Path to Degree
Individual timelines may vary depending on students’ research projects, laboratory involvement, student productivity, and other variables.
Year 1
- Take 3 required courses per semester
- Optionally take one our 2 additional electives aligned with the student’s interests.
- Select primary advisor
- Join a research laboratory and become involved in ongoing projects
- Complete First Examination (due by the beginning of the third semester)
Year 2
- Take additional required courses and electives (3 to 4 courses per semester) (to complete 45 credits to advance to 2nd level). (30 credits from a master’s program can be transferred)
- Start working on the pre-dissertation project and Second Examination
- Apply for various funding opportunities at the GC and elsewhere (e.g., Doctoral Student Research Grant)
- Become involved in ongoing projects in the lab and co-author presentations and journal articles
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Consider presenting a paper at a professional meeting/conference
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Optional: teaching at college level
Year 3
- Complete all coursework
- Complete and present the pre-dissertation project (target date in the first semester)
- Complete second-level exam (target by end of second semester)
- Present the findings from the pre-dissertation project at a national/international conference
- Be involved in ongoing projects in the lab
- Apply for various funding opportunities at the GC and elsewhere (e.g., Doctoral Student Research Grant)
- Optional: teaching at college level
Year 4
- Prepare and complete dissertation proposal
- Participate in Dissertation Seminar
- Apply for dissertation research funding within and outside the GC
- Prepare manuscript from predissertation project for publication
- Present paper(s) at national/international conference(s)
- Be involved in ongoing projects in the lab and co-author presentations and journal articles
- Optional: teaching at college level
Year 5
- Conduct and complete dissertation research
- Co-author presentations and journal articles from collaborations in lab
- Start job interviews/apply for jobs and postdoctoral positions (Assemble letters update CV)
- Complete and defend the dissertation
- Revise and deposit the dissertation
- Prepare papers for publication in peer-reviewed journals based on the dissertation
- Optional: teaching at college level