Each student is required to complete a piece of original and significant research as part of the requirements for the doctoral degree. Upon completion of the research program, the candidate presents the written dissertation, in a form approved by the major professor and first reader of the Dissertation Committee, to the Dissertation Committee for its approval.

The dissertation must be prepared in the format specified by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences in the pamphlet entitled "Physical Standards for Preparation of Dissertations and Theses." In addition, students are encouraged to write up their research in a form suitable for publication prior to the completion of the dissertation. An acceptable form for the dissertation would be an introductory review of the literature, followed by one or more papers in publishable form, followed by a general discussion. Prior publication of the work is not only acceptable, but desirable; however, in the case of multi-authorship publications, the degree candidate should clearly indicate in the dissertation the extent of her/his experimental contribution.

The dissertation, in a form acceptable for submission to the University, will be submitted to each faculty member of the Dissertation Committee at least two weeks in advance of a scheduled meeting of the committee.