Doctoral Example Timeline

Year 1	Semester 1	Research Seminar for First-Year Graduate Students plus two or three courses including one or more qualifying courses	Register and take one or more QCE
Year 1	Semester 2	1st research course (CS 69900) plus one or two courses including one or more qualifying courses	Register and take one or more QCE
Year 2	Semester 3	2nd research course (CS 69900) plus one or two courses including any remaining qualifying courses	Complete the Qualifying Examination, Part 1 Choose a research area Select a thesis advisor
Year 2	Semester 4	One or more courses plus additional seminar/special topics courses in areas of interest and research credits (CS 69900)	Complete the Qualifying Examination, Part 2 Form an Advisory Committee File a Plan of Study
Year 3	Semester 5	Remaining courses on the plan of study plus additional seminars/special topics courses in areas of interest and research credits (CS 69900)	Take the Preliminary Examination Write the Thesis Follow formatting instructions
Year 3	Semester 6
Year 4	Semester 7
Year 4	Semester 8	Seminars/ special topics courses in areas of interest and remaining research credits (CS 69900)	Defend the Thesis Deposit the Thesis
Year 5	Semester 9
Year 5	Semester 10

Last Updated: Jun 26, 2025 4:18 PM

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