Timeline of Milestones
Doctoral students:
| Within First Year | Form doctoral committee and schedule first annual committee meeting |
| Beginning of Second Year (3rd Semester) | Schedule annual committee meeting |
| Beginning of Third Year (5th Semester) | Schedule annual committee meeting and schedule and take prelim exam |
| Beginning of Fourth Year (7th Semester) | Schedule annual committee meeting |
| Beginning of Fifth Year (9th Semester) | Schedule annual committee meeting |
| End of Fifth Year | Schedule defense and deposit dissertation |
You must complete at least 96 hours of 400- or 500-level courses (64 hours beyond the M.S. requirements) with grades no lower than B or S.
You must also complete at least two semesters of favorably evaluated teaching before receiving your degree.
Best practices for first committee meeting:
Meet with individual committee members during your first year to discuss research questions and approaches.
Agenda for the first committee meeting:
- Bring a brief presentation or document outlining the research questions that will be addressed by thesis research, and a justification for the proposed work.
- Be prepared to discuss your preparation to carry out the proposed work. What skills are needed? What skills do you already have? What skills will you need to acquire?
- Bring a list of courses that will help build your skills to address these questions, and meet PEEC course requirements, and discuss this list with your committee.
Terminal Master's students:
| Beginning of Second Year | Schedule an annual committee meeting with an Advisory Committee of three faculty from at least two departments, including the Major Advisor who will serve as chair. (Membership of the Advisory Committee must be approved by the director of the program.) |
| By End of Second Year | Complete 32 hours of course work in your three core areas with grades no lower than B or S. No more than 12 hours of research (590 or 599 courses) can be counted. Finally, you must successfully complete, defend, and deposit a thesis (599). |