Dissertation Defense

Final Year

In order to graduate with a PhD in Chemistry, all students must defend a dissertation to a committee of faculty. In their fifth year, students should discuss their readiness to graduate with their advisor.

ÌýÌýDissertation Defense Presentation

Dates and Deadlines (Spring 2026)

Last day to apply for graduation: 03/01/2026

Last day to hold a defense: 04/02/2026

Last day to submit final copy of thesis/dissertation to Graduate School for approval: 04/09/2026*

Last day to submit final copy of thesis/dissertation to ProQuest: 04/09/2026*

Last day to complete the Survey of Earned Doctorates: 04/09/2026

* DO NOT wait until the last date to complete the tasks marked with an asterisk.Ìý

Timeline infographic showing 10 steps of dissertation defense

  1. Apply For Graduation

    Students must apply for graduation through the Office of the Registrar by the posted deadline: /registrar/students/graduation

  2. Assemble Your Defense Committee

    Students are responsible for forming a committee that meets Graduate School and departmental requirements.

    Committee Composition

    The doctoral defense committee must consist of five members:

  • Research Advisor (PI) – Chair of the committee
  • CU Faculty Member – may be in Chemistry or another department
  • CU Faculty Member – may be in Chemistry or another department
  • CU Faculty Member – may be in Chemistry or another department

  • Outside Member – must be external to the Department of Chemistry; may be external to the University

    If the outside member is not a CU faculty member, the department must arrange an affiliate appointment before they are eligible to serve. Students should provide the member's current CV to chemgrad@colorado.edu well in advance of the defense date.

    Second Reader

    One committee member (in addition to the Research Advisor) must agree to serve as your dissertation/thesis Second Reader. This person will:

  • Provide substantive feedback on the dissertation draft
  • Approve the final version of the dissertation

  1. Schedule Your Defense

    After polling your committee on possible days/times and confirming a final date, students must notify the Graduate Program Manager of:

  • The defense date and time

  • The full committee roster

    Students should then contact the Graduate Program Manager or Chemistry administrative staff to identify and reserve an appropriate room for the defense.

  1. Confirm Your Committee

    You should send your committee to the Graduate School for approval using this form: /graduateschool/academics/forms/doctoral-final-examination-form

  2. Email Your Dissertation to the Committee

    In preparation for defense, please email your committee the final draft of your dissertation.

    If you want your defense advertised to the department, send the title and abstract of your defense to the Graduate Program Manager.

  1. Present Your Expertise

    Your dissertation defense is the culmination of your PhD research. You will first present your research and then answer a few questions from the committee.

    Tips for Success

  • Know Your Dissertation Inside Out: Be ready to discuss every detail, including methodology, assumptions, limitations, and alternative approaches.
  • Anticipate Questions: The dissertation defense will not Think critically about weaknesses in your dissertation and how you would address them.
  • Demonstrate Breadth and Depth: Show you can connect your specific research to broader concepts in your field.

  1. Submit Your Thesis Approval Form (TAF)

    After your defense, send the final copy of your thesis/dissertation to the Graduate School using the Thesis Approval Form: /graduateschool/academics/forms-current-students/thesis-approval-form.

  2. Publish Your Dissertation Online

    Submit the final copy of your dissertation and the approved Thesis Approval Form from the Graduate School to ProQuest:Ìý.

  3. Complete the Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED)

    To graduate, you must answer the .

    What is the SED? The SED has been conducted annually since 1957 and is sponsored by several federal agencies, including the National Science Foundation (NSF), NIH, Department of Education, and others.Ìý Although it collects personal information, the SED is governed by strict federal confidentiality rules. Individual responses are never published; only aggregated statistics are released.Ìý ÌýMany universities—including large R1 institutions such as the University of Colorado—make completion a condition of degree conferral.

  4. Finalize Your Time at CU Boulder

    Before graduation, students should return any departmental keys or procurement/travel cards to the Graduate Program Manager. This is your opportunity to finish any other tasks before graduation!