Year Four

Annual Thesis Committee Meeting #2

Focus on Research Output and Progress

• Your fourth year is the time to think about how to wrap up research, set goals with your advisor for graduation, plan the outstanding publications, make a timeline for graduation and make plan for thesis writing.

• If 3-4 first author publications are written, thesis writing can be a relatively quick (1-2 months) and painless process.

• Early 5th year is also the time to think about future employment.

  • If seeking a postdoc position, now is the time to contact potential advisors, 1 year in advance, as well as to look for fellowship opportunities.

Written Dissertation/Thesis

Writing

• The dissertation is written on a subject chosen by the candidate that is related to an area of study in the DCB. It must be of such nature as to enable the student to demonstrate their ability to carry out independent investigation and study.

• Consult your PI and thesis committee on your writing progress.

Formatting

• Graduate Council has established guidelines for the formatting of dissertations in order to ensure uniformity for manuscripts that are archived in the UCSB Library, as well as to ensure the widest possible dissemination of graduate student research.

• Refer to formatting resources and templates provided by Graduate Division.

Filing

The minimum requirements to meet a filing deadline are:

1. Electronically file your thesis/dissertation/DMA supporting document with ProQuest by the filing deadline (midnight Pacific time).

2. Submit your signed signature page (DocuSign is recommended) to the UCSB Graduate Division (gradacademics@graddiv.ucsb.edu) by the filing deadline.

   1. Reach out to the Staff Graduate Advisor if you would like assistance with this form.

   2. Click here for an example of a signature page

Additional Materials needed (but can be submitted after the Filing Deadline)

• Completion of the Exit Surveys (doctoral students only)

• Completion of the Departmental Exit Survey (all students)

• Submission of your approved thesis and signature page to the Staff Graduate Advisor

Written Dissertation/Thesis

• For the Defense of the Dissertation, the candidate must defend their work before the Dissertation Committee and give a one-hour public seminar presentation. The public presentation is considered part of the Examination. The Committee will meet with the student after the Examination to discuss any areas that need revision or additional work. The dissertation must have preliminary approval of all members of the Ph.D. Committee before the final oral presentation is scheduled.

•  The student must advertise the defense. At least two weeks in advance of the defense date, the student should email the Staff Graduate Program Advisor to request an announcement be forwarded to all members of the Department and to verify that all forms are in order. 

  • The student must provide the following information:

    • Date, Time, and Location of the defense

    • Any changes to the dissertation committee

    • The title of the dissertation

    • An abstract of the dissertation

  • The student is responsible for ensuring that the Dissertation Committee Chair retrieves the applicable paperwork from the Staff Advisor’s office before the defense and returns it immediately following the defense.

  • After the final defense, the Dissertation Committee Chair reports the results of the defense to the Staff Graduate Program Advisor via Form III, which is then forwarded to the Graduate Division. The student should also submit the Departmental Exit Survey to the Staff Graduate Program Advisor, complete employment separation paperwork with the Payroll and Personnel Analyst, and return all department keys, and consult the Graduate Division for additional final steps.