Graduate Student Resources PhD Timeline
PhD students should use this table to guide their schedule; timeline is based upon a 4+ year PhD degree in programs, which include dissertations. Preliminary/comprehensive exams schedule in the 3rd/4th semesters is the default expectation for students who already have M.S. degrees.  Some students may delay their preliminary/comprehensive exams and/or will take more than four years to complete their degree. Some students may also choose to be registered during the summer semester and/or submit their dissertation during the summer (requiring registration in GEOS/GEOPH693).
| year (semester) | tasks | forms |
|---|---|---|
| year 1 semester 1 | 1) enroll in geos601, GEOS/GEOPH693, and GEOS598 2) form a committee 3) hold first committee meeting 4) onboard meeting with GPC | 1) Progress Assurance Form 2) Upload web profile form 3) Committee Appointment Form Link |
| year 1 semester 2 | 1) enroll in GEOS/GEOPH693, and GEOS598 2) solicit preliminary exam questions from supervisory committee 3) hold committee meeting and discuss a proposed curriculum plan | 1) Progress Assurance Form (each semester) |
| year 2 semester 3 | 1) enroll in GEOS/GEOPH687 (preliminary exam policies are in Graduate Student Handbook) 2) hold committee meeting to evaluate preliminary exam results | 1) Progress Assurance Form (each semester) 2) Schedule dissertation proposal (comprehensive exam) time (do prior to the end of the semester when preliminary exam was taken) |
| year 2 semester 4 | 1) enroll in GEOS/GEOPH593, and GEOS598 2) enroll in GEOS691 (comprehensive exam policies are in Graduate Student Handbook)) 3) present dissertation research proposal to department 4) hold committee meeting to evaluate comprehensive exam results | 1) Progress Assurance Form (each semester) |
| year 3 | 1) enroll in GEOS693 and GEOS598 2) hold committee meeting | 1) Progress Assurance Form(each semester) 2) Admission to Candidacy Form link |
| year 4 +++ | 1) enroll in GEOS693 and GEOS598 2) hold committee meeting | 1) Progress Assurance Form (each semester) |
| next-to-last semester | 1) enroll in GEOS693 and GEOS598 2) hold committee meeting | 1) Progress Assurance Form (each semester) 2) defense notification to graduate college form (schedule prior to end of semester) 3) Schedule dissertation defense (schedule prior to end of semester) |
| final semester | 1) enroll in GEOS693 and GEOS598 2) submit final written dissertation to committee 4+ weeks prior to defense 3) give dissertation oral defense (within time window permitted by Graduate College) 4) submit committee-approved dissertation to Graduate College | 1) Progress Assurance Form (each semester) 2) Defense Committee Approval (doc) link (submit prior to final date permitted by Graduate College) 3) Final Reading Approval Form (doc) link (submit prior to final date permitted by Graduate College) 4) Dissertation Access Agreement Form |