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PhD Timeline

Students in the PhD program will complete 36 residency hours prior to their qualifying exam, including 24 regular course hours (graduate seminars).
 
During the third year, students will take the qualifying exam, a 2-hour oral examination and a prospectus defense. Once students have successfully completed the qualifying examination and prospectus defense, they move into the dissertation phase of the program.
 
Students are expected to complete their dissertations within 2-3 years after defending the prospectus. Once the dissertation is finished and the committee has decided the student is ready, the student will complete a dissertation defense. After a successful defense, the student will turn in the dissertation to the Graduate School and receive their doctoral degree.

Please refer to the Graduate Student Handbook for a detailed description of the degree requirements. Additionally, PhD students should meet the Minimum Satisfactory Progress requirements.

Definition of Minimal Satisfactory Progress.docx