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 |
Submit Application for Candidacy for Doctoral Degree (after prelim and coursework complete) |
soon after prelim passed, not after 1st week of graduating sem (date) |
grad, comm | 4GS,D |
Submit Appoint / Change Doctoral Dissertation Comm online form | start of sem after prelim passed | comm, chair or grad dir | GS,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 | >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 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 successful dissertation defense, the committee signs Dissertation acceptance form (original signatures).
-
Revised Dissertation
- After revised dissertation is ready for electronic submission, committee chair and candidate sign same dissertation acceptance form (original signatures).