Updated on November 26, 2024
Milestones
The following timetable states the deadlines and target dates for completing the four milestones every student needs to pass to continue with the program. The deadline is when every graduate student is fully expected to complete the requirement. The target date is a recommendation from the Graduate Program Committee: this is the time the committee finds to be the most optimal for the smooth progression towards PhD within the 5 year period. We recognize that students entering our program can have different pathways to success; and that smooth progressions depend on many factors, including the chosen field of study. Under special circumstances the Graduate Program Committee has the flexibility to waive or alter some of these requirements.
| Milestone | Target dates | Deadlines |
|---|---|---|
| Satisfactory course performance for two quarters; complete five quarters of core courses | End of Spring quarter, first year | End of Spring quarter, first year |
| Complete Writing Milestone | End of Autumn quarter, second year | End of Winter quarter*, second year |
| Complete a total of seven quarters of core courses | End of Autumn quarter, second year | End of Spring quarter, second year |
| Complete twelve courses at the 500-level or higher | End of Spring quarter, second year | End of Spring quarter, second year |
| Declare a thesis advisor | By the end of the second year | End of Winter quarter, third year |
| Pass the general exam | By the end of the third year | End of Winter quarter, fourth year |
| PhD defense | End of Spring quarter, fifth year |
We strongly encourage the incoming graduate students to consider starting on their Writing Milestone project in the Summer after their first year and have it submitted before the deadline listed above. The earlier you complete the preparatory steps and fulfill the requirements the faster you could get to the ultimate goal of entering PhD studies - doing your own research.
While we believe that every student we admit is capable of earning a PhD in our program, we recognize that students may decide that getting a Master's degree is more compatible with their goals and aspirations. Students completing a PhD typically pass all milestones, while students completing a Master's degree only complete portions of the first three, together with other requirements.
Remarks
- The seven quarters of core courses and the writing milestone requirements only apply to students who are entering our PhD Program in September 2023 or later.
- *Students who entered the program in 2023 may take till August 31st, 2025, to complete their Writing milestone requirement. Students who entered the program in 2024 may take till May 31st, 2026. Starting with the 2025 incoming class, the deadline is the end of Winter quarter of the second year.
- Satisfactory performance in a graded course means obtaining a grade of at least 3.0. Grades below 3.0 will not count towards the course requirements for any graduate degree, unless permission is granted by the Graduate Program Coordinator.
- If a student falls behind on the milestones, the Graduate Program Committee works with the student and any faculty advisors that student has to craft a suitable path forward. This path could include changes to the anticipated terminal degree or even the loss of funding.
- For part-time students, a "year" is considered to be any sequence of quarters during which the student registers for a total of 30 credits.