| Objective (Ph.D.) | Deadline |
| First Year |
| Request that official transcripts of transfer credit for graduate work completed elsewhere be sent to the Admissions Office | First semester |
| To change from M.S., submit "Recommendation for Change of Graduate Classification" to Graduate Records |
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| Select an advisor and a research topic | Before end of second semester |
| Attend at least 75% of all graduate seminars for the entire academic year. Credit is based on attendance for the full year | Register one semester per year, for three years |
| Take Ph.D. Qualifying Examination | First April after admission |
| Register for at least three credit hours | Every summer term |
| Second Year |
| Form Supervisory Committee. Submit "Request for Supervisory Committee" to Graduate Records | After qualifying exam, during second year of graduate work |
| Attend at least 75% of all graduate seminars for the entire academic year. Register one semester per year | Credit is based on attendance for the full year. Register three years |
| Submit semester research report to receive a grade for Thesis Research | Each semester when registered for Met.E. 7970 |
| Schedule proposal presentation and prepare Program of Study | Submit typed proposal 2 weeks in advance of oral presentation |
| Present the research proposal to the committee. Give a copy to the department for your student file | Within 6 to 12 months after the Qualifying Exam & before the end of the second year |
| Third Year |
| Submit semester research report, to get a grade for Thesis Research | Each semester when registered for Met.E. 7970 |
| Attend at least 75% of all graduate seminars for the entire academic year. Register one semester per year | Credit is based on attendance for the full year. Register three years |
| Present a graduate seminar | At least once |
| Get committee approval of coursework. Submit "Program of Study for Ph.D. Degree" to Graduate Records after completion of 75% of graduate coursework | No earlier than one year before graduation, but before the last day of the semester preceding the semester of graduation |
| Finish course work before tuition benefit support ends | Within six semesters or three years and less than 84 credit hours |
| File for graduation by submitting "Report of the Qualifying Examination for the PhD ... and Recommendation for Admission to Candidacy" to Graduate Records | At least one semester before graduation |
| Semester of Dissertation Defense (Final Oral Examination) |
| Register for at least three hours | Semester of defense |
| Schedule the Final Oral Examination | Early in semester |
| Submit draft of dissertation to Committee Chair | At least three weeks before Final Oral Examination |
| Submit written dissertation to Supervisory Committee | At least two weeks before Final Oral Examination |
| Defend dissertation before Supervisory Committee | At least six weeks before graduation |
| Get "Supervisory Committee Approval" form signed to go in dissertation | During defense |
| Last possible day to defend dissertation during a particular semester | Day before next semester starts |
| After Final Oral Examination and/or during Semester of Graduation |
| Register for Continuing Registration--PhD (Met E 7990). Students may register for no more than four semesters of Continuing Registration. | During semester(s) following defense, until dissertation is approved by the Thesis Editor |
| Make changes in dissertation required by Supervisory Committee. Get "Final Reading Approval" signed |
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| Submit one copy of defended, committee-approved dissertation manuscript to the Thesis Editor for approval | Six to eight weeks before the last day of the semester; see Thesis Calendar for date |
| Submit "Report of the Final Oral Examination" to Graduate Records | Four weeks before last day of finals of graduating semester |
| Check with the Graduate Records Office that all documentation has been submitted |
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| Make changes in dissertation required by the Thesis Editor |
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| Submit three complete, duplicated copies of the dissertation to the Thesis Editor | Approximately ten working days before last day of finals |
| Submit "Thesis Release" (Graduation Release) and "Supervisory Committee Approval" to Graduate Records Office | Before registrar's closing date for the semester (last day of finals) |
| Properly dispose of chemicals and samples, give laboratory notebooks to advisor, return keys and library books, and provide a forwarding address to the department office | Before leaving the university |
