Program Checklists

Department of Biomolecular Engineering Ph.D. PROGRAM CHECKLIST

YEAR 1
Semester 1: Advisor & Research

Enroll in BME 6094 seminar course
Discuss research interests with faculty
Begin work in research group
Select a track and required courses
Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0

Semester 2: Start Research

Prepare for qualifying exam (Year 2)
Enroll in BME 6094 seminar & other required courses

YEAR 2
Form an Advisory Committee

Choose 1 major advisor and 2 associate advisors.
Guidelines: Choose 1 major advisor and 2 associate advisors.

Year 2: Pass qualifying exam

NIH-style written proposal and oral presentation

Continue to take graded courses toward your degree

Submit Plan of Study to the Graduate School

(after 18 credits completed)

Upon Plan of Study approval by Graduate School, start proposal

YEARS >3:
Dissertation Proposal/General Exam

Provide a copy of proposal to advisory committee 1 week in advance
Defend proposal
Submit general exam, proposal hardcopy, and dissertation proposal approval forms to Graduate School (at least 6 months before final Ph.D. defense)

Prepare Dissertation Proposal

Should be completed within 12 months of the completion of General Exam

Complete 30 graded course credits

15 graded research credits, and 2 publications

FINAL DEFENSE

For a complete checklist of required steps visit the website.

Apply for Graduation in Peoplesoft During Last Semester

Announce Final Defense 2 Weeks in Advance on UConn and BME Event Calendars

Contact BME department staff for calendar scheduling and announcement.

Provide Dissertation to Advisory Committee 2 Weeks in Advance of Defense

Review Dissertation submission checklist

Submissions

Submit 1 electronic copy of dissertation to Digital Commons
Submit completed dissertation checklist, 1 approval page, final exam form, and receipt of earned doctorate survey to Graduate School

Complete BME Clearance Form

Includes submitting pdf of thesis, and returning keys
Provide exit survey

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Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Ph.D. PROGRAM CHECKLIST

YEAR 1
Semester 1: Advisor & Research

Enroll in 3 required CHEG courses (5301, 5315, 5321)
Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0
Discuss research interests with faculty
Submit advisor preference form (end of September)
Work as teaching assistant
Be paired with research advisor
Prepare for qualifying exam

Semester 2: Start Research

Pass oral qualifying exam (early January if starting in August)
Enroll in research and/or additional courses
Work as teaching assistant

Retake Qualifying Exam If Necessary

(mid May if starting in August)

YEAR 2 & 3

Form an Advisory Committee

At least 5 members, including the primary advisor
At least 1 member must come from another department or program or industry

Continue to Take Graded Courses Toward Your Degree
Submit Plan of Study to the Graduate School (After 18 Credits Completed)

Confirm approval by Graduate School prior to scheduling Preproposal

General Exam Part 1 (Preproposal)

Should be completed within 12 months of the formation of advisory committee

YEARS >3:

Complete 30 graded course credits and 15 graded research credits
General Exam Part II (Preliminary Results)

Should be completed within 12 months of the completion of Part I
Submit proposal hard copy, dissertation proposal approval, and general exam forms to Graduate School

Prepare Dissertation Proposal
Dissertation Proposal

Should be completed within 12 months of the completion of General Exam

Annual Review

Should be scheduled within 12 months of the Dissertation Proposal or previous annual review meeting until final defense

Final Committee Meeting

Should be scheduled at least 6 months before Final Defense.

FINAL DEFENSE

For a complete checklist of required steps visit http://grad.uconn.edu/current-students/doctoral-degree-program/dissertation-information/

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Provide Dissertation to Advisory Committee 4 Weeks in Advance of Defense
Announce Final Defense 2 Weeks in Advance on UConn and CBE Event Calendars

Contact CBE department staff for calendar scheduling and announcement.

Defend Dissertation and Obtain Signatures of Advisory Committee
Review Dissertation Submission Checklist in Link Above

https://registrar.uconn.edu/graduation/doctoral-degrees/#dissertation-information

Submissions

Submit 1 electronic copy of dissertation to Digital Commons
Submit completed dissertation checklist, 1 approval page, final exam form, and receipt of earned doctorate survey to Graduate School

Complete CBE Clearance Form

Includes submitting pdf of thesis, and returning keys

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Department of Civil Engineering / Environmental Engineering Ph.D. PROGRAM CHECKLIST

YEAR 1

Semester 1: Advisor & Research

Enroll in CE/TUE courses (See TUE Curriculum Guide)
Discuss research interests with faculty
Begin work in research group
Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0
Prepare for qualifying exam

Semester 2: Start Research

Continue to enroll in CE/TUE courses
Enroll in research (GRAD 6950) and/or additional courses

YEARS 2

Form an Advisory Committee

Choose 1 major advisor and 2 associate advisors
Note: advisory committee guidelines

Continue to take Graded Courses toward Your Degree
Submit Plan of Study to the Graduate School (after 12 credits with M.S. and 18 credits without M.S. completed)

(This is non-binding, and can be changed in the future.)

