Be sure to either mark the “Candidate - Yes” box on your registration form or inform the Graduate Secretary that you are a candidate for graduation the semester you plan to graduate.

USEFUL RESOURCES

• 5th Edition of the Publication Manual for APA

• Thesis Formatting Office web site: www.gradschool.purdue.edu/thesis.cfm. There are links for the following: Thesis Manual, Microsoft Word & Adobe pdf Tips, Word Thesis Template, Master’s Final Deposit Checklist, Ph.D. Final Deposit Checklist, Submission Procedures for Electronic Thesis Deposited (ETD) for Ph.D. students etc.

FINAL DEFENSE

No less than three weeks before your final defense, give the Graduate Secretary the following information so that she may complete the Request for Final Examination form:

• Date, time, and location of the final defense (students are responsible for scheduling the room and may do this with any secretary)
• Names of committee members (if your outside the department member is not a Purdue faculty member, see the Graduate Manual for information about special certification that needs to be done before scheduling your final defense)
• Title of thesis/dissertation

On the day of the final defense, pick up the Report of Final Examination form and the Thesis Acceptance form from the Graduate Secretary. Ph.D. students will also be given several surveys. Students leaving the University will be given an address form that needs to be returned to the Graduate Secretary.

After the final defense, return the Report of Final Examination form to the Graduate Secretary. She will obtain the Head of the Graduate Program’s signature and send the form to the Graduate School.

The Thesis Acceptance form can be signed by the student’s committee at the final defense. However, the major professor should not sign the two places on the form for the Major Professor and Chair, Final Examination Committee until all changes have been made to the thesis/dissertation and the format is correct.

THE FINAL THESIS/DISSERTATION

After any necessary changes have been made to the thesis/dissertation, submit a copy to your major professor. The major professor can then sign the Thesis Acceptance form. This form and a copy of the thesis/dissertation is then given to the Department Head for approval before the student deposits the thesis/dissertation. You should allow at least 3 days for the Head to review the thesis/dissertation. Plan your defense accordingly. At this time, give the Graduate Secretary a copy of your signed Thesis Acceptance form.

Master's Students:

The student is then ready to have the Deposit Copy made on 100% cotton paper and bound with the original Thesis Acceptance for as the first page. Binding for the Deposit Copy can be done at Printing Services. Make an appointment with the Thesis/Dissertation Office, Room 170, Young Hall (494-2600). The Thesis Office will check the formatting of your thesis/dissertation as described below. If the thesis/dissertation is acceptable, you will be given a Thesis Receipt that you take to the Graduate School.

Ph.D. Students:

Doctoral students are required to submit their dissertation electronically (ETD) in Adobe pdf. See the Thesis Office web site (www.gradschool.purdue.edu/thesis.cfm) for submission instructions, etc.

Ph.D. candidates must still schedule a "final deposit appointment" and meet all established Graduate School deadlines. Candidates should submit ETD no later than 24 hours before their final appointment to allow the Thesis Office (and the candidate) sufficient review, turnaround, and correction time before the final deposit appointment.

DEPARTMENT AND MAJOR PROFESSOR COPIES

Master's and doctoral students in CDFS are no longer required to give the Graduate Secretary copies for the department and their major professor. However, the major professor may request a copy and indicate how that copy is bound. If the major professor requests a bound copy of the thesis or dissertation, please see the graduate Secretary.

Version:7/07

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