What is a Colloquy?
Within one academic quarter of the oral examination, new candidates meet in a colloquy with their Doctoral Committee to present their dissertation proposal. The written dissertation proposal is to be distributed to Candidacy and Doctoral committee members prior to the colloquy. The colloquy, which is to be scheduled and chaired by the Doctoral Committee Chair, begins with a presentation by the student of approximately 30 minutes’ duration. If the student wishes, interested faculty and students are invited to attend. Once the Doctoral Committee approves the proposal, the student begins intensive work upon the dissertation. The research and writing involved in this effort are expected to require one to four years. At the end of this period an oral defense of the dissertation, focusing on the adequacy of the student’s research and thesis, will normally be held. Your advisor will advise the graduate administrator in writing for your Department file that you have successfully completed the
