Mechanical Engineering Ph.D. Timetable and Deadlines
Timetable for a Ph.D. Degree
| Ph.D. Required Steps | Description | Required Form(s) | When | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preliminary Exam | Take and pass 3 written exams and 1 oral exam | Preliminary Exam Intent Form and Oral Exam Form | End of year 1 (3rd quarter of matriculation) Offered in Spring and Fall | Will be announced by department |
| Qualifying Exam Committee Nomination | Must nominate 5 members. One member must be from outside area. | Form 2 and Report of Departmental Requirements Form | Usually after completion of year 2 (6th quarter of matriculation) | At least 2 weeks prior to the exam date |
| Qualifying Exam | Oral exam to have the Ph.D. dissertation proposal approved | Form 3 | See above | Must be submitted to Graduate Assistant no more than 24 hours after taken |
| Final Defense** | Ph.D. dissertation final defense (open to the public) | Form 5 | Varies between 4-5 years | Submit to Graduate Assistant as soon as possible after defending |
| Dissertation Draft | Rough Draft of final dissertation | n/a | n/a | One week before the final draft is due. (check Graduate Division Calendar for specific date) |
| Dissertation Final Draft | Final draft of Ph.D. dissertation | Acceptance & Deposit form, ProQuest Publication Agreement, 2 optional surveys | n/a | On or before the last day of the quarter. (check Graduate Division Calendar for specific date) |
Required units for Ph.D. are 36 (including at least 3 units of ME 250)
Units can be obtained by taking any combination of courses. Taking core courses is highly recommended.
** Please note that you must submit an abstract and title to the Graduate Assistant no later than 9 days before your defense or you will not be allowed to hold your defense.
All forms should be obtained from the Graduate Program Assistant: Bourns Hall A332
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