Time Limitation and Milestones

Time Limitations

The three stages of the PhD program can be completed in a minimum of three years of full-time study. A doctoral candidate must complete all requirements, including the MS degree, within seven years of first registering in the Graduate College. A candidate for the doctoral degree who has received an MS degree elsewhere, however, must complete the requirements within six years of first registration in the doctoral degree program on this campus. However, the department expects doctoral candidates to complete all the requirements within four years of first registration in the doctoral degree program on this campus.

If more than five years elapse between a student's preliminary and final examinations, the student will be required to demonstrate that his or her knowledge is current by passing a second preliminary examination, which is a prerequisite for admission to the final examination. If more than one year elapses between the student's final examination, and the deposit of the dissertation in the Graduate College, the dissertation must be accompanied by a statement of explanation from the department head to the Dean of the Graduate College and must be submitted to the Graduate College.

Progress of Research

Successful completion of graduate coursework and passing the Preliminary Examination mark the beginning of the third stage of the PhD program. During this stage, the candidate carries out the research program proposed in the dissertation proposal and writes a doctoral dissertation requiring a minimum of forty hours of credit in AE 599.

If the membership of the doctoral committee is modified for any reason, the modified committee membership must also satisfy the requirements stated above. Modifications should be approved by the head of the department.

The doctoral committee (at least the AE members of the committee) shall meet at least once per year to monitor the progress of the student. At this meeting the committee will review a written progress report (minimum two pages) submitted by the student. Any suggestions or deficiencies noted will be communicated to the student.