Dear Dissertation Diva:
Am I a PhD after I successfully defend my dissertation or after I officially graduate? I might not make the deadline for this semester but want to know if I can use the title even if I don't graduate until a few months after my defense.
Signed,
Can't Wait 2 Gradu-8
Dear Can't Wait,
My understanding is that one is officially a PhD after the degree is awarded at the graduate school's commencement. (Disclaimer: I suggest you check with your university's dissertation office or graduate school administrative office for the exact policy for your situation.) After you pass the defense, you could write, for example, "PhD expected May, 2008" on your cv in the interm months. You could also add the date of your successful defense to your cv.
You might want to celebrate the successful defense of your dissertation and communicate that you will, very soon, be signing your name "Can't Wait, PhD", by sending out a lovely printed invitation to your PhD commencement.
Congratulations on your upcoming defense and degree!
Dissertation Diva
What doesn't make sense about this is commencement ceremonies are not mandatory, but voluntary, at least at private institutions like mine, but isn't that the case at public universities as well? I don't recall the ceremony ever being forced as a requirement. One reason being that all the people in our class are finishing the diss and defense at different time, so our paths are now individual and unique. If I did participate in a ceremony, would be about 6 months to wait (only one a year) and would be walking through with a bunch of strangers. Anyway, I know that I will officially be a PhD as soon as the professors deem me as such after the defense, and that will be the date on my transcript. I am looking forward to shedding the abd portion of my title.
Posted by: CA | October 21, 2009 at 11:56 AM