Science OR Math Education (SME) Program Ph.D. Timeline Student & Advisor Potential Timeline [for full-time students w/ masters]

This is draft of a schedule for the SME Ph.D. program. Individuals may deviate from this schedule to accommodate advisor recommendations and individual needs.

Time Frame Activity
YEAR ONE
 
First Term (Fall) (program only admits for fall term each year)
  • Meet faculty, investigate faculty research interests, make appointments with faculty of interest 
  • Take required courses in SME program & explore optional courses to begin thinking about program of study 
    • First year of Research Content sequence 
    • Research Methods sequence 
  • Develop awareness of criteria for program (embedded in each course & narrated in student handbook) 
  • Use course assignments to explore general area(s) of research including literature reviews, methodologies, research process 
  • Read in-depth beyond course requirements. 
  • Complete IRB training
Second Term (Winter)

 

  • Investigate potential advisor for Program of Study (graduate school form) & Written Exam 
    • Begin developing program of study w/ advisor 
    • See grad school for info on program of study 
    • Discuss components & qualities necessary for written exam 
    • Develop timeline for completing issues integrated into Program of Study 
  • Use course assignments to explore general area of research. 
  • Read in-depth beyond course requirements. 
  • Use course work/ research/teaching graduate assistance to explore research process through discussions of readings & analysis/writing process. 
  • Participate in “lab meetings” or reading in conference courses with instructors of interest to develop in-depth analysis of reading and writing processes.

 
Third Term (Spring)
  • Use course work/ research/teaching graduate assistance to explore research process through discussions of readings & analysis/writing process 
  • Read in-depth beyond course requirements. 
  • End of quarter Graduate Program of Study meeting (must complete within one calendar year if student has masters or by end of 5th quarter if no masters, enrolled in at least 3 credits to file) 
    • Meet with advisor to develop program 
    • Meet with minor professor to review/revise program 
    • Construct committee for program of study 
    • Committee meeting to approve program of study 
    • File forms with graduate school 
    • Doctoral Students need to print the Doctoral Program Meeting Checklist and take it to program meeting. The Graduate Council Representative will complete and sign this form and return it to the Graduate School with the signed Program of Study. 
  • Faculty Annual Student Review 
    • Adjust program of study and activities as advised
Summer Term
  • Read in-depth beyond course requirements.
YEAR TWO  
Fourth Term (Fall)
  • Second year of Research Content sequence
  • Additional method(s) course(s)
  • Other courses to further program of study according to interests and graduate school/program requirements/advisor recommendations
  • Graduate Program of Study meeting
    • Deadline for filing Program of Study before Winter quarter
Fifth Term (Winter)
  • Second year of Research Content sequence
  • Additional method(s) course(s)
  • Other courses to build program of study
    • Meet with advisor to discuss course selection
Sixth Term (Spring)
  • Finish required program courses
  • Earliest timeframe for Written Qualifying Exam (two questions, 3 weeks/ question)
    • Written Exam (see program handout on Written Qualifying Exam) SME Faculty assigned by chair on rotational basis. Meet with faculty on committee before & during writing Faculty meet prior to exam to confer Oral component of exam is Oral Graduate School Comprehensive Exam (schedule 2-4 weeks after satisfactorily completing written exam.)
  • Develop thesis proposal with advisor and thesis committee.
Summer Term
  • Complete Written Qualifying Exam (see Sixth Term description)
  • Develop thesis proposal with advisor and thesis committee. 
YEAR THREE  
Seventh Term (Fall)
  • Complete Written Department Qualifying Exam (see Sixth Term description)
  • Oral Graduate School Comprehensive Exam (scheduled 2-4 weeks after satisfactorily completing written exam) (see Oral Graduate School Exam handout) with Dissertation committee selected by student & advisor recommendation
  • Prepare for Graduate Oral Exam.
  • Satisfactorily Complete Oral Exam
  • Develop thesis proposal with advisor and thesis committee.
Eighth Term (Winter) 
  • Oral Graduate School Comprehensive Exam (scheduled 2-4 weeks after satisfactorily completing written exam) (see Oral Graduate School Exam handout)
  • Prepare for Oral exam questions.
  • Satisfactorily Complete Oral Exam
  • Develop thesis proposal with advisor and thesis committee. 
  • Assemble Dissertation Committee for Proposal Meeting
    • Meet with members to present ideas and drafts of work
    • Revise work according to member suggestions
    • Informal committee member meetings recommended prior to meeting
    • Distribute well developed/revised draft to committee at least two weeks prior to defense. Student checks in with committee prior to defense to assure proposal is ready.
    • Faculty advisor checks in with committee prior to defense
  • Complete and submit IRB application
  • Revise IRB application as needed
  • Begin data collection
Ninth Term (Spring) 
  • Begin/Continue data collection
  • Begin data analysis
  • Begin writing drafting dissertation/revising previous sections
  • Meet with advisor & committee members to review work
Summer Term
  • Continue data collection
  • Continue data analysis
  • Begin writing drafting dissertation/revising previous sections
  • Meet with advisor & committee members to review work
YEAR FOUR  
Fall Term
  • Data analysis/writing
  • Begin writing drafting dissertation/revising previous sections
  • Meetings with advisor and committee members as needed to review progress
Winter Term
  • Data analysis/writing
  • Continue writing drafting dissertation/revising previous sections
  • Meetings with advisor and committee members as needed to review progress
  • Complete writing thesis (all sections)
Spring Term
  • File oral examination form with Graduate School (need form filed two weeks prior to final oral exam)
    • Submit two weeks prior to exam copy of thesis to committee
    • See Graduate School requirements
    • Dissertation is not accepted for graduation until received approval by graduate dean.
  • File diploma application with Graduate School (usually mid-end of March)
  • Distribute copies of exam copy of thesis to all committee members (usually end of March) [note: check in with committee members periodically prior to this]
  • Schedule Final Oral Defense (required sufficient time for all of committee to read and approval of meeting date)
    • One hour presentation/discussion
    • Committee member defense one hour
    • Final oral must be taken within five years of Graduate Oral Exam