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Physics Graduate Thesis

Students must register for thesis and be assigned a thesis committee no later than the first term of their fourth year of graduate school. It is strongly recommended that students register for thesis in a term earlier than this final deadline. The first step is for the student and research supervisor to agree on a thesis topic. An initial Graduate Thesis Proposal Cover Sheet must be submitted to the Physics Education Office by the second week of the term. The form requires an initial thesis title, the name and signature of the research supervisor, and the name of one reader for the thesis committee agreed upon by the student and advisor. The student should register for 8.THG (reminder: the minimum number of combined units for all subjects in any particular semester should equal 36) beginning this term. A third reader from the physics faculty, who is not in the same research area, but whose interests, background, or special knowledge make him or her an appropriate member of the committee, will be assigned by the Graduate Student Coordinator. If there is a co-supervisor (see above), the thesis committee will consist of four people: research supervisor, co-supervisor, selected reader, and assigned reader. After notification of the final reader, the student will need to convene an initial thesis committee meeting no later than four weeks before the last day of classes.

At that meeting the student will make an oral presentation to the thesis committee of a detailed proposal for a research program that would subsequently become the Ph.D. thesis. The student should demonstrate a thorough knowledge of relevant literature, explain the significance of the research to progress in the field, and present a well thought out program of research including contingency plans, if appropriate. After that meeting, and based on the discussion, the student will develop a written proposal. The written proposal will consist of a one or two page description of the body of work that is to comprise the thesis. It will be due in the Physics Education Office near the end of the semester (a formal date will be determined each semester, but it will be approximately two weeks before the end of the term).

Subsequent changes in title, scope, supervisor(s), or readers may be made with the written approval of the Graduate Student Coordinator.

In some cases, the thesis research may be in a borderline field between physics and some other field of science or engineering. In these cases, a joint committee, including members of another department may be formed. This requires approval by the Dean of the Graduate School (see the Graduate School Manual).

Students who have not registered for thesis research or submitted a thesis proposal by the first term of their fourth year (see deadline dates listed above) must write a letter to the Graduate Student Coordinator explaining the circumstances leading to the delay. Similar letters must be submitted in each subsequent term the student is not registered for thesis. Graduate appointments will be renewed only for students who meet the thesis registration and proposal requirements unless the Graduate Student Coordinator approves an extension based on the circumstances described in the student's letter.

Subsequent to the initial oral presentation to the thesis committee, each student must make at least one substantial oral presentation of progress to the thesis committee every 12 months. The scheduling of this presentation is to be arranged by the student. At the end of the term when grades are assigned, your research supervisor will be asked to state if such an oral presentation has taken place.

DEGREE LIST

As an advanced degree candidate, a student should register for thesis as long as he or she is doing thesis research, including the summer terms. No specified number of research units is required, although the combined number of registered units each term should not be fewer than 36. Students may be recommended for their degree in any term. A student must submit an Application for Advanced Degree at the beginning of the term in which he or she plans to graduate, and must be registered during that term. Only the names on the degree list will be considered for degrees for that term. Those on the September and February degree lists may participate in commencement the following June.

THESIS ORAL DEFENSE

The thesis defense is primarily an oral explanation of the thesis research. In order that suggestions for revision from the thesis committee can be incorporated into the final version of your thesis, the defense should take place at least three weeks before the due date posted by the Institute. This oral is based on an acceptable draft of the thesis, which is provided to the thesis committee at least two weeks prior to the defense. What constitutes an acceptable draft should be discussed carefully with the thesis committee. At this time, the student should notify the PEO of the day, time, and place of the defense. He or she is responsible for arranging the thesis defense.

The thesis defense is public. All members of the MIT community may attend. Notices are sent to all physics faculty. In addition, notices are posted outside the PEO and in appropriate locations near the student's laboratory. Immediately following the public presentation there will be a mandatory private session involving only the student and the thesis committee.

THESIS COPIES

After passing the thesis defense and incorporating the suggested changes, students must submit to the Physics Education Office: 1. the original thesis, plus two or three copies - the number of copies varies according to laboratory affiliation, (check the Graduate Thesis Submission Guidelines), 2. a microfilming receipt from the Cashier's Office, and 3. the completed form from the Specifications for Thesis Preparation, with an abstract and title page attached. The student should determine whether or not the supervisor, fellowship sponsor, etc. require additional copies. Details of the required thesis, abstract, and title page formats are provided in the Specifications for Thesis Preparation at http://libraries.mit.edu/archives/thesis-specs/, or at http://web.mit.edu/gso/gem/ad/theses.html. Care should be taken to follow the presented format.