The goal is to select courses relevant to the dissertation. The PhD qualifying examination is prepared and administered by a subcommittee in each area of specialization. The examination may cover all aspects of a student's study. Examinations are conducted under the rules of the Graduate School . Final oral exams must be completed by the fifth year after the preliminary examination.
Dissertations are the most important element of the PhD program.
Students are expected to produce documents of high technical and literary competence. Selection of a dissertation topic is a paramount decision to be made by PhD students. Ideas may be obtained from reading, from faculty members or by observing the real world. Each specialization description in this booklet includes a list of typical dissertation topics. The selected topic must be approved by the student's dissertation committee.