Exams & Defense Committee Membership Policy
Committee Recommendation Table Heading link
| Total Number | Full Membership | Tenure Requirement | Outside Member** | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master’s Thesis Defense | Three | One | One | Not Required |
| Preliminary Exam | Five*** | Three | Two | Recommended, but optional |
| Professional Doctorate Project Defense (EDD only) | Three*** | One | Not Required | Not Required |
| Dissertation Defense | Five*** | Two | Two | One Mandatory |
Committee Recommendation Exceptions Heading link
Graduate College policy requires a minimum of one inside member on all committees.
**Outside member is defined as outside of the program, although some programs may require outside of UIC.
***Chairperson must have full membership (not necessarily tenured).