Requirements regarding theses and dissertations vary by program. Review the specific requirements of your program via your department’s website or contact your graduate program director.
The process, from proposal to processing and presentation of final copies, is detailed in URI’s Thesis/Dissertation Process: From Proposal to Defense Brochure.
Explore Graduate School FormsOral Defense
For the oral defense, a sufficient number of completed copies of the thesis or dissertation, acceptable in form and substance to each member of the examining committee, is required along with a fully signed Request to Schedule an Oral Defense form.
At least 20 calendar days before the proposed defense, the form, and defense copies must be submitted to the Graduate School for scheduling of the examination.
Formatting
The document may be formatted before or after defense, but it’s preferred that it at least be submitted for formatting before defense. For formatting, the document must be exported to .pdf and uploaded to ProQuest ETD Administrator. Be sure to complete the submission. Merely uploading the document will not start the process. After the formatter’s comments and your committee’s comments have been incorporated, you will initiate a final submission email in accordance with the Checklist for Final Submissions.