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Process for Completing your Thesis: Abstract to Defense

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Thesis Abstract Approval Form

1. Identify an appropriate topic for your thesis with your faculty and create a thesis committee (internal program process, no GS requirements).
   1. It is the responsibility of the committee chair to ensure all members of the thesis committee have graduate faculty status.
   2. In the semester BEFORE your graduating semester, you will submit your thesis abstract to your committee (internal program process, no GS requirements).
2. Attend a Thesis workshop held in September, February, and June to orientate yourself with ProQuest.
3. After committee approval, you now can create an account in ! When creating your ProQuest account please remember the following:
   1. Fill out your contact information completely. This is the only way the Grad School can find your documents.
   2. If you have a common name, or wish to identify your work more accurately, you can create an OrchidID in PQ. 
   3. Do not submit in PQ unless you are in the final stages (submitting finished thesis & defense form).
4. Upload the following documents in the supplemental files tab in ProQuest:
   1. Title of Thesis (can be tentative—however, it becomes “final” 12 weeks before graduation)
   2. Thesis Abstract Form (with signatures as PDF)
5. Do not submit, instead, email the Grad School that you have uploaded your initial documents:  grad@wcu.edu 
6. Behind the Scenes- After you email us, the Graduate School will do the following:
   1. Verify that all members of the committee have graduate faculty status.
   2. Enter the thesis title into your student record. 
7. Hooray! The first step is complete. Please keep in mind your deadline for submitting the final documents during your graduation term: April 10th (Spring Graduation), November 10th (Fall Graduation), and July 10th (Summer Graduation).

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Final Thesis & Defense Form

1. Following a successful defense of the final thesis manuscript and approval from your Chair, you need to submit the following final documents into ProQuest: 
   1. Final approved thesis manuscript (properly formatted and in PDF) can be uploaded in the PDF Tab.
   2. Thesis Final Defense Form (with signatures) can be uploaded in the Supplemental Files Tab. 
   3. Make sure your final thesis adheres to our formatting guide
2. Choose your publishing option that works best for you. 
3. Hit Submit! 
4. After the Graduate School reviews your submission, the Dean of the Graduate School will sign off on your thesis and we will mark your thesis requirement complete in your student record. You will receive a copy of the signed defense form via email. 
5. You are done! If revisions are needed, we will send your submission back with instructions on what to change. 

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Behind the Scenes

1. After receiving your submission, the Grad School is notified by ProQuest and will review your final thesis for graduate school formatting requirements (Document may be returned for GS required edits—see formatting guide).
2. Once the final thesis meets all GS requirements, we will print the Final Thesis Defense Approval form for the Dean of Graduate School signature.
3. We will upload the signed Final Thesis Defense Approval Form back to your submission and mark the thesis ready for publication. We will also mark your thesis complete in your student record.
4. You will be notified through ProQuest that your thesis was accepted. Please keep an eye on your catamount email for correspondences.

*Note—this process may take several weeks depending on edits needed and responsiveness of student.

• Thesis Abstract Approval Form
• Final Thesis Defense Approval Form

Process for Completing your Disquisition (DQ): Proposal through Defense

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Disquisition Proposal Form

May 15th - Program Deadline

June 10th- Graduate School Deadline

For students considered "on track/with original cohort". Students who are working outside original cohort should work closely with advisor on timelines.

1. During your 1st Spring Semester - Identify an appropriate topic for your DQ with your faculty. 
2. During your 2nd Fall Semester - create your DQ committee and choose your committee chair(internal program process, no GS requirements).
   1. It is the responsibility of the committee chair to ensure all members of the thesis committee have graduate faculty status.
3. Attend a DQ Workshop in September orientate yourself with ProQuest.
4. From your 2nd Fall semester into your 2nd Spring semester, defend your DQ Proposal to your committee (internal program process, no GS requirements).
5. After committee approval, you now can create an account in ! When creating your ProQuest account please remember the following:
   1. Fill out your contact information completely. This is the only way the Grad School can find your documents.
   2. If you have a common name, or wish to identify your work more accurately, you can create an OrchidID in PQ. 
   3. Do not submit in PQ unless you are in the final stages (submitting finished DQ  & defense form).
6. Upload the following documents in ProQuest in the Supplemental File Tab once your committee has approved your DQ Proposal:
   1. Title of DQ (can be tentative—however, it becomes “final” 12 weeks before graduation)
   2. Disquisition Proposal Form (with signatures)
   3. Students should email a copy of their signed Disquisition Proposal Defense Committee Approval form to Dr. Emily Virtue (evirtue@wcu.edu) by May 15th.
7. Do not submit, instead, email the Grad School that you have uploaded your initial documents:  grad@wcu.edu 
8. Behind the Scenes- After you email us, the Graduate School will do the following:
   1. 1. Verify that all members of the committee have graduate faculty status.. 
      2. Enter your DQ title in your student record. 
9. Hooray! The first step is complete. Please keep in mind your deadline for submitting the final documents during your graduation term: April 10th (Spring Graduation)

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Final Disquisition - April 10th Deadline

