examination

The student’s SC may schedule the preliminary examination to extend over any consecutive seven-day period. The student will receive all questions by 10:00 AM on the first day of the examination, and must return the completed answers by 10:00 AM one week later (accommodations for religious obligations will be made on a case by case basis by the SC). Detailed instructions, including formatting instructions, will be given to the student along with the questions. A copy of the completed examination must be given to each member of the SC.

Answers to the four parts of the preliminary examination will be graded using the following criteria:

demonstrated knowledge of the literature, including the ability to point to specific sources and to link people or groups with ideas;

demonstrated ability to integrate specific topics across the broader field of information studies;

demonstrated ability to synthesize, analyze, and draw out concepts from the literature;

demonstrated ability to develop a personal perspective on the issues discussed and defend that perspective through reference to relevant literature;

demonstrated ability to organize information presented; and

demonstrated ability to use correct grammar, sentence construction, and appropriate documentation style.

The SC will evaluate and decide whether to “Pass” or “Not Pass” each part of the examination (there are no high passes, marginal passes, marginal failures, etc.). The parts are independent of one another, and performance on one part does not affect performance on any other part. After determining the results of the examination, the MP informs the DPTC, the ADAAR, and the student of the results as soon as possible, but no later than one month after the end of the examination.

The SC has the authority to request an oral review of any part of the written preliminary examination questions with the student after the answers have been read and before determining a “Pass” or “ Not Pass.” If an oral review is administered, it will be conducted within three weeks after the written examination has been completed. Passing each part of the preliminary examination must include passing the oral component if applicable.

If students receive a “ Not Pass” for any part, they may be permitted to retake that part of the examination by answering a different question developed by the SC for that part; students will have two days to retake each part of the examination, up to a maximum of seven days to retake all four parts of the exam. The SC will offer suggestions and learning activities that may enhance the student’s performance; students may not change their topic areas after receiving a “ Not Pass.” Failure to pass any part of the examination after two attempts or within six months of being notified of failure for the first time will result in dismissal from the program.

If the student has procedural questions about the preliminary examination (including the oral review), he or she may request a meeting with the SC as a whole. If the student wishes to appeal the results of the examination, he or she must notify the Dean in writing within 60 days following the administration of the examination. If the Dean is unable to successfully adjudicate the appeal, an additional meeting involving the Dean, the ADAAR, the DPTC, the MP, and the student will be held. If the issue still has not resolved, the student may invoke the University Appeals System (see Graduate Bulletin, p.53), which has authority to render a final decision.

6.3 Admission to Candidacy

A student who has passed all parts of the preliminary examination becomes a candidate for the doctoral degree, and must be admitted to candidacy at least six months prior to awarding the Ph.D. degree. The MP must file the Admission to Candidacy form before the doctoral student registers for dissertation credits.

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7. Doctoral Candidates

Doctoral candidates must complete all requirements for the doctoral degree within five calendar years from the time they pass the preliminary examination. If all requirements are not completed within this time, the SC must recommend an extension, require that a new preliminary examination be successfully completed, or dismiss the student from the doctoral program.

7.1 Prospectus

The College of Information requires a prospectus on a research project suitable for the doctoral dissertation. The content of the prospectus should follow accepted research practices appropriate to the candidate’s area of research and generally contains sections labeled “Introduction,” “Statement of Purpose,” “Literature Review,” “Methodology,” and “Timeline.” Candidates interested in conducting research using methodologies that do not fit with this approach should consult with the MP to determine additional specifications for the type of study contemplated.

The MP assists in the development of the student’s prospectus by:

stipulating the minimum specifications for the dissertation;

encouraging participation of SC members in the prospectus and dissertation stages;

determining when the prospectus is ready to defend (in consultation with the candidate and the SC members);

scheduling the prospectus defense, and announcing the time, date, and prospectus title at least two weeks prior to the prospectus defense; and

inviting the faculty, students, and general public to attend the public presentation prior to the prospectus defense.

Prior to the prospectus defense, the doctoral candidate is required to:

coordinate with the MP to arrange meetings with the SC;

contact and gain the approval of organizations (e.g., Human Subjects Committee) and individuals expected to participate in the study (if applicable);

reserve a room and appropriate multimedia equipment;

distribute copies of the prospectus to the SC at least two weeks prior to the defense; and

place one copy of the prospectus on reserve in the Goldstein Library at least two weeks prior to the prospectus defense.

Prior to the defense, the candidate will present his or her prospectus in a public presentation, including a public questions and answers session. Following this presentation, the candidate will defend his or her prospectus in a private meeting with an examining committee consisting of the candidate's SC, the Dean of the College (or whomever the Dean appoints to be his representative), and other faculty members as appointed by the Dean; other members of the graduate faculty may attend the defense, but may not ask questions.

The defense is an oral examination presided over by the MP, and the committee's determination of the success of the defense may take place in a meeting without the candidate. The committee will certify in writing to the ADAAR the results of the examination: passed, failed, or to be re-examined. The results of a re-examination must indicate the student either passed or failed.

After the prospectus defense, the MP:

provides a list of the required revisions to student and the Dean’s Office within one month of the defense;

informs the SC members when approved changes have been made;

approves the revised prospectus in consultation with the SC (if revisions are necessary);

signs any necessary forms when the agreed-upon changes have been incorporated into the prospectus; and

ensures that a permanent official copy of the approved prospectus is placed in the student’s file in the Dean’s Office.

After the prospectus defense, the candidate is responsible for

revising the prospectus as determined by the SC; and

submitting the Dissertation Prospectus/Topic Approval Form to the Office of Graduate Studies.