Pass General Exam

(by end of the year, but after submitting Plan of Study)

YEAR >2:

Dissertation Proposal

Provide a copy of proposal to advisory committee and 2 additional faculty reviewers 1 week in advance
Defend proposal
Submit proposal hard copy, dissertation proposal approval, and general exam forms to Graduate School (at least 6 months before final Ph.D. defense)
Submit proposal to CEE Graduate Director for review by 2 reviewers

Prepare Dissertation

Should be completed within 12 months of the completion of General Exam

Complete required coursework (15 beyond M.S.) and research credits (15)

FINAL DEFENSE

For a complete checklist of required steps please visit the website for dissertation information.

Submit CEE Ph.D. Dissertation Defense Scheduling Checklist

Apply for graduation in Peoplesoft during last semester

Contact CEE department staff for calendar scheduling and announcement.

Announce final defense 2 weeks in advance on UConn and CEE event calendars
Provide dissertation to advisory committee 2 weeks in advance of defense
Submissions

Submit 1 electronic copy of dissertation to Digital Commons
Submit completed approval page, final exam form, and receipt of earned doctorate survey to Graduate School

Complete CEE Clearance Form

Includes submitting pdf of thesis, and returning keys
Clearance Form >

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Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering Ph.D. PROGRAM CHECKLIST

YEAR 1

Semester 1: Advisor & Research

Enroll in at least 2 EE core courses
Discuss research interests with faculty
Begin work in research group
Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0
Prepare for general exams

Semester 2: Start Research

Enroll in research credits (GRAD 6950)and/or additional courses

YEARS 2 & 3

Form an Advisory Committee

Choose 1 major advisor and 2 associate advisor
Note: advisory committee guidelines

Continue to Take Graded Courses Toward Your Degree
Complete Written General Exams and Submit Report to Graduate School
Submit Plan of Study to the Graduate School (After 18 Credits Completed)

Upon Plan of Study Approval by Graduate School, Start Proposal

YEAR 3:

Dissertation Proposal/Oral General Exam

Provide a copy of proposal to advisory committee (1 week in advance of proposal defense or submission)
Defend proposal (Electronics, Computer Engineering, Power) or submit proposal for departmental review (Systems)
Submit proposal hard copy, dissertation proposal approval, and general exam forms to Graduate School (at least 6 months before final Ph.D. defense)

Prepare Dissertation
Complete Required Course Work

FINAL DEFENSE

For a complete checklist of required steps visit the graduate website.

Apply for Graduation in Peoplesoft During Last Semester
Announce Final Defense 2 Weeks in Advance on UConn and ECE Event Calendars

Contact ECE department staff for calendar scheduling and announcement.

Provide Dissertation to Advisory Committee 2 Weeks in Advance of Defense
Defend Dissertation and Obtain Signatures of Advisory Committee
Review Dissertation Submission Checklist in Link Above
Complete ECE Clearance Form

includes: submitting pdf of thesis, returning keys

Submissions

Submit 1 electronic copy of dissertation to Digital Commons
Submit completed dissertation checklist, 1 approval page, final exam form, and receipt of earned doctorate survey to Graduate School

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Department of Computer Science & Engineering Ph.D. PROGRAM CHECKLIST

YEAR 1

Semester 1: Advisor Selection; Begin Coursework

If you were admitted with a default advisor(usually the graduate director), discuss your research interests with faculty; ideally, you will settle on a research advisor early in the first year.

Semester 2: Coursework; Start Research

YEAR 2 & 3

Form an Advisory Committee in Consultation with Your Advisor

Typical advisory committees consist of two additional faculty. See the full guidelines at the graduate catalog website.
Complete breadth requirements.

Submit Plan of Study to the Graduate School

After 18 credits of coursework, submit Plan of Study to the graduate school. (This is non-binding, and can be changed in the future.) https://grad.uconn.edu/forms/
Begin preparing a dissertation proposal; ideally, plan to defend your proposal early in Year 3.
File your annual departmental progress report.

YEARS 3+:

Complete all Required Coursework
Defend Dissertation Proposal

The department strongly encourages Ph.D. student to defend their proposal as early as possible.
Continue dissertation research.
Publish at least 3 articles in full-length refereed conferences or journals.
File your annual departmental progress report.

