Thesis committee

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A thesis committee (or, at some universities, specifically for a doctorate, a dissertation committee) is, in North America, a committee that evaluates a graduate student's thesis/dissertation.

Although each school is different, for a master's degree the "committee" may be only one adviser, or a small group.

For a research-orientated doctorate such as a PhD, the process is considerably more involved. The committee is chosen by the student in conjunction with his or her thesis adviser. The choice is usually made after the student has qualified (either through qualifying exam(s) or taking the requisite classes) as a PhD candidate. The members, who usually vary in number from two to five, are doctors in their field (whether a PhD or other designation) and have the task of reading the dissertation, making suggestions for changes and improvements, and sitting in on the defence. Depending on the subject matter, one may be a professor from a related field. In programmes related to basic scientific research, most or all of the members are professors from the same university. Usually, at least one member of the committee must be a professor in a department that is different from that of the student.

The dissertation defence is the last hurdle in the attainment of a doctorate. At this final meeting, the doctoral candidate speaks to the dissertation, often with a visual aid (invariaby electronic or transparent slides), and then answers questions from the members of the committee. At many universities the candidate's talk is open to the public, who may ask questions but are then asked to leave in order that the committee may ask further questions in camera. (In the UK the defence is known as a viva, short for viva voce, Latin for "live voice"). If the defence is successful, the committee members and adviser sign the dissertation. The thesis committee may require that final changes be made before the dissertation is submitted to the graduate school.