PhD program checklist

There are four phases of the PhD: 1) application and admission, 2) pre-candidacy, 3) Comprehensive Exam, 4) candidacy, and 5) graduation.

This is a brief checklist that points out some of the important steps.  The official statement governing this PhD program are found on the Office of Graduate Studies website and the ESR PhD guidelines.

Application and Admission

• Application submitted
• A primary advisor and back-up advisor for the student are identified
• SE admissions committee makes recommendations and students are sent letters of acceptance to the program
• Admissions committee provides a list of up to three courses that the student must take upon entrance to the program
• PSU Admissions office sends a formal letter of admissions
• Student registers for courses and becomes an enrolled PhD student

Pre-candidacy

• Primary advisor and student form an advisory committee
• A course of study is established that includes admission committee recommendations, ESR PhD requirements and other courses as determined by the advisory committee
• The student maintains continuous enrollment of at least one credit per term
• Every year the student will submit an annual report that must be approved by their primary advisor to remain in good standing in the program [do not use this form, a link to the report will be sent to you in the Spring]. 

Comprehensive Exam

• Student forms Comprehensive Exam Committee (can be the same as the advisory committee)
• Student creates and submits to the committee a Comprehensive Exam Prospectus (cover sheet, example 1, example 2, example 3) which is approved by the director
• Student schedules a comprehensive exam and defense
• After passing the written and oral portion of the Comprehensive Exam student submits Completion of Comprehensive Examination form (ESR-004) to the SE office
• Dissertation committee is formed using the Appointment of Doctoral Dissertation form (GO16D)

Candidacy

• Student completes all course work listed on the course of study
• Student prepares and presents a dissertation proposal (example)
• Upon completion of the proposal, the student is recommended for advancement to candidacy via a Dissertation Prospectus Approval form (ESR-005)
• Student does research and writes a dissertation
• Student presents the dissertation in a public forum and defends it to the committee
• Dissertation is submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies using the Dissertation Signature Page and the ETD Access Form
• After the dissertation is completed and appropriately published the student is recommended for the degree using the Doctoral Recommendation form (GO-17D)