Final Oral Examination Doctoral students, fitting together their goals and the college's Ph.D. curriculum, prepare a degree plan during their first year. As part of the plan, they name a supervisory committee to assist them in their studies. Students have an annual evaluation to help them assess their progress. A residency requirement must be fulfilled while taking courses. When courses have been completed, students take a qualifying examination and become, on passing the examination, candidates for the doctoral degree.
Students then complete the dissertation and have a final oral examination.
Each underlined requirement is discussed in turn below. Additional detail on requirements is given in the Graduate Catalog . Top Degree Plan A program of study, the heart of the degree plan, is determined individually for each student under the guidance and with the approval of a supervisory committee chaired by the student's academic adviser. Graduate coordinators and course instructors from supporting departments are consulted during development of the degree plan. Specific goals of the student are considered in developing the program.