Program Timeline
You are encouraged to follow the prescribed timeline for meeting program milestones. Your progress will be monitored by the program. Focus area chairs will be notified should you fall behind the timeline.
Program Milestones: In addition to the suggested timeline, certain Program milestones carry deadlines for completion. Milestone Deadlines and associated consequences are listed below the timeline chart.
|
Activity |
Deadline |
|
Select dissertation advisor |
End of first quarter |
|
Submit program of study Identify dissertation committee |
End of second quarter |
|
Apply for program qualification |
End of first year |
|
Apply for candidacy exam |
After completion of coursework |
|
Apply for research proposal exam |
After completion of coursework |
|
Conduct dissertation seminar |
At least one quarter prior to dissertation defense |
|
Submit journal article |
Prior to dissertation defense |
|
Apply for graduation |
One quarter prior to dissertation defense (check with School of Graduate Studies for deadline date) |
|
Distribute copies of dissertation to dissertation committee and focus area chair |
Two weeks before dissertation defense |
|
Dissertation defense |
|
The Program Coordinator will monitor your progress. Your focus area chair and your faculty advisor will be notified if you fall behind the timeline.
NOTE: The timelines are specified for students entering the program with an M.S. degree. Students entering with a B.S. degree will have an additional 45 credit hours to meet the specified milestones.
Milestone 1. By the time a student has earned 48 credit hours after the M.S. degree, the student is required to complete either the Program Qualification or the Candidacy Exam.
Milestone 2. By the time a student has earned 96 credit hours after the M.S. degree, the student is required to take the Candidacy Exam and complete the Program Qualification.
Milestone 3. By the time a student has earned 144 credit hours after the M.S. degree, the student is required to present the Research Proposal.
Milestone 4. Within 192 credit hours after the M.S. degree, the student is required to have completed the Dissertation Defense.
Consequences
If a student fails to meet a milestone,
A. financial support, including tuition, from any University source will be stopped;
B. in the following summer, the student will not be permitted to register for dissertation or independent study hours;
until the student is in compliance with the objective of the milestone.
It is acknowledged that certain research involving human subjects and associated approvals by the Institution Review Board (IRB) requires more time. Students involved in such research will receive an extension of two years to complete their projects (Milestone 4). The dissertation advisor will submit a memo detailing the reason for the extension to the Program Office along with the completed Record of Research Proposal Defense.
For other exceptions, the student may petition to the Student Affairs Committee.
