August Prior to Fall Term

• Registration and Orientation
• Obtain information about the PhD program and TA/TF responsibilities

Core and Required courses

Fall and Spring Term

• Complete a total of 30 credits, including two research rotations

Core and Required courses

Summer Term

• Present first seminar

PhD Research
Student Seminars

By End of Summer

• Preliminary evaluation from interim advisor due at end of summer term. Advisor/Interim advisor should submit evaluation to the PhD program liaison in the Dean's Office (presently Ms. Lori Schmotzer) and to the Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee (presently Prof. Venkataramanan)
• Select academic advisor(s), research lab, and focus area prior to start of Year 2, and report via memo to the program liaison and the Academic Affairs Committee Chair
• Select Doctoral Committee (see Guidelines)
• Submit form to program liaison and to Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee
• Meet with Academic Affairs Committee to discuss progress to date.

Fall Term

• Complete a total of 45 credits

• Meet with Doctoral Committee.  Review course requirements.  Determine if any credits earned for a previous degree are eligible for transfer.  Determine if any courses beyond those stated in the guidelines are required prior to taking the comprehensive exam.*

*Note:  After this and each subsequent Doctoral Committee meeting, student will prepare a meeting summary for Doctoral Committee approval and submission to the Academic Affairs Committee Chair

Core, Required and Elective courses

Spring Term

• Complete 60 credits, including any remaining required courses

Core, Required and Elective courses

Summer Term

• Present second seminar

• Inform Chair of the Comprehensive Examination Committee of the intent to take the comprehensive examination. 

• Submit abstract of proposal to the Comprehensive Examination Committee and obtain approval to proceed with preparation of the proposal. Schedule the exam.

• Submit completed proposal at least 2 weeks before the examination date (see Guidelines).

• Complete comprehensive examination. Submit completed form “Comprehensive Examination (Ph.D.) Report” to the program liaison.

• Meet with Academic Affairs Committee to discuss progress to date.

Dissertation Research and Student Seminars

Fall Term

• Complete a total of 72 credits (the minimum required for the PhD.)

• Schedule and complete overview meeting with Doctoral Committee* and submit form “Approval of Dissertation Proposal and Admission to Candidacy” to the program liaison and to the Academic Affairs Committee.

• Verify research support from advisor for remainder of the program.

• Apply for AFPE, PHARMA, NSF and other fellowships

Dissertation Research

Spring Term

• Register for FTDQ

Dissertation Research

Summer Term

• Doctoral Committee meeting*

• Meet with Academic Affairs Committee to discuss progress to date.

Fall, Spring and Summer Terms

• Present third seminar

• Doctoral Committee meeting*

• Meet with Academic Affairs Committee to discuss progress to date.

Dissertation Research and Student Seminars

Fall and Spring Term

• Doctoral Committee meeting – approval of dissertation outline*

• Submit graduation application**
  and associated paperwork for the scheduling***
  and advertisement**** of the dissertation defense as well as for submission of the electronic form of the dissertation (ETD)***** to program liaison.

• Submit final reading copies of the dissertation to Doctoral Committee at least two weeks prior to defense.

• Make changes to the written document as required by the Doctoral Committee. Obtain signatures and advisor's initials on required documents. Submit form “Dissertation Defense (Ph.D.) Report” to program liaison.

• Submit the electronic dissertation*****

Notes: 

**Graduation application must be submitted at least 60 days prior to the date of graduation defined by the University's academic calendar.

***The defense must occur no less than 30 days prior to the date of graduation.

****The date, time and location of the defense along with the candidate's name, departmental affiliation and title of dissertation must be advertised in the University Times. 

*****The final ETD is due no later than 30 days following the date of graduation. 

(All questions pertaining to the submission of forms and documents related to graduation should be addressed to the program liaison.)

Dissertation Defense

Fall and Spring Term

• Graduation