| Stage | Department | Student | Dissertation Office |
| Pre-candidacy | Provides students with information about degree requirements. | Obtains a copy of the "University-wide Requirements for the Dissertation," ProQuest Information and Learning/UMI documents, Library Form, departmental approval form, and Survey of Earned Doctorates from the Dissertation Office or from http://phd.lib.uchicago.edu/ | Provides students and departments with comprehensive information about the University-wide requirements for the final form of the dissertation. Documents: "University-wide Requirements for the Dissertation," ProQuest Information and Learning/UMI documents, Library Form, departmental approval form and Survey of Earned Doctorates. |
| Dissertation Research & Writing | Provides students with information about departmental procedures and requirements; may make available publications about University-wide requirements. | Should seek technical advice from the Dissertation Office or from computing facilities on campus. Students may get feedback on sample pages or a draft submitted no later than two weeks prior to the deadline. | Provides students with comprehensive
information about the University-wide
requirements for the final
form of the dissertation.
Office staff assists students who request help or advice getting their work into a final form that meets University-wide requirements. |
| Dissertation Defense | Informs student of what work remains before degree can be awarded. | Schedules the defense in time for any corrections to be made formatted, and approved before the deadline. | Offers assistance as needed. |
| Post-defense | Puts dissertation into final form for publication, according to University-wide requirements, and submits materials to the department. | Offers assistance as needed. | |
| Departmental Approval | Reviews complete manuscript to ensure that (a) issues raised at defense have been addressed, and (b) manuscript is in final form for publication. | When your manuscript is done and you are certain that it meets all University-wide requirements, give it to your department. | Provides a form on which the chair or dean of the
degree-recommending
unit indicates that the submitted manuscripts
and abstract are accepted
as meeting the requirements of the
department, committee, or school. Comments upon any changes that have to be made to the manuscript’s format. |
| Completed Dissertation | Brings approved dissertation and signed forms to Dissertation Office. | Completes all content changes required by department and all formatting changes by the absolute deadline: three and one half weeks before scheduled Convocation. |
Audits materials to insure that
University-wide requirements have been
met. If not, materials are
returned to department with an explanation. According to University policy, the final manuscripts (which are sent to the Library and ProQuest Information and Learning/UMI) must be reviewed and approved by the chair/dean of the degree-recommending academic unit. No exceptions will be made. |
N.B. In order to graduate, students must do the following at least three and one half weeks before Convocation.
- Obtain the department's or school's approval of both content and form of the dissertation
- Satisfy the Dissertation Office requirements for the dissertation's form, including completing necessary forms.