Thesis committee

A thesis committee, (or specifically for the doctorate, a dissertation committee) is chosen by the student in conjunction with his thesis advisor. The members, which usually vary in number from two to four, are Doctors in their field and will have the task of reading the dissertation, making suggestions for changes and improvements, and sitting in on the defense. The defense is the last hurdle in the attainment of a doctorate. At this final meeting, the doctoral candidate typically speaks for some amount of time on the dissertation, and then answers the questions of the members of the committee. (In the the UK this is known as a viva, short for viva voce, Latin for "live voice".) If the defense is successful, the committee members and advisor sign the dissertation. The thesis committee can also require that final changes be made before the dissertation may be submitted to the graduate school.