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Students admitted to the PhD program are assigned a major advisor in their main area of specialization. The advisor is primarily responsible for providing assistance and advice to the student throughout all facets of the PhD program and typically serves as the chair of the plan of study, comprehensive examination, and dissertation committees. Either PhD students or their advisors may initiate a change of advisor, but no student may remain in the program without an advisor.
The student, upon consultation with the major advisor, secures the agreement of at least two other departmental faculty members with graduate faculty status to serve with the advisor on the student’s plan of study committee. This committee initially convenes to review and make recommendations about the student’s plan of study. Thereafter, the committee meets annually with the student to review and make recommendations about the student’s progress in the PhD program. Note: The plan of study committee may, but need not be, the student’s comprehensive examination or dissertation committee.
After securing the advisor’s approval, each PhD student must submit a written dissertation proposal to the dissertation committee at least two weeks prior to a formal overview meeting with that committee.
After securing the advisor’s approval, the student submits copies of the complete document to the dissertation committee at least two weeks prior to the final oral examination in defense of the dissertation.
Coursework and other experiences are individually tailored for each student, in consultation with the student’s advisor and the advisor-chaired plan of study committee.
Contact this program's enrollment specialist(s):
