General Timeline for Completing the Degree
Graduate Year One/G1
Take core and elective coursework.
Students complete two 8-12 week lab rotations.
Students meet at least twice during year with academic advisor(s).
Graduate Year 2/G2
Dissertation laboratory declared by March 31st.
Core and elective coursework completed by the end of G2.
Students take and pass Preliminary Qualifying Examination (PQE) by June of G2.
Graduate Year 3/G3
Complete PQE.
First Dissertation Advisory Committee (DAC) meeting held no later than September 30 of the G3 year: A DAC report is submitted to the program administrator no more than two days after every DAC meeting.
Second DAC meeting held no later than the end of G3 year: Research progress should compel the DAC to confirm in the report that project can plausibly lead to a dissertation.
Graduate Year 4/G4
DAC meeting held no later than end of the G4 year: DAC confirms research direction and/or progress likely leads to dissertation within 18 months.
Graduate Year 5/G5
DAC meeting held no later than end of December of the G4 year or within 6 months of the previous DAC meeting: DAC confirms strong indication of progress towards completion.
Final DAC Meeting
Graduate Year One/G1
Take core and elective coursework.
Students complete two 8-12 week lab rotations.
Students meet at least twice during year with academic advisor(s).
Graduate Year 2/G2
Dissertation laboratory declared by March 31st.
Core and elective coursework completed by the end of G2.
Students take and pass Preliminary Qualifying Examination (PQE) by June of G2.
Graduate Year 3/G3
Complete PQE.
First Dissertation Advisory Committee (DAC) meeting held no later than September 30 of the G3 year: A DAC report is submitted to the program administrator no more than two days after every DAC meeting.
Second DAC meeting held no later than the end of G3 year: Research progress should compel the DAC to confirm in the report that project can plausibly lead to a dissertation.
Graduate Year 4/G4
DAC meeting held no later than end of the G4 year: DAC confirms research direction and/or progress likely leads to dissertation within 18 months.
Graduate Year 5/G5
DAC meeting held no later than end of December of the G4 year or within 6 months of the previous DAC meeting: DAC confirms strong indication of progress towards completion.
Final DAC Meeting