The Thesis Defense
When the thesis is in final draft form, the thesis examining committee meets with the student to review the project for substance and clarity. The formal title of this meeting is the Thesis Defense and is open to all interested members of the University of St. Thomas community, as well as other interested parties. If family and friends have been invited to the defense, it is the student's responsiblity to inform the program director, who will then reserve a room of an appropriate size.
Defense Scheduling
The defending student makes arrangements for the defense with the thesis committee members, program director, and program coordinator and, under certain circumstances, outside committee members. Students are responsible for arranging a meeting time convenient for all committee members at least one month in advance of the date and time of the defense by communicating with committee members. The Graduate Programs in Music Education program coordinator reserves the examination room, and sends reminder letters (e-mail messages) to all committee members only after speaking with the thesis supervisor. Students may schedule the defense only after the thesis supervisor has determined that the thesis is ready to be defended.
Defense Format
The format of the defense generally includes a brief welcome and introduction of each examining committee member by the thesis supervisor followed by the candidate's ten-minute description of the study. This statement typically consists of introductory remarks about the study, including elements that led to the proposal and a brief discussion of the methodology, procedures, and results. The thesis supervisor then asks one of the committee members to begin posing questions, which are then addressed by the candidate with possible follow-up questions posed by the committee members. The colloquay between the candidate and the thesis committee is often exploratory and analytical in nature; the intended tone is collegial.
The defense is one hour in length. The thesis committee members participate equally in the adjudication of the thesis and defense and to accept the thesis:
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as presented;
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with minor revisions;
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with major revisions; or
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the work does not meet the standards of the university for the master's degree.
It is highly unusual for a thesis to be approved "as presented." Students should expect to make some revisions after the defense and before the work is submitted for binding.
Students who pass the defense with minor revisions complete all revisions in consultation with their supervisor and then submit the thesis for binding. Students who pass with major revisions complete their revisions in consultation with their supervisor and, under certain circumstances, the thesis committee. The thesis supervisor reviews final revisions before the paper is submitted for binding. See Guidelines for Binding the Thesis.
The grade for the thesis project is assigned by the thesis committee and submitted by the supervisor after the defense has been successfully completed and after any necessary revisions have been made. Theses are graded on a Pass (S), Incomplete (I), No Credit (R) basis. High Pass (HP) may be awarded in rare cases for a thesis that merits special distinction.
If a student receives a No Credit (R) grade for the thesis, he or she will be permitted to register again after receiving the approval of the program director and the thesis supervisor. Additional courses or other remedial work may be required prior to registration.
The final thesis draft must be distributed to the members of the student's thesis committee at least two weeks before the date of the defense. Students are advised to schedule the thesis defense as early as possible in the term and are expected to follow the scheduling guidelines stated in Planning for Thesis Defense and Graduation. It is the student's responsibility to have thesis corrections and revisions completed by Dec. 1 (fall graduation), May 1 (spring graduation), or July 1 (summer graduation).
