When the sponsor feels a student is ready to defend a proposal for dissertation research, the sponsor formally requests that the department schedule a proposal defense and consults with the department on selection of committee members for the proposal defense. For departments that combine oral examinations with the defense of the dissertation proposal, the oral examination/proposal defense should be scheduled within six months of completion of course requirements. For departments that separate proposal defense from oral examinations, the proposal defense should be scheduled twelve months or sooner for most students after successful completion of comprehensive examinations. Exceptions require review by the department. Students should circulate research proposals no less than two weeks before the proposal defense.