Recommended Timeline for the Ph.D.

Year 1

• Take prelim course
• Find advisor by end of Spring semester

Year 2

• Take prelim by start of Fall semester
• Submit Blue Card after successfully passing oral exam
• Courses
• Plan to GSI at least once before taking the Qual Exam
• Finish up prelim breadth course requirements

Year 3*

• Organize qual, think about committee
• Apply for qual and submit White Card
• Take qual by end of Spring semester
• Complete major and minor coursework
• Advance to PhD candidacy

Year 4*

• Finish PhD research
• Complete GSI teaching requirement

Year 5* or 6*

• PhD research and writing
• Schedule thesis seminar talk (must be given in the Fall and Spring
• Finish PhD writing
• Submit thesis chapter to committee

 

*Or at the discretion of your advisor