G. Timetable of events

This timetable is a schedule of times for completion of the requirements for the Ph.D. degree within four years, or M.S. degree in two years, and is intended as a guide to the faculty in measuring progress. It should be noted that the Timetable is meant to be an appropriate time schedule of events – a goal to aim for – and not a schedule of firm deadlines for completion of requirements. It is recognized that it may not be possible to adhere to the schedule because of circumstances such as difficulty in scheduling classes or entering the program with deficiencies. However, serious deviation from the schedule may be an indication of unsatisfactory progress.

1. For students in the Ph.D. program entering with a Bachelor’s degree; recommended schedule for 4-year program.

A. The following must be accomplished by the end of the first year of graduate study:

• Pass Basic Proficiency Exams. 
• Choose a research director the first semester and develop a graduate program in consultation with the Advisory Committee before the end of the second 

B. The following three items should be accomplished by the end of the second year of graduate study:

• Present first seminar (literature CHEM 790) by end of Fall semester. 
• Complete course work. 
• Pass written and oral Comprehensive Exams by end of Spring semester

Along with the completion of these requirements, some definite progress in dissertation research must be made by the end of the second year.

C. The following two items must be accomplished by the end of the third year of graduate study:

• Present second seminar on research progress by end of Spring semester
• By the end of the sixth semester, the student has spent two summers and two semesters fully and three semesters partly on the dissertation research. Thus, significant progress in research work should have been made by this time.

D. The completion of research and writing of the dissertation should be made during the fourth year. The final examination should be completed shortly after the dissertation has been written.

2. For students in the M.S. program; recommended schedule for 2-year program:

A. The following must be accomplished by the end of the first year of graduate study:

• Pass Basic Proficiency Exams.
• Choose a research director the first semester and develop a graduate program in consultation with the Advisory Committee before the end of the second

B. The following items should be accomplished by the end of the second year of study:

• Complete course work
• Present CHEM 790 literature seminar by end of Fall semester
• Complete research and write thesis.
• Present CHEM 790 thesis seminar, and pass Final Oral exam.