Year 1

Program Requirement

Timeline

Welcome Week

• Meet with Department Administrator
• Attend Orientation Breakfast
• Register for Coursework
• Attend Wine and Cheese Poster Session
• Attend American Players Theater

By first day of classes

Choose at least three laboratory rotations and set up the timeline for each with the professor.

Suggested Timelines:

• 1st Rotation
• 2nd Rotation
• 3rd Rotation

• September 8-October 8
• October 9-November 9
• November 10-December 10

Establish a Thesis Lab/Major Advisor

• Complete and Return all Rotation Evaluations to the Department Office.
• Complete Thesis Lab Agreement Form

By the end of the Fall Semester

First Advisory Committee Meeting

• Complete “Advisory Committee” Form
• Return to Department Office

By March 31 of First Year

First Advisory Committee Meeting

• Obtain signatures on Advisory Committee Form
• Fill out Certification Form
• Bring current grade reports and previous transcripts if you will be using previous coursework to meet requirements. (Transcripts can be obtained from Dept. Office)
• Obtain Committee signatures on Certification Form
• Submit the signed Certification Form to the Department Office by June 1 or a hold will be placed on student’s summer registration

Scheduled by March 31 of First Year

Year 2

Program Requirement

Timeline

Complete Curriculum Requirements

By the End of Second Year

Meet with Advisory Committee

• Fill out Progress Report Form
• Obtain Committee Members’ signatures
• Submit signed Progress Report Form to Department Office

Scheduled by March 31

Preliminary Exam A

• Schedule Preliminary Exam A with Committee Members
• Inform Department Office of scheduled day a minimum of three weeks prior to exam

Spring Semester of Second Year

At Preliminary Exam A

• Answer 1 of 2 questions from each committee member (total of 4 questions worth 100 points, 25 points each)

Year 3

Program Requirement

Timeline

Meet with Advisory Committee

• Fill out Progress Report Form
• Obtain Committee Members’ signatures
• Submit signed Progress Report Form to Department Office by June 1

Scheduled by March 31

Preliminary Exam B

• Schedule Preliminary Exam B with Committee Members
• Inform Department Office of scheduled day a minimum of three weeks prior to exam
• Department will submit request for Preliminary Warrant from Graduate School
• Pick-up Preliminary Warrant from Department Office when notified
• Prepare written proposal for Oral Exam
• Submit written proposal to committee members at least two weeks prior to oral exam

At Preliminary Exam B

• Give oral presentation of research proposal
• Obtain signatures from committee members on Preliminary Warrant
• Submit signed Preliminary Warrant to Department Office

Once warrant has been approved, register for 3 credits as a dissertator in next semester.

Year 4 to Degree Completion

Program Requirement

Timeline

Meet with Advisory Committee

• Fill out Progress Report Form
• Obtain Committee Members’ signatures
• Submit signed Progress Report Form to Department Office

Scheduled by March 31

Final Steps

Program Requirement

Timeline

Thesis Defense

• Inform Department Office of scheduled date at least three weeks prior to defense
• Obtain PhD Defense materials from Department Office when notified
• Schedule Defense Seminar for Seminar Series

At the Thesis Defense

• Present Seminar/Defend Thesis
• Obtain Committee Members’ signatures on Warrant

Following Successful Thesis Defense

• Submit a copy of signed Warrant to Department Office
• Make appointment with Graduate School to review/deposit Warrant
• Submit bound copy of Thesis to Memorial Library
• Submit copy of Thesis to Department Office

Congratulations!