Overview of the Ph.D. Process

1. Initial Advising: An advisor is assigned to each student at the start of his/her program to help the student plan his/her studies and to provide academic guidance until the student identifies a dissertation advisor.
2. Plan of Work: The Plan is initiated by the student and completed with his/her advisor to plan the sequence of study. It must be submitted to the Graduate School for approval. An approved Plan is a requirement for Ph.D. Candidacy.
3. Ph.D. Coursework: Ninety graduate credits beyond the baccalaureate degree are required, 60 in coursework and 30 in dissertation research and preparation. Completion of about 50 credits of coursework is a requirement for Ph.D. Candidacy.
4. Annual Review: The student’s department prepares a review of the student’s progress at the end of each academic year; goals for the following year are developed with the student.
5. Qualifying Examination: The Qualifying Examination contains a written portion and may include an oral component. Successful completion of the Qualifying Examination is a requirement for Ph.D. Candidacy.
6. Dissertation Advisory Committee: The student selects a dissertation advisor and committee to guide him/her through the dissertation research and preparation. The naming of a dissertation advisory committee is a requirement for Ph.D. Candidacy.
7. Candidacy: Ph.D. Candidacy begins the dissertation preparation phase of the degree. The Recommendation for Candidacy Status form must be submitted to the Graduate School to advance the student to Candidacy.
8. Dissertation Registration: Four consecutive academic-year semesters of registration as a degree candidate are required during the preparation of the dissertation.
9. Dissertation Prospectus: The student prepares a description of the proposed research and dissertation for approval by his/her advisory committee. The committee’s approval must be conveyed to the Graduate School via the Prospectus and Record of Approval form.
10. Oral Examination: An oral examination is required of all Ph.D. students. It may be addressed as part of the Qualifying Examination, or as the prospectus meeting, or another format approved by the student’s department. The results of the oral examination must be conveyed to the Graduate School via the Report on Oral Examination or the Prospectus and Record of Approval form.
11. Dissertation Preparation: The dissertation presents the original scholarship or research completed by the student. A dissertation format check by the Ph.D. office is required before the defense.
12.  Dissertation Public Lecture-Presentation Defense : The student presents and defends the dissertation in a public lecture. The results of the defense are conveyed to the Graduate School via the Defense Final Report form.
13. Submission of Approved Dissertation: The student submits the approved dissertation electronically and must complete the paperwork required at this final stage.