Dissertation and Completion of Degree

All UMKC Ph.D. degrees require a dissertation as the final component of the program. The doctoral faculty view the dissertation as one of the most important aspects of the student's experience because:

• It is a work of original research or scholarship that makes a contribution to existing knowledge.
• It is an educational experience that demonstrates the candidate's mastery of research methods and tools of the specialized fields.
• It demonstrates the candidate's ability to address a major intellectual problem.

Final Dissertation Examination

Final examinations in defense of the dissertation are open to all members of the doctoral faculty, who may attend as interested observers. The format and procedures of the defense are determined by the supervisory committee and its chair. The date, time and location must be announced and published at least two weeks before each final examination takes place. This examination may be conducted only after the dissertation has been approved by the dean of the School of Graduate Studies, and may not be administered when UMKC is not officially in session.

The defense of the dissertation is approved when a majority of the supervisory committee recommend approval and sign the Report of the Result of Final Doctoral Examination form. Within 48 hours of the defense, the supervisory committee chair will report the results of the final dissertation examination in writing to the candidate.

Deposit of Approved Dissertation with Libraries

For regulations pertaining to deposit of the approved dissertation with the libraries, please refer to Thesis and Dissertation Preparation and Approval Process, included under Graduate Academic Regulations in this catalog section.