PhD thesis defense - is there a separate defense session with one's graduate committee?
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I was watching a math PhD thesis defense on YouTube and it seems that after about an hour of the talk, a committee member tells the audience to leave except for the graduate committee and the PhD candidate.
What typically happens next? Is there a separate defense session with the graduate committee?
For reference: United States
thesis mathematics united-states thesis-committee defense
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up vote
2
down vote
favorite
I was watching a math PhD thesis defense on YouTube and it seems that after about an hour of the talk, a committee member tells the audience to leave except for the graduate committee and the PhD candidate.
What typically happens next? Is there a separate defense session with the graduate committee?
For reference: United States
thesis mathematics united-states thesis-committee defense
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
I was watching a math PhD thesis defense on YouTube and it seems that after about an hour of the talk, a committee member tells the audience to leave except for the graduate committee and the PhD candidate.
What typically happens next? Is there a separate defense session with the graduate committee?
For reference: United States
thesis mathematics united-states thesis-committee defense
I was watching a math PhD thesis defense on YouTube and it seems that after about an hour of the talk, a committee member tells the audience to leave except for the graduate committee and the PhD candidate.
What typically happens next? Is there a separate defense session with the graduate committee?
For reference: United States
thesis mathematics united-states thesis-committee defense
thesis mathematics united-states thesis-committee defense
asked 39 mins ago
Jalapeno Nachos
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That varies from place to place, even in the US. Your advisor will give you the best advice. But yes, a private session with your committee is pretty common. They want to assure themselves that you are "seasoned" and have both the required depth and breadth to be awarded the degree.
Again, your advisor will tell you what to expect, but it is possible to get questions that are unrelated to your thesis, or even to your specific subfield. In mathematics, members of a committee often have different specialties and may want to know what you can say about their own field as they may have only a sketchy knowledge of yours and of your thesis.
Don't, in general, expect it to be just a presentation. The public part needs to be a bit less technical in tone, since many of those present are looking for an overview. That isn't enough, of course. You need to say what you did and the key ideas that got you there.
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up vote
1
down vote
In the U.S. (1993), the committee meets in private, to 'vote'
. I passed. At my University, one wasn't allowed a second-chance, which sounds like a difficult rule, but it was intended to protect students from 'you must do this to pass, that, and the other thing'. By the time you go to the defense, your thesis should have been read by your advisor and one or two more members of the committee.
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
3
down vote
That varies from place to place, even in the US. Your advisor will give you the best advice. But yes, a private session with your committee is pretty common. They want to assure themselves that you are "seasoned" and have both the required depth and breadth to be awarded the degree.
Again, your advisor will tell you what to expect, but it is possible to get questions that are unrelated to your thesis, or even to your specific subfield. In mathematics, members of a committee often have different specialties and may want to know what you can say about their own field as they may have only a sketchy knowledge of yours and of your thesis.
Don't, in general, expect it to be just a presentation. The public part needs to be a bit less technical in tone, since many of those present are looking for an overview. That isn't enough, of course. You need to say what you did and the key ideas that got you there.
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
That varies from place to place, even in the US. Your advisor will give you the best advice. But yes, a private session with your committee is pretty common. They want to assure themselves that you are "seasoned" and have both the required depth and breadth to be awarded the degree.
Again, your advisor will tell you what to expect, but it is possible to get questions that are unrelated to your thesis, or even to your specific subfield. In mathematics, members of a committee often have different specialties and may want to know what you can say about their own field as they may have only a sketchy knowledge of yours and of your thesis.
Don't, in general, expect it to be just a presentation. The public part needs to be a bit less technical in tone, since many of those present are looking for an overview. That isn't enough, of course. You need to say what you did and the key ideas that got you there.
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
up vote
3
down vote
That varies from place to place, even in the US. Your advisor will give you the best advice. But yes, a private session with your committee is pretty common. They want to assure themselves that you are "seasoned" and have both the required depth and breadth to be awarded the degree.
Again, your advisor will tell you what to expect, but it is possible to get questions that are unrelated to your thesis, or even to your specific subfield. In mathematics, members of a committee often have different specialties and may want to know what you can say about their own field as they may have only a sketchy knowledge of yours and of your thesis.
Don't, in general, expect it to be just a presentation. The public part needs to be a bit less technical in tone, since many of those present are looking for an overview. That isn't enough, of course. You need to say what you did and the key ideas that got you there.
That varies from place to place, even in the US. Your advisor will give you the best advice. But yes, a private session with your committee is pretty common. They want to assure themselves that you are "seasoned" and have both the required depth and breadth to be awarded the degree.
Again, your advisor will tell you what to expect, but it is possible to get questions that are unrelated to your thesis, or even to your specific subfield. In mathematics, members of a committee often have different specialties and may want to know what you can say about their own field as they may have only a sketchy knowledge of yours and of your thesis.
Don't, in general, expect it to be just a presentation. The public part needs to be a bit less technical in tone, since many of those present are looking for an overview. That isn't enough, of course. You need to say what you did and the key ideas that got you there.
answered 32 mins ago
Buffy
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18.7k560103
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up vote
1
down vote
In the U.S. (1993), the committee meets in private, to 'vote'
. I passed. At my University, one wasn't allowed a second-chance, which sounds like a difficult rule, but it was intended to protect students from 'you must do this to pass, that, and the other thing'. By the time you go to the defense, your thesis should have been read by your advisor and one or two more members of the committee.
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
In the U.S. (1993), the committee meets in private, to 'vote'
. I passed. At my University, one wasn't allowed a second-chance, which sounds like a difficult rule, but it was intended to protect students from 'you must do this to pass, that, and the other thing'. By the time you go to the defense, your thesis should have been read by your advisor and one or two more members of the committee.
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
In the U.S. (1993), the committee meets in private, to 'vote'
. I passed. At my University, one wasn't allowed a second-chance, which sounds like a difficult rule, but it was intended to protect students from 'you must do this to pass, that, and the other thing'. By the time you go to the defense, your thesis should have been read by your advisor and one or two more members of the committee.
In the U.S. (1993), the committee meets in private, to 'vote'
. I passed. At my University, one wasn't allowed a second-chance, which sounds like a difficult rule, but it was intended to protect students from 'you must do this to pass, that, and the other thing'. By the time you go to the defense, your thesis should have been read by your advisor and one or two more members of the committee.
answered 15 mins ago
JosephDoggie
1595
1595
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