Doctoral Supervisory Committee Membership Requirements

A doctoral committee will consist of at least five persons including the major professor, one member from the program area of the student, one member from another departmental program area (this member may not be formally affiliated with the student's home program), and one member from outside the department who will serve as the university representative-at-large (College of Medicine faculty who hold doctoral directive status through the Psychology Department are not eligible to serve as outside members of psychology students’ doctoral committees. For Neuroscience students, the outside member must not be a member of the Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience). At least 3 members of the committee must have doctoral directive status, including the representative-at-large. Other members must hold at least master’s directive status.

The representative-at-large must observe the final defense so they can complete the Outside Committee Member Dissertation Defense Report. If it is impossible for the representative-at-large to be present at the final defense, other options include having the representative-at-large participate in the defense via a conference call or observe a recording of the defense.