Ph.D. Program Checklist

ALL SEMESTERS

  • Enroll in courses and/or research (6-9 graded credits per semester)
  • Register for MSE 6401 (1 credit)

YEAR 1

Semester 1: Advisor & Research

  • Enroll in at least 2 MSE core courses (5301, 5309 or 5334)
  • ‰ Discuss research interests with faculty
  • ‰ Choose a major advisor
  • ‰ Begin work in research group
  • ‰ Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0
  • ‰ Prepare for qualifying exam

Semester 2: Start Research

  • Pass qualifying exam (early January)
  • ‰Enroll in research (GRAD 6950) and/or additional courses

YEARS 2 & 3

  • Continue to take graded courses toward your degree
  • Serve as a grader for 2 semesters
  • Submit Plan of Study to the Graduate School (after 18 credits completed) https://grad.uconn.edu/forms/
  • Upon Plan of Study approval by Graduate School, start proposal

Form an advisory committee

  • 1 major advisor and 2 associate advisors ‰
  • Note: advisory committee guidelines
    (https://gradcatalog.uconn.edu/grad-school-info/advisory-system/)

Dissertation Proposal/General Exam

  • ‰ Provide a copy of proposal to advisory committee 1 week in advance
  • ‰ Defend proposal
  • ‰ Submit proposal electronic copy, dissertation proposal approval, and general exam forms to Graduate School (at least 6 months before final Ph.D. defense)

YEARS > 3

  • Complete 30 graded course credits and 15 graded research credits
  • Prepare Dissertation

FINAL DEFENSE

For a complete checklist of required steps visit: https://registrar.uconn.edu/graduation/doctoral-degrees/#dissertation-information

  • Apply for graduation in Peoplesoft during last semester
  • Announce final defense 2 weeks in advance on UConn and MSE event calendars
  • Provide dissertation to advisory committee 2 weeks in advance of defense
  • Defend dissertation and obtain signatures of advisory committee
  • Review dissertation submission checklist in link above

Submissions

  • ‰ Submit 1 electronic copy of dissertation to Digital Commons
  • ‰ Submit completed dissertation checklist, 1 approval page, final exam form, and receipt of earned doctorate survey to Graduate School

Complete IMS clearance form

  • Includes: submitting pdf of thesis, returning keys.