1. In your 3rd Spring Semester attend a DQ Workshop (scheduled in Feburary) to refresh your ProQuest memory. If you feel confident in ProQuest, skip this step.
2. Defend: During your 3rd Spring Semester you should defend your Final Disquisition to your committee (internal program process, no GS requirements).
3. Following a successful defense of the final DQ manuscript and approval from your Chair, you need to submit the following final documents into ProQuest:

1. 1. Final approved DQ paper (properly formatted and in PDF)
   2. Disquisition Final Defense Form (with signatures) can be uploaded in the Supplemental Files Tab.
   3. Make sure your final thesis adheres to our formatting guide  
2. Choose your publishing option that works best for you. 
3. Hit Submit! 
4. After the Graduate School reviews your submission, the Dean of the Graduate School will sign off on your DQ and we will mark your DQ requirement complete in your student record. You will receive a copy of the signed defense form via email. 
5. Email Dr. Emily Virtue (evirtue@wcu.edu) your completed signature page and final DQ document by April 10th. 
6. You are done! If revisions are needed, we will send your submission back with instructions on what to change. 

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Behind the Scenes

1. After receiving your submission, the Grad School is notified by ProQuest and will review your final thesis for graduate school formatting requirements (Document may be returned for GS required edits—see formatting guide).
2. Once the final DQ meets all GS requirements, we will print the Final DQ Defense Approval form for the Dean of Graduate School signature.
3. We will upload the signed Final DQ Defense Approval Form back to your submission and mark your DQ ready for publication. We will also mark your DQ complete in your student record.
4. You will be notified through ProQuest that your DQ was accepted. Please keep an eye on your catamount email for correspondences.

*Note—this process may take several weeks depending on edits needed and responsiveness of student.

• The Disquisition Process: From Proposal to Defense
• Disquisition Proposal Defense Committee Approval
• Final Disquisition Committee Approval

The Dissertation Process: Prospectus Defense through Dissertation Defense

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The Dissertation Prospectus

December 15 - Program Deadline

November 10th - Graduate School Deadline

1. During your 1st Spring Semester - Identify an appropriate topic for your Dissertation with your faculty. 
2. During your 2nd Fall Semester - create your Dissertation committee, choose your committee chair, and defend your dissertation prospectus(internal program process, no GS requirements).
   1. It is the responsibility of the committee chair to ensure all members of the thesis committee have graduate faculty status.
3. Attend a Dissertation Workshop in September orientate yourself with ProQuest.
4. After committee approval, you now can create an account in ! When creating your ProQuest account please remember the following:
   1. Fill out your contact information completely. This is the only way the Grad School can find your documents.
   2. If you have a common name, or wish to identify your work more accurately, you can create an OrchidID in PQ. 
   3. Do not submit in PQ unless you are in the final stages (submitting finished DQ  & defense form).
5. Upload the following documents in ProQuest in the Supplemental File Tab once your committee has approved your DQ Proposal:
   
   1. Title of Dissertation (can be tentative)
   2. Dissertation Prospectus Form(with signatures) 
6. Do not submit, instead, email the Grad School that you have uploaded your initial documents:  grad@wcu.edu 
7. Behind the Scenes- After you email us, the Graduate School will do the following:
   1. Verify that all members of the committee have graduate faculty status.
   2. Enter the thesis title into your student record. 
8. Hooray! The first step is complete. Please keep in mind your deadline for submitting the final documents during your graduation term: August 15th.

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The Final Dissertation

1. Defend: In your 2nd Spring or 2nd Summer Semester, you will defend you final dissertation to your committee (internal program process, no GS requirements). 
2. Following a successful defense of the final dissertation manuscript and approval from your Chair, you need to submit the following final documents into ProQuest: 
   1. Final approved Dissertation manuscript (properly formatted and in PDF) can be uploaded in the PDF Tab.
   2. Dissertation Final Defense Form (with signatures) can be uploaded in the Supplemental Files Tab. 
   3. Make sure your final dissertation adheres to our formatting guide
3. Choose your publishing option that works best for you. 
4. Hit Submit!
5. After the Graduate School reviews your submission, the Dean of the Graduate School will sign off on your dissertation and we will mark your dissertation requirement complete in your student record. You will receive a copy of the signed defense form via email. 
6. You are done! If revisions are needed, we will send your submission back with instructions on what to change. 
   

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Behind the Scenes

1. After receiving your submission, the Grad School is notified by ProQuest and will review your final dissertation for graduate school formatting requirements (Document may be returned for GS required edits—see formatting guide).
2. Once the final dissertation meets all GS requirements, we will print the Final Dissertation Defense Approval form for the Dean of Graduate School signature.
3. We will upload the signed Final Dissertation Defense Approval Form back to your submission and mark your Dissertationready for publication. We will also mark your Dissertation complete in your student record.
4. You will be notified through ProQuest that your Dissertation was accepted. Please keep an eye on your catamount email for correspondences.

*Note—this process may take several weeks depending on edits needed and responsiveness of student.

 

Students who do not complete the dissertation requirements in the second year, must submit the dissertation at least 4 weeks prior to graduation in the term they plan to graduate. For students considered "on track/with original cohort". Students who are working outside original cohort should work closely with advisor on timelines.

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• PsyD Dissertation Prospectus Proposal Approval
• PsyD Dissertation Defense Approval