How to Prepare for a Graduate Thesis Defense

You've worked hard on your masters thesis and now it's ready for submission. The only thing left is facing the committee who will either accept or reject all your efforts. Here are some tips on how to prepare for that crucial day.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Check with your college for the guidelines regarding the requirements of your thesis. These guidelines should include what is expected during the defense, and it is likely that each school differs slightly.

2. Make sure each committee member has received a final copy of your work at least a few days before the defense.

3. Have copies of any forms the committee needs to sign in order to pass off your thesis with you at the defense. Be sure to get each committee member's signature!

4. Talk to others who have already been through it. Ask them what kinds of questions they were given and prepare answers to those questions. While there's no way to know for sure what your committee will say, anticipating possible questions and preparing answers will help you feel more confident.

5. Prepare a speech or short presentation about your thesis. You should discuss the main themes or points of your thesis. Highlight the strengths of your work and explain why it is important and relevant to your field.

6. Be passionate. If the committee members see how much you care about your subject they will be engaged and more likely to believe in what you're saying.

7. Be yourself. Let your personality shine through in your work. If you're not comfortable with yourself and your work, you may appear insincere and even incompetent.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't be afraid of your committee. While they are experienced professors, they many not be experts in your specific topic, so stand up for your work! If you disagree with something they say let them know why. After all, that's why it's called a defense. They want to see how well you know your work and how well you can explain and justify it.
• Even if you pass the defense, that doesn't mean your work is done. Most committees will require you to make a few changes, whether major or minor ones, to your thesis before you turn in your final version to the graduate school for graduation.

Who Can Help Sponsored

• Earn your degree from industry experts at University of Phoenix. Take the next step in your career.