7.2 Publishable Paper

Prior to defending the dissertation, each doctoral student is required to produce a paper of publishable quality. This requirement is designed to ensure that students learn how to write for publication and are aware of publisher requirements regarding manuscript submissions. Papers may be based on the student’s dissertation research, research collaborations, or other original research, but do not need to be single-authored. If the paper is joint-authored, however, the student must have contributed a substantial portion of the final product. Actual publication, or submission for publication, is not required, but is encouraged.

Students may satisfy the publishable paper requirement in one of two ways:

Writing a paper that is published (or accepted for publication) in a peer-reviewed journal during their time in the doctoral program; or

Submitting a paper to the SC for review, and with the approval of the SC, submitting the same paper to the DPT for a final review to determine whether the paper is of publishable quality. If the DPT and SC are not in agreement, the ADAAR will review the paper and make the final determination.

When this requirement is satisfied, the student will complete a “Fulfillment of Publishable Paper Requirement” form to be filed in the Dean’s Office.

7.3 Dissertation

University regulations require that a minimum of 24 hours of dissertation credit (LIS 6980) be earned between the time the student is admitted to candidacy and the date the degree is awarded. The candidate must register for a minimum of two hours each semester in which a substantial amount of work is being done on the dissertation until the degree is complete. The number of credit hours taken each semester should represent the proportion of time devoted to the dissertation, whether on or off campus. It is the responsibility of the candidate to notify the MP and the College Records Manager’s office when registering for dissertation credits by mail or telephone since the College may not receive notification of this registration from the Registrar.

The MP assists in the development of the student’s dissertation by

advising the candidate on all aspects of the dissertation in a timely fashion;

coordinating and approving advice from the SC and other faculty;

reviewing drafts of the dissertation and providing guidance for necessary changes;

determining when the dissertation is ready to defend (in consultation with the candidate and the SC members);

scheduling the dissertation defense, and announcing the time, date, and dissertation title at least four weeks prior to the defense;

inviting the faculty, students, and general public to attend the public presentation prior to the defense; and

preparing an announcement of the dissertation defense for University Publications by completing the Defense Announcement Form with the candidate and sending it to the Office of Graduate Studies, 419 Westcott, no later than 5:00 p.m. on the Tuesday two weeks prior to the dissertation defense. The Defense Announcement Form must include the title of the dissertation, date, time, and location of the defense, and the names of the student’s SC members.

The date of the dissertation defense must be no fewer than four weeks prior to the date on which the doctoral degree is to be awarded.

Prior to the dissertation defense, the doctoral candidate is required to:

ensure that the dissertation is in conformance with the accepted prospectus and all other University requirements;

reserve a room and appropriate multimedia equipment;

distribute copies of the dissertation to the SC at least four weeks prior to the defense;

place one copy of the dissertation on reserve in the Goldstein Library at least four weeks prior to the defense; and

enroll in LIS 6985 (Dissertation Defense) for zero credit hours during the semester in which the defense of the dissertation is to be held (see the guidelines for “Examination in Defense of Dissertation” in the Graduate Bulletin).

Prior to the defense, the candidate will present his or her dissertation in a public presentation, including a public questions and answers session. Following this presentation, the candidate will defend his or her dissertation in a private meeting with an examining committee consisting of the candidate's SC, the Dean of the College (or whomever the Dean appoints to be his representative), and other faculty members as appointed by the Dean; other members of the graduate faculty may attend the defense, but may not ask questions.

The defense is an oral examination presided over by the MP, and the committee's determination of the success of the defense may take place in a meeting without the candidate. The committee will certify in writing to the ADAAR the results of the examination: passed, failed, or to be re-examined. The results of a re-examination must indicate the student either passed or failed.

After the dissertation defense, the MP:

provides a list of the required revisions to the student and the Dean’s Office within one month of the defense;

informs the SC members when approved changes have been made;

approves the revised dissertation in consultation with the SC (if revisions are necessary);

ensures that the dissertation title page and the Office of the Registrar and the Dean of Graduate Studies oral defense forms are signed by all members of the SC, including the representative-at-large;

ensures that a permanent official copy of the approved dissertation is placed in the student’s academic file in the Dean’s Office;

assists with final clearance for graduation; and

hoods the graduate (if desired) at the graduation ceremony.

After the dissertation defense, the candidate is responsible for

revising the dissertation as determined by the SC;

following the timeline of due dates for each step of dissertation clearance and publication as specified by the Office of Graduate Studies;

ensuring that the dissertation title page conforms to current University policy;

submitting all necessary forms including the Final Term Degree Clearance, FSU ETD Access Agreement, UMI Doctoral Microfilming Agreement, NSF Survey of Earned Doctorates, University Library Exit Survey, and Student Information forms to the Office of Graduate Studies Manuscript and Final Clearance Advisor; and

delivering the final copy of the dissertation to the University bibliographer.

The representative-at-large on the SC is required to submit an Outside Committee Member Dissertation Defense Report form to the Dean of the College and the Dean of Graduate Studies within one week after the date of defense, certifying that the examination has been conducted according to University policy.

7.4 Graduation

Doctoral students will need to apply for graduation, obtain clearance from the College and University, and order graduation robes if attending the graduation ceremony (for more information, see the Graduations section of the Office of the Registrar’s website). Doctoral students need to be aware of University timelines and due dates, and to meet all such dates when submitting their final copy of their dissertation to the university and preparing to graduate. For more information, see the Office of Graduate Studies Guidelines and Requirements for Electronic Theses, Treatises, and Dissertations and the UMI Doctoral Publishing Guidelines on the Dean of Graduate Studies website.

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