FINAL DEFENSE

For a complete checklist of required steps visit the UConn graduate website.

Apply for Graduation in Peoplesoft During Last Semester
Review Dissertation Submission
Announce Final Defense 2 Weeks in Advance on UConn and CSE Event Calendars

Contact CSE department staff for calendar scheduling and announcement.

Provide dissertation to committee at least two weeks in advance of defense.
Defend dissertation; obtain signatures of committee on defense paperwork.
Complete CSE Clearance Form

Includes submitting pdf of thesis, and returning keys

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Department of Materials Science Engineering Ph.D. PROGRAM CHECKLIST

YEAR 1

Semester 1: Advisor & Research

Enroll in at least 2 MSE core courses (5301, 5309, 5322, or 5334)
Discuss research interests with faculty
Begin work in research group
Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0
Prepare for qualifying exam

Semester 2: Start Research

Pass qualifying exam (early January)
Enroll in research (MSE 6950) and/or additional courses

YEAR 2 & 3

Form an Advisory Committee

Choose 1 major advisor and 2 associate advisors
Note: advisory committee guidelines

Serve as a grader for 2 semesters
Submit Plan of Study to the Graduate School (after 18 credits completed)

Submit Plan of Study to the Graduate School

(after 18 credits completed)

Upon Plan of Study approval by Graduate School, start proposal

YEARS >3:

Dissertation Proposal/General Exam

Provide a copy of proposal to advisory committee 1 week in advance
Defend proposal
Submit proposal hard copy, dissertation proposal approval, and general exam forms to Graduate School (at least 6 months before final Ph.D. defense)

Prepare Dissertation Proposal

Should be completed within 12 months of the completion of General Exam

Complete 30 graded course credits and 15 graded research credits

FINAL DEFENSE

For a complete checklist of required steps visit the Graduate School website

Apply for Graduation in Peoplesoft During Last Semester

Announce Final Defense 2 Weeks in Advance on UConn and MSE Event Calendars

Contact MSE department staff for calendar scheduling and announcement.

Provide Dissertation to Advisory Committee 2 Weeks in Advance of Defense

Defend dissertation and obtain signatures of advisory committee

Review dissertation submission checklist

Submissions

Submit 1 electronic copy of dissertation to Digital Commons
Submit completed dissertation checklist, 1 approval page, final exam form, and receipt of earned doctorate survey to Graduate School

Complete IMS clearance form

Includes: submitting pdf of thesis, returning keys.

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Department of Mechanical Engineering Ph.D. PROGRAM CHECKLIST

YEAR 1

Semester 1: Advisor & Research

Enroll in at least 2 ME core courses
Discuss research interests with faculty
Begin work in research group
Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0
Prepare for qualifying exam

Semester 2: Start Research

Pass Qualifying Examination (also known as the general examination).
Enroll in research and/or additional courses.

Retake Qualifying Exam if Necessary

(mid May if starting in August)

YEAR 2 & 3

Form an Advisory Committee

Choose 2 Associate Advisors
Note: advisory committee guidelines (https://gradcatalog.uconn.edu/grad-schoolinfo/advisory-system/)

Continue to Take Graded Courses Toward Your Degree

Submit Plan of Study to the Graduate School (after 18 credits completed)

Start Proposal

Upon Plan of Study approval by Graduate School

YEARS >3:

Complete a Minimum of 21 Credit Hours After the M.S.

(excluding requirements for dissertation, language and minor area) and 15 Graded Research Credits

Complete at Least One Accepted and One Submitted Peer-reviewed Journal Paper

Your advisor may require more than the University's minimum requirement
Prospectus Presentation

(at least one year before graduation)

Prepare Dissertation

Dissertation Proposal/General Exam

Provide a copy of proposal to advisory committee 1 week in advance
Defend proposal
Submit Proposal Hard Copy, Dissertation
Proposal Approval, and General Exam Forms to Graduate School (at least 6 months before final Ph.D. defense)

FINAL DEFENSE

For a complete checklist of required steps visit the UConn Graduate School website.

Apply for Graduation in Peoplesoft During Last Semester

Announce Final Defense 2 Weeks in Advance on UConn and MSE Event Calendars

Contact ME department staff for calendar scheduling and announcement.

Provide Dissertation to Advisory Committee 2 Weeks in Advance of Defense

Defend dissertation and obtain signatures of advisory committee

Review dissertation submission checklist

Submissions

Submit 1 electronic copy of dissertation to Digital Commons
Submit completed dissertation checklist, 1 approval page, final exam form, and receipt of earned doctorate survey to Graduate School

Complete IMS clearance form

Includes: submitting pdf of thesis, returning keys.

DOWNLOAD CHECKLIST