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
  • Consider presenting a paper at a professional meeting/conference

  • 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