Students who enter with adequate background in some of these subjects are considered to have satisfied those portions of the core requirements. Students usually take additional courses that relate to their areas of research or personal interests. Students complete all core course requirements by the end of their second year of residence. Students also enroll in a seminar course each quarter and present one seminar a year in this course. Proficiency in the verbal presentation of scientific data is actively developed.
Research is an essential element of the Ph.D. program.
During the first year in the program, students choose a faculty mentor who will guide their research project. Making this decision early and beginning research on a limited basis early in the program of study is strongly encouraged. Once all of the course requirements are finished, students are expected to devote full time to their research activities. Students are expected to become independent researchers and gain considerable expertise in the specialty area in which they are working. The research project culminates with the writing of the Ph.D. dissertation and an oral defense of the project.