DOCTORAL CANDIDATES THESIS CHECKLIST

 

Please refer to the current Graduate Catalog for further information.

A.      REGISTRAR

1.        Registration for the semester in which the degree will be conferred is required.

2.        A Degree Application Form must be on file with the Registrar's Office, refer to the academic calendar for due dates applicable to the semester you intend to graduate.

 

B.      GRADUATE SERVICES

1.        An approved Plan of Study must be on file with the Registrar's Office with a copy on file with the Office of Graduate Education. (Courses listed on the Plan of Study must agree with courses shown on your transcript.)

2.        An approved Doctoral Committee Nomination Form must be on file with the Office of Graduate Education.

3.        A record of successful completion of the Candidacy Examination must be on file with the Office of Graduate Education.

4.        A fully complete original Record of Thesis/Project Exam Form signed by your Committee Chair must be provided to the Office of Graduate Education.  This form is signed by the Office of Graduate Education and sent to the Registrar's Office to notify them that your thesis requirement has been met, please be sure to add the number of thesis credits awarded (this is the total number of dissertation credits on your Plan of Study).

5.        One paper copy of the doctoral thesis, including title page with original signatures, printed on acid-free bond paper with 25 percent cotton content must be presented to the Office of Graduate Education.

In addition you must submit one electronic copy of your dissertation and one electronic copy of your abstract and abstract title page.  Information and instructions for electronic submission can be found at http://library.rpi.edu/update.do?artcenterkey=1072.

6.        One (1) additional copy of the Abstract (350 words or less) on acid-free bond paper with 25 percent cotton content must be submitted with an Abstract Title Page. The Abstract Title Page does not require signatures.

7.        A receipt from the Bursar’s Office for the $80.00 binding and processing fee.

8.        A completed ProQuest Information and Learning Company (formerly UMI) Microfilm Agreement must be turned in with the thesis. This agreement is available at the Graduate School and on the web at:  http://www.rpi.edu/dept/grad/docs/UMI_Dissertation_Agreement_Form.pdf

9.        Optionally, ProQuest Information and Learning Company (PQIL) will also assist in filing for the copyright of your dissertation. If you elect to use this service, please submit a money order for $65.00, payable to PQIL.

10.           A completed survey of Earned Doctorates form must be submitted with the thesis. The survey is available at the Office of Graduate Education and on the web at:  http://www.rpi.edu/dept/grad/docs/sed03-04.pdf

11.           The Graduate Student Exit Survey available in the Office of Graduate Education or at:   http://www.rpi.edu/dept/grad/docs/GradSurvey.pdf.   Please bring the completed form when you submit your thesis.

12.           We ask that you please take a moment to complete one additional survey, the First Destination Survey, which can be found at this website:  https://dbconnect.cdc.rpi.edu/first_destination_survey/first_destination_survey_start.php.  We have many employers who request compensation guidelines for PhD grads-this data can help strengthen salary offers for our students.

Submission Dates:          For Dec. 2006  - 12/15/06                  For May 2007 - 05/04/07                       For August 2007 – 08/03/07

 

Please Note:   To attend commencement on May 19, 2007 you must file a degree application by 9/22/06 and attend status check on May 3, 2007.  For more information visit the commencement web site at: http://www.rpi.edu/dept/NewsComm/Calendar/Commencement/index.html or you can email your questions to commencement@rpi.edu.

 

Dennis Gornic, Associate Dean
Office of Graduate Education
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Email: gradschool@rpi.edu
Phone: (518)276-6488        Fax: (518)276-2256                                                                                   (Revised 08/24/06)