FIRST YEAR:

• Required courses, interdisciplinary colloquium and seminar

• Laboratory rotation(s)

• Select Dissertation Advisor (notify Coordinator via email)

SECOND YEAR:

• Required courses, interdisciplinary colloquium and seminar, possible elective courses (determined by student's Dissertation Committee)

• Establish Dissertation Committee (by end of 3rd semester)

• Meet with Dissertation Committee (by end of year)

• Program of Study approved by Dissertation Committee (must be done prior to taking Candidacy Exam)

• Candidacy/qualifying examination (grant proposal preparation and defense)

• Advancement to candidacy (this form [Form #5] can be completed anytime up to the beginning of the last semester)

Forms to be completed by end of second year:

1) Appointment of Doctoral Committee

2) Program of Study / Curriculum Contract form (complete and give to Program Coordinator)

3) Qualifying Exam

THIRD YEAR:

• Choose and have Dissertation Committee approve dissertation topic (by end of 5th semester)

• Dissertation research

• Possible elective courses

• Interdisciplinary colloquium and seminar

• Meet with Dissertation Committee (at least once per year)

• Give a 20 min presentation on his/her research at the departmental weekly seminar

Forms to be completed by end of third year:

4) Petition for Topic Approval

FOURTH/FIFTH YEAR:

• Dissertation research

• Possible elective courses

• Interdisciplinary colloquium and seminar

• Dissertation Oral Presentation and Defense

NOTE: The actual sequences and timing will vary some among students, especially those who enter the program with graduate transfer credits

Forms to be completed before graduation:

5) Application for Admission to Candidacy.

This form is due by the 8th instructional day of the semester in which you will graduate.

NOTES:   i) this form will be valid for one semester only. If you need to change your graduation date, you will need to submit a new form.

               ii) Your Dissertation Committee members do NOT need to sign this form

6) Application for Degree

This form is due by the 8th instructional day of the semester in which you will graduate; it must be completed on-line, as follows:

To access the “On-Line Graduation Application.”

  a) Log-on to Banner Self Service Account

  b) Click on “Student Services/Financial Aid/Student Accounts” option

  c) Click on “Student Records” option

  d) Click on “Online Graduation Application” option

NOTES:   i) this form will be valid for one semester only. If you need to change your graduation date, you will need to submit a new form, and repay the application fee.

               ii) students still need to provide the Graduate School with paper copies of “Application for Candidacy for a Degree Program”. These forms will continue to be available from the “Graduate School Forms” page of the Graduate School Website. 

7) Successful completion of Dissertation Defense (submit signed Dissertation Defense Report for Doctoral Candidates and Dissertation to the Graduate School)

Other relevant forms:

• Click here for complete form list

• Transfer of credits   (this form is to be used if six or fewer hours are requested for transfer credit; if more than six hours is requested, instead of using this form write a formal letter identifying which hours of credit  and from which university is requested be transferred, and whether the advisor and Dissertation Committee has approved the request. Send this letter along with a copy of your transcripts (front and back) to Dr. Steck. See Dr. Steck if a request for replacement of a required course is desired).

• Research with human subjects