Three Minute Thesis

2026 CAS 3MT Eligibility

The college competition is open to doctoral students only.

• Doctoral students who are actively enrolled (and in good standing) in a doctoral program within the College of Arts and Sciences and who have passed their prelims are eligible.
• Doctoral students who are actively enrolled (and in good standing) in the Individual Interdisciplinary Doctoral Degree (IIDP) program should contact the home department of their committee chair to participate.
• The winner of the CAS 3MT qualifier must be available to participate in the WSU 3MT Competition on Wednesday March 25, 2026.

Process and Deadlines

• Doctoral students must submit the CAS 3MT application (see links below for Required Materials).
• Applications will be reviewed first by the department chair or director, who will nominate students to present in the CAS 3MT competition.
• Nominated students will be notified by email through the CAS Office of the Dean.

Pullman Participants

Doctoral students from the Pullman campus must notify the chair or director of their doctoral program and electronically provide the completed application form and presentation slide to their chair or director by February 17, 2026. Nominated student participants must present in person during the CAS 3MT competition on March 5, 2026 at 3:30 p.m. The CAS winner will compete in the university-level 3MT event in Pullman on Wednesday March 25, 2026.

Vancouver Participants

WSU Vancouver’s preliminary contest will be held 2-4 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 26, 202 in VDEN 110. Master’s students are welcome to participate, but are not eligible to advance to the WSU Pullman competition.

Vancouver’s top two finishers will each receive $500. The overall winner will compete with the WSU finalists in Pullman.

To register for the competition, email Holly Davis at holly.davis@wsu.edu.

Tri-Cities Participants

Doctoral students at WSU Tri-Cities will compete on Wednesday March 11, 2026 at 3 p.m. in EAST 212. See WSU Tri-Cities site for details.

Dates, times, and locations subject to change. Participants will be notified by email of any updates.

Required Materials:

• The completed application which includes:
  • An abstract of the student’s thesis
  • An appropriate photo of the student for the CAS 3MT competition website
• The single static PowerPoint slide that will be used in the CAS 3MT competition
• See 3MT rules and criteria for more information and specific guidelines

Questions?

Contact the Office of the Dean at cas@wsu.edu or (509)335-4581.