Ph.D. Milestones

Ph.D. Milestones by Semester

1. First or second semester:
EE Ph.D. students are admitted to the Ph.D. program only if there is a faculty member willing to serve as their dissertation director. Meetings should be held to discuss course work, diagnostic exams, qualifying exams, direction of dissertation research, Ph.D. committee makeup, time frame, etc.

2. Second, third, semesters:
Form supervisory committee (minimum 5 members including 1 major professor, 1 from outside College of Engineering, and 1 from an engineering department other than electrical).
Submit "Notice of Supervisory Committee" form to EE department for approval.

3. After completion of most course work but before embarking on dissertation research:
Consult with committee on Ph.D. Diagnostic Exam and Ph.D. Qualifying Exam. Arrange to take required examinations. Have committee submit form authenticating satisfactory performance.
Submit forms authenticating compliance.
Submit "Application to Candidacy" form.
Submit "Notice of Dissertation Committee Change" form if changes are made.
NOTE: Ph.D. students cannot register for dissertation hours UNTIL AFTER ADMISSION TO CANDIDACY. AND - after admittance - EE students are not allowed to REGISTER FOR DIRECTED RESEARCH HOURS!- ONLY dissertation hours.
All doctoral students register in their major professors section.

All students must follow the USF graduate school guideline for format.

4. After completion of dissertation research:
Distribute to committee for comments. Prepare final draft. - KEEP YOUR COMMITTEE INFORMED AND UP-TO -DATE. They don't like surprises or reading an entire dissertation at the last minute.

5. Next to last semester: Submit (College/University) Application (and Ph.D checklist) for Graduation to Major Professor and EE Graduate Program Assistant. See page 14 for College of Engineering application deadline dates.

6. Final (Presentation) Semester: Register for at least 2 hours of dissertation (EEL 7980). Remember, you MUST be enrolled for at least 2 credit hrs. per semester (6 cr. hrs per year) from candidacy until completion of program.

Make sure you know what the defense deadline dates are for your graduating semester in the Engineering College/EE Department and Graduate School.
At least 5 weeks before end of final semester and 2 weeks before desired dissertation defense date (see 8) Major professor selects qualified dissertation defense chairperson NOT in Electrical Engineering Department nor on dissertation committee.

TWO WEEKS (minimum- earlier is better) before defense date, fill out dissertation (final oral examination) request form with all required signatures) and meet with the manuscript consultant (MC) at the graduate school (and the Associate Dean in the Engineering Dean's Office). ***This is a "must do - no exceptions!"*** The MC and Assoc. Dean will check your dissertation format. ( You will also submit form requesting "Final Oral Examination" (dissertation defense) with endorsement of committee (defense chairperson, day, time and room), to the MC at this time., plus the "Successful Defense" form and the "Announcement" of defense to the Graduate School. The Graduate School sends out the notice of dissertation defense to committee chairman and members.

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