This oral examination is conducted by an examining body appointed by the Graduate School upon the recommendation of the graduate program director only after all courses, research, and dissertation requirements have been fulfilled. The dissertation research committee is an integral part of the examining committee.

The dissertation examining committee will include five members of the Baylor Graduate Faculty: the committee chairperson, two other Graduate Faculty members from the student's home department, and one additional Graduate Faculty member, either from the home department or outside, and a fifth member or "outside" member. The outside member must be a Graduate Faculty member whose primary faculty appointment is from a department other than the one conferring the degree. The student's mentor will serve as the chairperson of the committee and ensure that formal announcement of the examination is made, that the exam is conducted fairly, and that it is open to the faculty. The "official outside" member helps to ensure a consistent level of quality, rigor, and fairness across all graduate programs at Baylor University and may or may not be actively involved in the dissertation. The committee may include additional members (who are not necessarily members of the Graduate Faculty) beyond the minimum required number.

The thesis examining committee will include three members of the Baylor Graduate Faculty: the committee chairperson, one other Graduate Faculty member from the student's home department, and a third member, or "outside" member. The outside member must be a Graduate Faculty member whose primary faculty appointment is from a department other than the one conferring the student's degree. The student's mentor will serve as the chairperson of the committee and ensure that formal announcement of the examination is made, that the exam is conducted fairly, and that it is open to the faculty. The "official outside" member helps to ensure a consistent level of quality, rigor, and fairness across all graduate programs at Baylor University and may or may not be actively involved in the thesis. The committee may include additional members (who are not necessarily members of the Graduate Faculty) beyond the minimum required number.