Graduate School procedures for obtaining a Ph.D. degree
jump to each section for more details:
- summary
- appoint a supervisory committee
- schedule and take general exam
- appoint dissertation reading committee
- have reading committee read draft of dissertation
- schedule and take final exam
- turn in two copies of dissertation
- suggested dates for 2006
This memo summarizes the Graduate School (as opposed to departmental) procedures for obtaining a Ph.D. degree. Here are the departmental requirements. Most of these procedures require sending paperwork to the Graduate School. Nothing is official until it has been approved by the Graduate School (in other words, the fact that you have asked people to be on your Supervisory committee and you have been working with them doesn't mean the Committee has been established until we have contacted the Graduate School about your committee and you have received an email confirmation from them). To have any committees appointed or changed or to have exams scheduled or waivers of rules requested, please see Tina Schulstad in G424.
Summary:
1. Appoint Supervisory Committee (early in second year)
2. Schedule (click here for suggested dates) and then take General Exam four months or more after appointing Supervisory Committee (request at least three weeks in advance); take by the last day of Fall quarter of third year
3. Appoint Dissertation Reading Committee (anytime after General Exam is passed)
4. Have Reading Committee read draft of dissertation (before requesting Final Exam)
5. Schedule (click here for suggested dates) and then take Final Exam after Reading Committee reads draft of dissertation (request at least three weeks in advance; take BEFORE end of quarter you want degree to be conferred)
6. Turn in two copies of dissertation (by end of quarter you want degree to be conferred)
1. Appoint Supervisory Committee
The Supervisory Committee consists of at least 5 people chosen by you including a Graduate School Representative (GSR). Your faculty advisor will be the chair of the committee. Three of your committee members, including your advisor, must be part of the PBio department. Bring the names of the people who have agreed to be on your Supervisory Committee to me. I will arrange for their approval by the Graduate Program Coordinator and their appointment by the Dean of the Graduate School. The Supervisory Committee should be appointed a minimum of four months prior to the time you plan to take the General Exam.
2. Schedule (click here for suggested dates) and take General Exam
- Get at least 4 members of your Supervisory committee, including the chair and GSR, to agree to meet in the same room on the same day AND time.
- Complete and sign and have supervisor and the entire Supervisory Committee sign the Warrant for General Exam and send it to the Graduate School at least 3 weeks prior to the agreed-upon exam date.
- Remind your committee members of the exam date.
- Take general exam on the scheduled date and time.
3. Appoint Dissertation Reading Committee
The Dissertation Reading Committee consists of three people from your Supervisory Committee who have agreed to read your dissertation. If you want to appoint someone not already on your Supervisory Committee to your Reading Committee, you will need to request their appointment to your Supervisory Committee also. Bring the names of the three people who have agreed to be on your Reading Committee to me in the Main Office. I will arrange for their approval by the Graduate Program Coordinator and their appointment by the Dean of the Graduate School.
4. Have Reading Committee read draft of your dissertation
5. Schedule (see page 3 for suggested dates) and take Final Exam
- Get at least 4 members of your Supervisory committee, including the chair and GSR, to agree to meet in the same room on the same day AND time. (This is the hardest part - believe me!)
- Have Supervisory Committee complete and sign a Request for Final Examination form and send it in to the Graduate School at least 3 weeks prior to the agreed-upon exam date.
- Defend your dissertation on the appointed date and time.
6. Turn in required paperwork to the Graduate School. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Final Exam warrant completed and signed by Supervisory Committee
- 2 copies of dissertation, printed according to Graduate School format
For more information about the above listed paperwork and other requirements, see
http://www.grad.washington.edu/stsv/stylman/00stylman.htm.
The Physiology Department requests that you make a copy of your dissertation for our keeping. Most of you will be making additional copies for family members, friends, etc. Please see Marilyne in the main office about having all of your copies (except for the 2 for the Graduate School) bound.
NOTE: You have 60 days after your defense to turn in your dissertation. However, if you turn in your dissertation after the last day of the quarter but before the end of the 60 day dissertation submission deadline and no later than the 4th Friday of the following quarter, you may now pay a Graduate Degree Late Fee without registering for the following quarter.
It would be wise to avoid cutting any deadlines too close, because illness, meetings, vacations, etc., on the part of anyone involved will raise havoc with your plans.
To receive your degree Winter Quarter 2007:
- Suggested time to submit Request for Final Exam (Reading Committee should have read dissertation draft): 2/9/07
- *Suggested time to have Final Exam (should allow some time for last minute changes in dissertation): 3/2/07
- Latest time to turn in two copies of dissertation if degree is wanted Winter Quarter: 3/16/07
To receive your degree Spring Quarter 2007:
- Suggested time to submit Request for Final Exam (Reading Committee should have read dissertation draft): 5/4/07
- *Suggested time to have Final Exam (should allow some time for last minute changes in dissertation): 5/25/07
- Latest time to turn in two copies of dissertation if degree is wanted Spring Quarter: 6/8/07
To receive your degree Summer Quarter 2007:
- Suggested time to submit Request for Final Exam (Reading Committee should have read dissertation draft): 7/13/07
- *Suggested time to have Final Exam (should allow some time for last minute changes in dissertation): 8/3/07
- Latest time to turn in two copies of dissertation if degree is wanted Summer Quarter: 8/17/07
To receive your degree Autumn Quarter 2007:
- Suggested time to submit Request for Final Exam (Reading Committee should have read dissertation draft): 11/2/07
- *Suggested time to have Final Exam (should allow some time for last minute changes in dissertation): 11/30/07
- Latest time to turn in two copies of dissertation if degree is wanted Autumn Quarter: 12/14/07
*Technically, one could take the Final Exam and turn in the dissertation all on the last day; however, that is risky in case any problems arise.