The dissertation must demonstrate a sound methodology and must provide an exhaustive study of a special field, making an original contribution to that field. When the dissertation is completed and has been approved by the dissertation advisor and one other reader, who is selected from the faculty of the Classics Department by the candidate and his or her dissertation advisor, an oral defense is scheduled. The defense takes place before a committee of at least five faculty members; the dissertation advisor and the reader chosen by the advisor and the candidate must be among these five. One person chosen from the faculty of another university may read the dissertation and serve as the fifth person on the defense committee. A successful defense requires the approval of four of the five members of the committee.