The General/Experimental Program

Model Ph.D. Program Schedule

Updated January 29, 2013

Timeline

The Department recognizes that timelines may vary as a function of the nature of the individual's research.

Students entering the program with a completed Master's Degree are expected to complete their program 1-1.5 years sooner than those times indicated below:

1. Begin to develop the Master's research proposal during the first year, formally propose the Master's thesis by the end of the first semester of year two.
2. Defend the Master's thesis during the second year of study.
3. Gain admission to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree (via advisor recommendation and General/Experimental Program faculty vote).
4. Complete the Preliminary Examination by the end of the first semester of year four.
5. Formally propose the Ph.D. dissertation during the third, and no later than the beginning of the fourth year of study.
6. Defend the Ph.D. dissertation during the fourth (or fifth) year of study.

Information on Graduate College requirements for Theses and Dissertations, as well as forms and policies

Some of the details below may vary slightly for different General/Experimental clusters (Biobehavioral, Developmental, Social, Behavioral Pharmacology). Check with your cluster.

First Year

First Semester		Credits			Second Semester	Credits
301	Faculty Seminar	0		341	Advanced Statistics II	3
340	Advanced Statistics I	3		XXX	Professional Seminar: Developmental (365) or Social (330)	3
303	Professional Seminar (Biobehavioral)	3		382	Cluster Seminar	1
382	Cluster Seminar	1			Specialty Course	3
	Specialty Course	3
	Total	10			Total	10
Expectations Engage in research with major advisor and/or research program Develop Master's research proposal

Second Year

First Semester		Credits			Second Semester	Credits
382	Cluster Seminar	1		382	Cluster Seminar	1
	Specialty Course	3			Specialty Course	3
	Elective (note 1)	3			Elective (note 1)	3
391	Master's Research (note 2)	3		391	Master's Research (note 2)	3
	Total (note 3)	10			Total	10
Expectations Complete and defend Master's research

Third Year

First Semester		Credits			Second Semester	Credits
382	Cluster Seminar	1		382	Cluster Seminar	1
	Specialty Course	3			Specialty Course	3
491	Dissertation Research	7		491	Dissertation Research	7
	Total	11			Total	11
Expectations Complete preliminary examination (for students admitted Fall 2010 or after) or preliminary project (for students admitted prior to Fall 2010) Develop Ph.D. research proposal and conduct Ph.D. research

Fourth Year

First Semester		Credits			Second Semester	Credits
382	Cluster Seminar	1		382	Cluster Seminar	1
	Specialty Course	3			Elective or Dissertation Research	3
491	Dissertation Research (note 4)	6		491	Dissertation Research	6
	Total	10			Total (note 5)	10
Expectations Complete and defend Ph.D. research

Fifth Year and Beyond

First Semester		Credits			Second Semester	Credits
GRAD 903	Continuous Registration (full time) (note 6)	9		GRAD 903	Continuous Registration (full time) (note 6)	9

Notes

1. With the prior approval of the department and Graduate College, students may apply two 200-level, 3 credit courses towards their program. A student's advisor must petition the Graduate College for approval before the student enrolls in the course. Check this list of undergraduate courses approved for graduate credit.
2. The Master's degree requires 6 credits of Master's Research. Do not take more than 6 credits of Master's Research; Master's Research credits do not count towards the 75 credits required for the Ph.D.
3. The Master's degree requires 24 credits of graded course work. Check with your cluster regarding whether your cluster seminar is graded or not. After you have completed 24 credits of graded course work for your Master's, you must complete an additional 15 credits of graded course work for your Ph.D., for a total of 39 credits of graded course work.
4. The Ph.D. degree requires a minimum of 20 credits of Dissertation Research.
5. The Ph.D. degree requires 75 credits total. (this does not include Master's Research credits or Continuous Registration)
6. Requires an override from the General/Experimental Program Director. Students in the program less than full-time (< 9 credits) may register for GRAD 901 (1/4 - 4 credits) or GRAD 902 (5 - 8 credits).

Last modified January 31 2013 12:25 PM