Skip to main content
CMP Pogram Logo
PhD Timeline
First Year StudentsDate or Deadline
Welcome Week
• Meet with department advisorBy first day of semester
• Breakfast with Graduate Education CommitteeSeptember 2
• American Players Theater outingSeptember 5
• Wine and Cheese Poster SessionSeptember 11
• Register for courseworkBy September 12
Laboratory RotationsSuggested timelines
• First rotationSeptember 8-October 10
• Second rotationOctober 13-November 7
• Third rotationNovember 10-December 12
Establish a Thesis Lab/Major AdvisorBy end of fall semester
• Complete and return all rotation evaluations to Graduate Program office Following each rotation
• Complete Choice of Thesis Lab Form By end of fall semester
Establish an Advisory CommitteeBy March 31
• Complete Advisory Committee Form and return to Graduate Program office By March 31
First Advisory Committee MeetingScheduled by March 31
• Fill out Certification Form and obtain committee members' signatures At meeting
• Bring current grade reports and previous transcripts if using previous coursework to meet requirements. (Transcripts may be obtained from Graduate Program office.) First meeting
• Submit signed Certification Form to department by deadline or a hold will be placed on fall registration By June 1
Second Year StudentsDate or Deadline
• Complete Curriculum RequirementsBy end of second year
Meet with Advisory CommitteeScheduled by March 31
• Fill out Progress Report Form and obtain committee members’ signatures At meeting
• Submit signed Progress Report Form to Graduate Program officeBy June 1
Preliminary Exam A
• Schedule Preliminary Exam A with committee membersSpring semester
• Notify Graduate Program office of exam dateAt least 3 weeks prior to exam
At Preliminary Exam A
• Answer 1 of 2 questions from each committee member (total of 4 questions)
Third Year StudentsDate or Deadline
Meet with Advisory CommitteeScheduled by March 31
• Fill out Progress Report Form and obtain committee members’ signatures At meeting
• Obtain committee members’ signatures on Progress Report Form
• Submit signed Progress Report Form to Graduate Program office By June 1
Preliminary Exam B
• Schedule preliminary exam with committee members~6 months after Prelim A
• Notify Graduate Program office of exam dateAt least 3 weeks prior to exam
• Graduate Program office will submit request for preliminary warrant to graduate school
• Pick-up preliminary warrant from Graduate Program officeWhen notified
• Prepare written proposal for exam
• Submit written proposal to committee membersAt least 2 weeks prior to exam
At Preliminary Exam B
• Give oral presentation of research proposal
Following Preliminary Exam B
• Obtain signatures from committee members on preliminary warrant
• Submit signed preliminary warrant to Graduate Program office
• Register for 3 credits as a dissertator in next semesterOnce warrant has been approved
Fourth Year and Beyond StudentsDate or Deadline
Thesis Defense
• Inform Graduate Program office of scheduled dateAt least 3 weeks prior to defense
• Obtain PhD defense materials from Graduate Program officeWhen notified
• Schedule defense seminar for seminar series
At Thesis Defense
• Present seminar/defend thesis
• Obtain committee members’ signatures on warrant
Following Successful Thesis Defense
• Submit a copy of signed warrant to Graduate Program office
• Make appointment with Graduate School to review/deposit warrant
• Submit bound copy of thesis to Memorial Library
• Submit copy of thesis to Graduate Program office
• Congratulations!