Making Progress

• Study the guidelines for ECE Ph.D. candidacy. Identify a major advisor and form the candidacy committee. This should be done as soon as possible, preferably within the first year.
• Complete the candidacy committee's satisfactory progress criteria within 24 months of matriculation, and submit the signed committee report to the ECE Graduate Program Officer (GPO).
• After completion of candidacy, form the dissertation advisory committee, and plan for the General Examination. Submit the Committee Selection Form before the General Exam.
• Regularly study the Graduate School's Doctoral Completion Checklist.
• The dissertation defense cannot occur until one full semester has passed after the General Exam. The defense must be completed no more than 4 years after the General Exam.
• The doctoral degree must be completed within 10 years.
•  Annually, complete and submit the ECE Ph.D. Student Annual Report, which must include the major advisor's evaluation. The annual report is due by 30 September. (sample report) 
• International students must enroll in sufficient course credits to maintain their student standing. The minimum number of course credits that must be enrolled is described by this program snippet:

 

IF (the student has an emergency)

     THEN (submit the Reduced Course Load form - RCL)

     ELSEIF (student has passed the University General Exam)

          THEN (minimum hours = 1 Research & Dissertation)

     ELSEIF (the semester is Fall or Spring)

          THEN (minimum hours = 9)

     ELSEIF (this is the student's first term)

          THEN (minimum hours = 9)

     ELSEIF (the student is on graduate assistantship)

          THEN (minimum hours = 1 Research & Dissertation: 8990)

          ELSE (minimum hours = 0)

ENDIF