Thesis & Dissertation Detailed Procedures

Completing your thesis or dissertation requires careful planning, consistent communication with your committee, and strict attention to Graduate School procedures. The steps below outline the process from the time you begin planning through final submission. Always consult your major professor (committee chair) and your program for discipline-specific requirements.

Getting Started

Plan early. Begin thinking about your project as soon as you enter your program.

Step 1: Register for Thesis or Dissertation Hours

  •  Register for thesis/dissertation credit in any semester when you receive assistance from your committee. You must also be registered the semester you graduate.

  • Your major professor serves as committee chair and primary advisor. Meet early to discuss your research interests, potential committee members, and project feasibility.

Step 2: Develop a Tentative Proposal

Before forming a committee, outline:

  • What you want to study (topic and purpose)

  • When and where you will conduct the work

  • How you plan to complete the research

Step 3: Select and Appoint Your Committee

Once you and your major professor agree that your project is feasible and appropriate for your degree, the next step is to form your committee. Committee procedures may vary by program, so always confirm with your major professor.

Keep in mind:

  • Faculty members are limited in the number of committees they may chair or serve on.

  • Your major professor may know of factors that affect an individual’s suitability to serve.

  • Consult your major professor for guidance on committee composition and selection.

Graduate Faculty Requirement

All committee members must hold graduate faculty status (see the ) or receive approval from the Associate Provost for Graduate Studies and Research.

Committee Composition

  • Thesis Committees: Minimum of 3 members. The chair (major professor) and at least one other must be from your department. One member may come from outside your area of specialization.

  • Dissertation Committees: 3–5 members.

    • The chair must be a faculty member from your department.

    • One member may be from outside your department but within the College of Education (for Ed.D./SLPD) or the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (for DPA).

    • One member may be from outside your college entirely, supporting the program’s interdisciplinary nature.

Step 4: Committee Appointment Form Submission

Submit your signed Thesis or Dissertation Committee Appointment Form to the Graduate School at least 3 semesters before your planned graduation date. You can submit the form electronically via DocuSign by sending a copy to gradschool@valdosta.edu, or you may deliver a signed hard copy directly to the Graduate School office.

Step 5: Prepare and Obtain Proposal Approval

The purpose of the proposal is to offer your committee evidence of the significance and rationale of the proposed study, the philosophical or theoretical knowledge base within which the topic is developed, the methodology or procedures to be employed, and the anticipated implications of the findings or conclusions. The proposal is an indication of the student’s readiness to conduct the research.

Write a formal proposal that is clear, formatted correctly, and free of errors.

  • Your committee must review and approve it prior to beginning formal work on your project. They may request revisions; your chair will help mediate if requirements conflict.

  • If your research involves human subjects or live animals, obtain IRB/IACUC approval or exemption before beginning.

  • Doctoral students must submit a Dissertation Proposal Approval Form (after IRB/IACUC approval, if applicable).

Step 6: Begin Research and Writing

Once your proposal is approved, register for thesis/dissertation hours and begin formal work. Stay in regular communication with your committee, allowing adequate time for feedback.

Working With Your Committee

Your committee plays a vital role in helping you successfully complete your thesis or dissertation. Building strong communication and respecting their time will make the process much smoother.

  • Plan for their time. Committee members are busy with many responsibilities. Always allow plenty of time for them to review your work, and ask about potential scheduling conflicts in advance.

  • Work while they review. Keep your progress moving. For example, you might revise Chapter 1 while your committee is reviewing Chapter 2.

  • Follow their preferences. Each committee member may have a different style for providing feedback. It is your responsibility to learn their expectations and adjust accordingly.

  • Engage your committee fully. Submit each chapter for review and incorporate their feedback before moving forward. If a committee member must be replaced, submit a new Committee Appointment Form and mark it as a “Change.”

Your committee chair (major professor) is your key advisor and will let you know when your document is ready for defense. Before scheduling, all committee members must:

  1. Review the full draft,

  2. Provide feedback, and

  3. Agree that the document is ready for final action.

Staying in close contact with your chair and involving your committee throughout the revision process will help you avoid major re-writes after the defense.

Step 7: Apply for Graduation

Apply for graduation at least 2 semesters before your intended graduation date.

Step 8: Schedule Your Defense

Step 9: Defend Your Thesis or Dissertation

Your defense is typically an oral presentation and discussion of your thesis or dissertation with your committee. In some programs, defenses are also open to the academic community and invited guests. This is your opportunity to share your research, explain your process, and demonstrate your expertise in the subject.

After the defense, your committee may require you to make revisions to your document. Be prepared to address these changes promptly so your final draft can move forward to Graduate School review without delays.

Step 10: Submit the Approved Final Draft

Committee Chair Notification

Your committee chair must notify the Associate Provost for Graduate Studies and Research that the student has successfully defended the thesis or dissertation.

Submit Your Final Draft

  • Email your defended, corrected PDF draft and signed signature page to gradreviewer@valdosta.edu by the published deadline. 

  • Documents received after the published deadline will be considered late, and you will not graduate until the next term.

Formatting Requirements

  • Your document must follow all Graduate School formatting guidelines.

  • The PDF must include one signed signature page, completed in black or blue ink or with electronic signatures (do not add a date next to signatures).

Program-Specific Requirement 

Students in EDD, SLPD, and DPA programs must also submit their program’s Final Approval of Dissertation form to the Graduate School. 

After Submission

  • From this point, any edits will be made only through 福利小视频 email correspondence with the Graduate Reviewer.

  • Do not make further changes unless directed by the reviewer.

  • The Graduate School’s review process may take 3 to 4 weeks (or longer, depending on the number of submissions and holiday breaks).

Step 11: Final Submission to Repositories

  • Upload your approved thesis or dissertation to V-Text and ProQuest (see Printable Guidelines).

  • Bound copies are optional ().

    • If you plan to order bound copies, arrangements will be made for hand-signed original signature pages to be sent to you.

Step 12: Commencement

  • Order regalia (cap/tam, gown, hood).

  • Celebrate with your family, friends, and colleagues!