Key Steps, Deadlines, and Forms
| Action | Deadline | Signatures | Copies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complete graduate advising with advisors | for registration every semester | advisor, advising comm | D*** |
| Complete add/drop of classes | consult advisor | grad, advisor | D |
| First Years (before scheduling preliminary exam) | |||
| Select research advisor | first summer–2nd year | ||
| Pass qualifying exam | by 4th semester | ||
| Submit Request for Transfer of Graduate Credit | varies by semester; approval before Plan of Study |
none | GS, D |
| Submit Outline of PhD Program (Plan of Study) | by semester of 30 earned hours | advisor, chair or grad dir | D, (GS) |
| Preliminary Exam & Advancement to Candidacy | |||
Take prelim exam:
|
by end of 7th semester, after core courses completed |
grad, comm, chair; prelim report signed by comm chair | DD |
Apply for Plan II Master’s degree: (see “Prelim report” above)
|
immediately after prelim passed (date) |
grad, chair or grad dir; Application for Degree signed by chair | GS,DGS,D |
| Complete Appoint / Change Doctoral Dissertation Comm online procedure | start of sem after prelim passed | comm, chair or grad dir | GS,D |
| Submit Application for Candidacy for Doctoral Degree (after prelim and coursework complete, may be submitted before or after doctoral committee form) (please fill out this form and submit it to the physics office to initiate the electronic process) |
soon after prelim passed, not after 1st week of graduating sem (date) |
grad, comm | 4GS,D |
| Candidates (before scheduling defense) | |||
| Enroll in at least 3 hours per semester of PH 699: Dissertation Research |
every semester after prelim | ||
| Meet with dissertation committee | annually after prelim passed (comm can request more freq) |
||
| Dissertation Defense, Submission & Graduation | |||
| Submit application for degree (through myBama*) | 1st week of graduating sem (date) | ||
| Schedule dissertation defense | >10 weeks before graduation | ||
| Submit dissertation to committee | >2 weeks before defense | ||
| Announce defense to department (via email with title and abstract) |
1 week before defense | ||
| Complete dissertation defense and submit defense approval form (example form – submit information listed to department office to begin online process) | >8 weeks before grad | D, GS | |
| Submit dissertation acceptance/dissent page | after dissertation defense, >6 weeks before graduation |
1) comm, chair or grad dir 2) after revision: grad, comm chair |
GS, D |
| Submit electronic dissertation (overview) | 6 weeks before graduation (date) | ||
| Complete survey of earned doctorates | 6 weeks before graduation (date) | ||
| Pay diploma fee to Office of Student Receivables | 1 month before graduation | ||
Notes
*Email or call Eric Harris (eharris@ua.edu, 8-8287) at Grad School that you are picking up MS degree on the way to PhD; this will allow the next step to be available.
**After notifying Grad School that you are picking up MS on the way to PhD, apply for MS degree through myBama: myBama > Student tab > Student Services > Student Records > Apply to graduate
***D = department; GS = Graduate School
Prelim
After prelim is passed, the documents to be signed/submitted are
- MS Comprehensive Exam approval form: email or call Eric Harris (eharris@ua.edu, 8-8287)
- Application for MS Degree (online through myBama**)
- Application for Candidacy for Doctoral Degree
- Appoint / Change Doctoral Dissertation Comm (if the same as prelim comm)
- Prelim report (from prelim comm chair [who is not research advisor] to dept chair)
-
Dissertation Defense
- After a successful dissertation defense, the committee signs the Dissertation acceptance form (PDF) (original signatures).
-
Revised Dissertation
- After the revised dissertation is ready for electronic submission, the committee chair and candidate sign the same dissertation acceptance form (original signatures).