Doctoral Time Line: Forms & Requirements
This time line pertains to campuswide requirements for doctoral students, as set by the Graduate School office and the Graduate Faculty Senate. Your own program could have additional requirements.
See also:
- First Semester
- Select an adviser
- Learn about the Plan of Study & Degree Requirements for doctoral students
- Review the Residency Status Requirements for the Graduate School and your program
- Find out about your program's Qualifying Examination Requirements
- By End of Second Semester
- Submit the Qualifying Exam Results & Doctoral Committee Approval (D1) form (pdf)
- Form a doctoral program committee. Changes to the doctoral committee should be submitted on the Change of Committee form.
- Review the Plan of Study & Degree Requirements for doctoral students
- Submit the Plan of Study for the Doctoral Degree (D2) form (pdf). To make changes to a plan of study that has already been sent to the Graduate School, submit the Plan of Study Substitution form (PDF). With this form you can add and/or delete coursework from your plan.
- Complete the Annual Review Requirement by updating your information in the Graduate Student Progress System
- Remaining Time Before the Final Semester
- Take your comprehensive examination by the deadline
- Review the continuous enrollment requirement for post-comps students. Post-comps students must remain enrolled to complete the degree.
- Submit the Doctoral Comprehensive Examination Results (D3) and Continuous Enrollment forms (pdf) within one month of exam completion, by the Graduate School deadline
- Review the dissertation process for doctoral students
- Follow the Thesis & Dissertation Guidelines as you format your dissertation
- Complete the Annual Review Requirement by updating your information in the Graduate Student Progress System
- Submit the Plans of Study for Designated Graduate Minors for any designated minors, at least one term before the conferral of the minor.
- Submit the Plan of Study for a graduate certificate for any graduate certificates, at least one term before the conferral of the certificate.
- Take your comprehensive examination by the deadline
- Final Semester
- Check the Academic Deadlines for Doctoral Students page to learn exact Graduate School due dates for forms and dissertations
- Report your intention to graduate to your program by the deadline
- Double-check the Thesis & Dissertation Guidelines before you submit your dissertation
- Defend your dissertation and submit the Dissertation Defense (D4) form (pdf) as soon as possible afteward, by the Graduate School's deadline
- Get ready for Graduation and Commencement and ensure that your diploma will go to the right place
Reasonable Rate of Progress
Reasonable rate of progress is governed by both the campuswide policies of the Graduate School listed below as well as academic program regulations which may be more restrictive. Failure to satisfy the Graduate School's rate of progress policies leading to dismissal are handled by the Request for Extension process, and the decision of the vice provost for advanced studies and dean of the Graduate School in these matters is binding.
For academic advice or assistance with degree program planning, students should contact their advisers.
Dismissals arising from violation of academic program policies may be appealed using the Appeals Process. Students should also refer to the section on the Dismissal Policy for additional details.
There are three Graduate School policies in effect for reasonable rate of progress for doctoral students. To determine which is applicable to a particular student, see the policies below:
Students Who Began Their Program in Fall 2000 to the Present
Effective fall semester 2000, a doctoral student must successfully complete the comprehensive examination within a period of five years beginning with the first semester of enrollment as a PhD student. In addition, the program for the doctoral degree must be completed within five years of passing the comprehensive examination. Individual departments or area programs may stipulate a shorter time period.
For an extension of this time the student must petition the Graduate School by submitting a request to the adviser who, in turn, submits a written recommendation to the Graduate School which has been endorsed by the department or area program director of graduate studies.
Passed Comps Between Fall 1994 and Summer 2000
Doctoral candidates who passed their comprehensive examinations between the beginning of the fall semester 1994 through summer session 2000 will have no more than five years after passing the comprehensive examination to complete the doctoral degree.
Passed Comps Before Fall 1994
Doctoral candidates who passed their comprehensive examinations before fall semester 1994 must complete their degree programs within eight calendar years beginning with the first semester of enrollment as a doctoral student.
Requesting an Extension
Regardless of when a student entered the program or passed the comprehensive exam, any candidate requiring additional time must submit a request for an extension. On petition of the candidate and the candidate's academic program, an extension of time may be granted by the Graduate School.
Academic programs specifically reserve the right to recertify currency in the discipline. All requests for extensions should be endorsed by the academic program's director of graduate studies and accompanied by a description of the process whereby currency in the discipline is certified, if required by the academic programs. (See also Active Duty Policy.)