Student Portal
Thesis/Project Defense
The Thesis Committee
A thesis committee is formed by the thesis adviser and the student and in coordination with the chairperson/director of the department according to the following conditions. The following applies to the thesis committee:
a. The thesis committee should normally consist of at least three members of professorial rank chaired by the thesis adviser.
b. In case a co-adviser is also a member of the thesis committee, then the thesis committee should consist of at least four members of professorial rank chaired by the thesis adviser.
c. In departments/programs, normally at least two members of professorial rank of the thesis committee must be members of the student’s department. The remaining member(s) can be from other departments at AUB or from an institution other than AUB.
d. In case the thesis adviser is from another department at AUB, the chairperson of the student’s department will consult with the chairperson of the faculty members’ department to which the thesis adviser belongs.
e. In interdisciplinary programs, the members of the thesis committee are drawn from fulltime faculty members at AUB.
f. The chairperson/director of the student’s department/program must approve the thesis committee. The student must submit the thesis proposal to the committee and secure its approval. The committee members will evaluate the proposal in consultation with the thesis adviser.
g. It is the student’s responsibility, in coordination with the thesis adviser, to keep members of the thesis committee informed on the progress of her/his work and seek their input.
The Project Committee
a. Each student is assigned an adviser who serves as the project adviser.
b. The master’s project committee should be composed of at least two members recommended by the department/program.
c. The faculty/school Graduate Studies Committee should approve the project topic proposal, selection of the adviser, and selection of project committee members at least four months before the project defense.
d. If the project work involves human subject research or animal related research, the project committee must forward to the department chair a copy of the approval/confirmation or exemption letter of the Institutional Review Board and/or Animal Care Committee
Thesis/Project Defense requirements
The thesis/project defense is usually held in a meeting room or any available room in the faculty; contact the department administrative assistant for help in finding a room and for advertising the defense ahead of the planned date of defense.
There are two essential requirements for a student to complete the thesis defense:
• Passing the comprehensive exam
• Registering for the thesis/project in the expected term of graduation
Thesis/project deadlines
| For Master’s candidates graduating in: | Summer 2022–23 | Fall 2023–24 | Spring 2023–24 |
| Deadline for approval of thesis topic and committee | May 2, 2023 | September 19, 2023 | December 11, 2023 |
| Deadline for thesis defense | August 29, 2023 | January 24, 2024 | April 25, 2024 |
| Deadline for thesis deposit at library | September 7, 2023 | February 7, 2024 | May 9, 2024 |
• Students should circulate their final thesis/project paper to all committee members at least 2 weeks prior to the defense and only after the adviser approves the final version of the final paper.
• During the thesis/project defense students are expected to present their work in 20-30 minutes time after which attendees and the committee members ask questions and exchange answers. Then the students and other attendees leave the committee members to evaluate the thesis. A letter grade is reported either Pass (P) or No Pass (NP). The thesis adviser is the one responsible for submitting the grade.
Post thesis/project defense
1. Students should meet the adviser shortly after the defense to discuss all necessary modifications recommended during the thesis/project defense.
2. Adviser should check that all comments raised by committee members were addressed by the students and changes have been addressed in the revised version of the final thesis/ paper.
3. Students should consult with their registration adviser in order to ensure filling the forms to be submitted after the defense and obtain necessary guidance to complete the clearance process.
Failure to defend the thesis/project:
- It is essential to know that the rules of “Dismissal” (mentioned in the “General University Academic Information”) in regards to the thesis/project state: “The Faculty Graduate Studies Committee may dismiss a master’s student, in consultation with the department/program, from graduate study if the student fails the defense twice”.
- Pass (P) or No Pass (NP) is reported for project. If No Pass (NP) is reported, the student may resubmit the project and defend it after a period of at least three months. Failure on the second attempt results in discontinuation of the graduate work.
