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Step One: Contact the Dissertation and Thesis Coordinator

To have your dissertation reviewed, please contact the Dissertation & Thesis Coordinator, Sarah Patton, in Fenwick Library at (703-993-2222) or e-mail at spatton@gmu.edu. Once you have contacted her, you may either 1) leave your draft at the Fenwick Circulation desk to be left in Sarah Patton's drop box or 2) submit it in person in her office. Please be sure that the copy has been initially formatted before taking it to review. Also, include a completed Student Information Sheet with your copy to be reviewed. You will be contacted via phone or e-mail. The Coordinator will examine the manuscript for compliance with university format and appearance requirements. She will also supply important instructions for final submission. You will be given a format review sheet summarizing corrections, if any, you must make. If there are corrections, you are required to make the suggested corrections to your new draft and submit it for review again. When the manuscript follows the University format requirements, the Coordinator will sign your Transmittal Sheet. You will need to include this sheet with your final submission. It is highly recommended that you submit your work for format review (even if it is not your final version) as early as possible so as to avoid end-of-semester delays.


Step Two: Complete a Format Review

Format Review is the process by which all GMU dissertations, theses, and projects are examined for compliance with University regulations for appearance. During the format review, the Dissertation and Thesis Coordinator examines the component parts of your manuscript (the preliminary pages, the body of your manuscript, figures and tables [if any], appendices, bibliography, and Curriculum Vitae). You are required to submit a copy of your thesis or dissertation (even if it is not the final version) to the Dissertation and Thesis Coordinator's office for format review.


Step Three: Defend

Whether you undergo a formal defense or a less formal method of committee scrutiny and approval of your dissertation or thesis, you must remember the following:

* Prepare beforehand at least two (2) copies of the correctly-formatted signature sheet on 100% cotton bond paper for the members of your committee (and eventually the Dean/Director for your unit) to sign.
* Provide black pen(s) for the committee members to use for signatures. All signatures must be in BLACK INK.
* Make sure all committee members sign your signature sheets.
* Make plans to have your Department Chair, Program Director (for dissertations only), and Dean sign them as well.


Step Four: Choose a Submission Method

Beginning Fall 2007 students completing a dissertation, thesis, or project now have a choice in submission methods. Students can choose to follow the traditional paper based method or the new electronic option. These two methods will be discussed in detail with the Dissertation and Thesis Coordinator during the format review.


Step Five: Submit Final Copies

Once a student has chosen his or her preferred submission method final copies must be delivered to the library by the semester deadline.

No later than 5 P.M. on the Friday before the last day of Spring Semester classes as published in the Schedule of Classes for May graduation and participation in Commencement Ceremony or 5 P.M. on the Friday before the last day of Summer Term or Fall Semester classes for August or January graduation, respectively. The deadline for the current semester can be found at the top of the home page for this site under News and Information.