Suggested Schedule

Selecting an Advisor and an Advisory Committee

To be admitted to the Ph.D. program, a graduate student must identify an advisor/co-advisors who in turn must indicate a willingness to advise the student. The advisor/co-advisors will initially be referred to as temporary advisor/co-advisors to indicate that a student may select a different advisor/co-advisors if appropriate. However, we expect that most temporary advisor/co-advisors will be the permanent advisor/co-advisors. Students will select two other faculty by the end of the first semester who will become part of the preliminary oral examining committee. The student is required to have a permanent advisor/co-advisors by the end of the third semester. The preliminary oral examining committee must be chosen by the end of the first year.

Filing degree program with the Graduate School

The degree program must be filed no later than by the end of the first year (full-time M.S. or Ph.D. students) or by the end of the second year (part-time M.S. students)

Expectations for Full-time Students

We expect students to spend at least one third of their time on research in the first two years, complete most course work during the first two years, and complete the internship by the end of their second year and no later than the end of the third year. The preliminary written exam in the form of thesis proposal must be submitted at the end of the fourth semester and the preliminary oral exam must be taken no later than at the beginning of the fifth semester. The Thesis Proposal Form must be filed no later than the fifth semester. Once the Thesis Proposal has been approved by the Graduate School, you can request a graduation package from the Graduate School. The final oral defense of thesis is expected to take place at the end of Year 5, no later than end of Year 6. The Graduate School commencement ceremonies are held in fall and spring. If you wish to participate in commencement, contact the Graduate School, 316 Johnston Hall, one term in advance of the ceremony.

If a student wishes to explore the program before choosing an advisor, the student will be admitted to the M.S. program. If a Ph.D. advisor is found, the student will be allowed to switch into the Ph.D. program.