1. PhD Links

   Admission PhD Guidebook (pdf) General PhD Requirements >> Timeline Dissertation Prior Dissertation Abstracts Scholarships and Fellowships Preliminary Exams

   Prior to commencement of program, complete Application for Admission or Graduate Record/Status Change form as appropriate. The Graduate Program Committee must approve admission or transfer into the program.
2. Upon commencement of program, select an academic advisor. This individual should preferably be the dissertation advisor. If a dissertation field has not been selected, a temporary academic advisor can be appointed. Selection of a permanent advisor must occur within one semester after successfully completing the Preliminary Qualifying Examination.
3. Prior to completion of 16 new semester credits, submit Plan of Work to academic advisor and Graduate Program Committee for approval. Once approved, submit to Ph.D. Office of the Graduate School.
4. Inform Graduate Program Committee of intention to take Preliminary Qualifying Exam by May 1 of appropriate year. It is recommended that this exam be taken at the completion of 16 credits of new coursework; it must be passed successfully before completion of 48 credits towards the doctoral degree (including transfer credits).
5. Submit signed Petition for Doctoral Candidacy to the Graduate School, indicating the members of the Dissertation Committee, after completing approximately 50 credits of coursework towards the Ph.D. - including transfer credit.
6. Meet annually with Dissertation Committee and undergo Annual Evaluation.
7. Develop research plan in conjunction with advisor. Schedule a public proposal defense as your Oral Exam. Following the successful Proposal Defense, submit the signed Doctoral Dissertation: Prospectus and Record of Approval to the Ph.D. Office of the Graduate School. This must be at least 12 months prior to the planned Dissertation Defense.
8. Submit manuscript for publication in a Committee-approved, peer-reviewed publication at least six months prior to planned Dissertation Defense.
9. Before first day of classes of semester in which you hope to graduate, complete and submit the Graduate Application for Degree to the Registrar.
10. Submit dissertation manuscript to Dissertation Committee at least 3 weeks prior to scheduled defense. Following preliminary approval of written manuscript and at least 2 weeks prior to the scheduled defense date, submit a copy to the Ph.D. Office of the Graduate School along with the Final Report: Dissertation Public Lecture Presentation-Defense form.
11. Following successful completion of the defense and within 10 days, submit 2 correctly formatted copies of the dissertation to the Ph.D. Office, along with binding fees and other required forms.

NOTE: Deadlines for submission of the various forms and manuscripts required for dissertation approval and graduation should be obtained from the Graduate School for the semester in which graduation is planned. The final date for Defense is often 6 or more weeks prior to the end of the semester.