Within each division there are a number of separate tracks involving a sequence of courses and laboratory rotations and an evaluation system designed to establish the student's readiness to do dissertation research. As with most graduate programs, the student's research experience is perceived as the essence of the Ph.D. degree. These laboratory experiences are referred to as laboratory rotations.
Experience suggests that students and faculty both benefit from a period of acquaintance.
Courses, taken primarily during the first year of study, provide the student with a background in concepts, methods, and problems that will be the foundation for their independent research. Ph.D. candidacy examinations evaluate the student's ability and readiness to define, initiate, and carry out a research project by probing the depth of his or her understanding of the rotation experience. Students are admitted to Ph.D. candidacy by satisfactory performance on candidacy examinations, combined with completion of course requirements in any division with a GPA of 3.0 or better. Advanced students participate in journal clubs within their divisions and prepare research proposals, both on their own research and on an original topic. Good standing as a student in the department is based on making satisfactory progress towards the degree.