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PhD - Standard Time Table
(Seven Semesters*)
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| 1st Semester (Fall). (9 hours; Cumulative: 9 total; 9 for PhD coursework) |
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Three regular seminars. (If relevant, two should be required
courses.) (Also, if relevant, add 1-hour Proseminar.)
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| 2nd Semester (Spring). (9 hours; Cumulative: 18 total; 18 for PhD coursework) |
| Three regular seminars.
(If relevant, two should required courses. If relevant,
add 1-hour Proseminar.)
Identify major and minor areas of concentration.
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| Summer. (3 hours; Cumulative: 21 total; 21 for PhD coursework) |
| 3-hours - Readings course with possible dissertation advisor.
(Use to review literature for comprehensive exams and/or to explore
possible dissertation topics.)
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| 3rd Semester (Fall). (9 hours; Cumulative: 30 total; 27 for PhD coursework) |
| Two regular seminars;
3 hours of independent research with dissertation advisor to review literature
for comprehensive exams and explore dissertation topic;
Identify dissertation advisor and committee;
File initial degree plan listing 12 hours major; 9 hours minor; 12 hours elective; 31 hours research.
(Will be ammended at later date if additional elective hours [no more than 13] are substituted for research hours.)
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| 4th Semester (Spring). (9 hours; Cumulative: 39 total; 33 for PhD coursework) |
| Three hours of independent research with dissertation advisor
to prepare for preliminary exams and explore dissertation topics;
Two regular seminars to complete PhD coursework.
Take preliminary exams at end of semester.
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| Summer. (3 hours; Cumulative: 42 total.) |
| 3-hours - Independent research with dissertation advisor or
readings course to develop dissertation proposal.
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| 5th Semester (Fall). (9 hours; Cumulative: 54 total) |
| Independent research with dissertation advisor;
Schedule dissertation proposal defense; Hold hearing and submit proposal
defense forms to Office of Graduate Studies.
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| 6th Semester (Spring). (9 hours; Cumulative: 63 total) |
| Independent research hours with dissertation advisor to work on
dissertation.
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| Summer. (0 formal hours; Cumulative: 63 total.) |
| Work on dissertation.
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| 7th Semester (Fall). (1 hours; Cumulative: 64 total) |
| Register for independent research as needed.
Schedule final defense; Submit completed dissertation to Office of Graduate Studies.
(Note: Some students may need to register for 9 hours to meet enrollment guidelines
for assistantship positions or visas.)
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*
Students who earned their MS at Texas A&M under the "Standard Time-Table" would be able
to finish one semester earlier (since they accumulated 6 hours of coursework toward the
PhD during their fourth semester of work toward the MS).
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Key Points:
Establish major and minor areas of concentration early so all coursework will apply to degree plan.
Identify dissertation advisor and form dissertation committee early.
Use summer research and/or reading hours effectively.
Guard Against:
Taking more than two semesters to identify major and minor areas of concentration;
Taking more than three semesters to choose an advisor and committee and begin
developing a dissertation topic;
Taking more than four semesters to schedule preliminary exams;
Missing deadlines for submitting forms and scheduling hearings.
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