Curriculum Overview
General Curriculum Requirements
Students must complete a minimum of 135 credit hours to receive the
PhD degree. Included in these hours is a minimum of 90 credit hours
of coursework in one's major and minor areas of study (the first
2-3 years, as well as 45 hours of dissertation credit (the final 1-2
years).
Degree Completion Time Frame
The PhD Program encourages completion of the entire degree within a
four year period, as college funding is guaranteed for that period of
time if satisfactory progress is maintained from year to year. Most
students complete the degree in 4-5 years.
Annual Review
Each student's progress in the program is formally reviewed and
discussed with the student annually. Students complete a
self-assessment, showing one's academic, research, teaching and
professional activities over the course of each year. Students meet
with their adviser to discuss the annual review, and develop goals
for the following year.
Evaluations
Your progress in the program will be measured by a series of formal
evaluations. The evaluation process gives you feedback from faculty
about your status relative to program requirements and goals.
- Qualifying Examination. Depending upon major and minor
fields, the student may be required to pass a qualifying
examination prior to being eligible for the Candidacy
Examination.
- Minor Field Requirements. After completion of course
work in the minor field, the candidate may be required to pass a
written minor examination.
- Candidacy Examination. Upon completion of all course
work, preliminary examinations, and minor field requirements, the
student takes the Candidacy Examination. This examination consists
of both written and oral components. It tests the potential
candidate's knowledge of the major and minor fields, the
ability to express ideas clearly, and the ability to integrate
knowledge across a variety of conceptual contexts.
- Dissertation Proposal Defense. Some major fields
require the candidate to defend a dissertation proposal prior to
beginning the dissertation research effort.
- Final Oral Defense. The final step in the program is the successful defense of the dissertation as a scholarly contribution to knowledge in the field. This examination is conducted by the candidate's final oral examination committee and is chaired by the candidate's advisor.