Academic Catalog

Document formatting requirements, FAQs, and further information are available at the Office of Graduate & Professional Studies–Electronic Guidelines. 

Steps and Requirements:

Selecting a Topic

During a preliminary conference with the thesis or dissertation chair, graduate students should select a suitable area for research. Several factors help determine the appropriateness of a research topic, such as whether essential data can be readily obtained, whether critical library references and/or technical or specialized equipment are available, whether substantive results may be attained within a reasonable time, and whether faculty members with appropriate specialties are available to provide guidance.

Establishing a Committee

As early as is reasonable, students should select a thesis or dissertation committee in consultation with the thesis or dissertation chair. Students should work closely with the committee members in carrying out a program of research and writing a thesis or dissertation.

Thesis committees must include at least three members who have earned terminal degrees in the field and have relevant expertise. In rare circumstances and with departmental approval, a committee member without a terminal degree in the field but with relevant expertise unique to the project may be considered. The committee chair must be a full-time faculty member at NAU and affiliated with the student’s program. At least one other committee member must also be faculty affiliated with the student’s program.

A dissertation committee includes at least four faculty members who hold earned doctorates and have relevant expertise. In rare circumstances and with approval from the Office of Graduate & Professional Studies, a committee member with a master’s degree and relevant expertise unique to the project may be considered. The committee chair must be a full-time faculty member at NAU. In addition to the chair, at least one other committee member must be from the student’s department or doctoral program. At least one of the remaining two members must be from outside the department in which the degree is earned.

Once committee members are identified for the dissertation committee, the committee chair makes a recommendation that must be approved by the department/school head and sent to the Office of Graduate & Professional Studies.

A Committee Recommendation includes the proposed members, a 1 to 2-page summary of the proposed research and the vitae of any members not employed by NAU. The summary will include, but is not limited to, descriptions of the scope, purpose, methodology, and impact of the proposed research. The summary will also include a list of the preliminary resources forming the foundation of the research.

Committee members and students must be alert to potential conflicts of interest. If an unavoidable conflict is identified, continued participation by the committee member requires the approval of the committee chair, and a written plan to manage the conflict must be submitted to the Office of Graduate & Professional Studies.

Degree-granting programs may have additional requirements for committee membership/structure that must be followed.

Following the submission and review of the Committee Recommendation, the Graduate Dean officially appoints the members of dissertation committees. Students and committee members will be notified of this action in writing.

Registering for Thesis or Dissertation Credits

Students may register for 1 to 12 units of thesis (699) or dissertation (799) during any fall or spring semester or 1 to 6 units of credit during any summer session. Each degree program may limit the number of units of thesis or dissertation credit that can apply toward the degree. See specific program requirements in the Academic Catalog.

When students begin working on a Thesis (699) or Dissertation (799), the university expects them to enroll in these courses each semester from the time they begin this work until the degree is completed. Please see NAU Policy 100326: Continuous Enrollment, Graduate, for specific requirements concerning continuous enrollment.

Submitting the Thesis or Dissertation for Format Check

At least 10 business days before the scheduled defense, a student must submit the thesis or dissertation document electronically to the Office of Graduate & Professional Studies' Electronic Thesis and Dissertation (ETD) Coordinator. The Coordinator will check it against the Office of Graduate & Professional Studies' requirements for document formatting, and provide the student with a report of required revisions. To obtain details regarding document formatting, thesis and dissertation checklists, and deadlines, students may contact the Office of Graduate & Professional Studies or visit the Office of Graduate & Professional Studies website.

Scheduling the Final Defense/Oral Examination

When the thesis or dissertation is essentially in its final form and the committee agrees that the document is ready, the examination/defense should be scheduled.

Some departments have restrictions on when examinations/defenses can be held; students must consult with their committee chairs or department chairs for information about departmental restrictions.

