The final step toward completion of the program is the candidate’s successful public oral defense of their dissertation before the candidate’s Dissertation Committee. The student is expected to be ready for the final dissertation defense by the end of their third year. The defense will not be scheduled until all members of the Dissertation Committee agree that the dissertation is ready to be defended by the candidate. The dissertation committee will issue the final verdict whether the SJD Degree will be conferred. Graded on a credit/no credit basis.