Dissertation Defenses Only

Dissertation defenses must be scheduled using the Dissertation Defense Scheduling Form, which must be submitted to the Office of Graduate & Professional Studies at least 10 business days before the anticipated defense date. Dissertation defenses are not permitted during the last two weeks of the term.

Generally, members of the dissertation committee, the doctoral student, and the University Graduate Committee representative must be physically present at the dissertation defense. However, given the global initiatives and geographically distributed nature of some NAU programs, the Graduate Dean may approve participation from a distant location for one committee member should physical attendance result in extraordinary hardship. In unavoidable circumstances, two committee members may attend remotely. At a minimum, the committee chair, the student, and one other committee member must attend at the same location. All committee members must attend the entire defense.

Permission for a committee member to participate from a distant location and the justification for the request must be presented in writing to the Associate Vice Provost of the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies when the Defense Scheduling Form is submitted at least 10 business days prior to the scheduled defense date. Permission is granted only when there is no other option available (for detailed information, please refer to the Dissertation Defense Policy and Procedures.

Thesis Defenses Only

Scheduling of thesis examinations/defenses during the last two weeks of spring and fall terms may vary by academic unit. Generally, members of the thesis committee and the student must be present at the same location for a thesis defense. In rare circumstances, participation from a distant location may be approved for a committee member by the committee chair and the graduate coordinator. At a minimum, the committee chair, the student, and one other committee member must attend at the same location. All committee members must attend the entire defense. Thesis defenses are not permitted during the last week of the term.

Evaluation of the Final Defense or Oral Examination

A two-thirds majority of the appointed committee is required for the student to pass the oral examination/defense. The committee will note the result and any required revisions to the thesis or dissertation on Oral Defense Form Part I (Part I). The committee may appoint the chair and/or other member(s) as designee(s) to review the final submission, if appropriate.

The committee chair or a department representative will submit Part I to the ETD Coordinator within 48 hours of the defense. In the case of a dissertation defense, the UGC Representative may deliver Part I. Under no circumstances will the Office of Graduate & Professional Studies accept this form from a student.

Should a student fail to pass the oral examination, a student may repeat the oral examination/defense one time. Whether or not a formal vote is taken during the scheduled examination/defense, this will be considered a first examination/defense, and the student will have one additional opportunity to pass the oral examination/defense.

Following the completion of any required revisions, final approval will be verified through the Oral Defense Form Part II (Part II) and signed by the designee(s) noted in Part I.  A designee or department representative will then submit Part II to the ETD Coordinator. Under no circumstances will the Office of Graduate & Professional Studies accept this form from a student.

If the final copy of a thesis or dissertation is not approved within six months of the date of the defense, the defense may be declared invalid and may have to be repeated.

Submitting Final Copies

Final copies of theses or dissertations are electronically submitted via the Office of Graduate & Professional Studies electronic thesis/dissertation submission process as soon as the designee(s) sign(s) Oral Defense Form Part II and delivers it to the Office of Graduate & Professional Studies ETD Coordinator.

Committee members and the department may require bound copies. Students should check with the thesis or dissertation chair and department for details. 

Graduation and Additional Credit

To graduate during the term in which they defend, students must have the final document approved by their committee, and the Oral Defense Form Part II on file in the Office of Graduate & Professional Studies by the Registrar’s designated end-of-session date. If students are unable to complete the thesis or dissertation, they must comply with the requirements of the Continuous Enrollment policy, which may include additional credit. Please see NAU Policy 100326: Continuous Enrollment, Graduate, for specific requirements concerning continuous enrollment.

Graduate students may petition for an exception to any academic, non-grade-related, graduate regulation for which no specific appeal or petition process exists. Petitions should be submitted, in writing, to the Vice Provost of the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies. When applicable, the student’s advisor and department chair may endorse the petition letter. In some specific instances, utilizing the Academic Appeal Policy and University Graduate Committee Hearing Panel - Graduate is more appropriate.

Students should contact the Vice Provost of the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies for clarification on which process to initiate.