The typical progress in a Ph.D. program includes coursework completion in the second year, followed by a Qualifying Examination and Advancement to Candidacy in the third year, and submission of the Dissertation at the end of the sixth year.

• Applied Mathematics Exam Committee
• Biomolecular Engineering & Bioinformatics Exam Committee
• Computational Media Exam Committee
• Computer Engineering Exam Committee
• Computer Science and Engineering Exam Committee
• Electrical & Computer Engineering Exam Committee
• Statistical Science Exam Committee

1. In consultation with your faculty advisor, you will form a four member committee (please check individual program requirements above for specifics on qualifying exam committees). It is your responsibility to schedule a specific date/time with your committee members.
2. Submit the Committee Nomination for the Doctoral Qualifying Exam form to the department graduate advisor for review. You must submit this form at least 30 days in advance of your exam to your department’s graduate advisor. This will be signed by the faculty graduate representative and then sent to the Graduate Division for final approval. At this point, it is advised that you also reach out to your committee with a draft of your paper/presentation to incorporate any feedback before your qualifying exam takes place.
3. The Graduate Division will email you and the department with their ruling on the examination committee members.
4. If your advancement is going to be in-person or hybrid, please request a conference room.
5. If your advancement is going to be virtual or hybrid, it is your responsibility to create a Zoom link. Please make sure to add your committee chair as a co-host, so they can handle logistics while you are presenting.
6. If you are unfamiliar with Zoom, please see these instructions.
7. Please submit a title, abstract, and location information using the Advancement/Defense Notification Request Form at least two weeks prior to your exam date so that we can send out an announcement to the BE community.

1. Print out the Qualifying Examination Report, bring it to your exam, and give to your committee chair.
2. Your exam committee will return the completed forms to your department’s graduate advisor.
3. After passing the qualifying exam and completing all required coursework, you are ready to advance to candidacy!

1. Turn in the Nomination for Dissertation Reading Committee form to your department’s graduate advisor. These will be sent to the Graduate Division along with your Qualifying Exam Report. The advancement to candidacy fee of $90 will be billed to your account. This fee must be paid in order for your ATC to process.
2. You will be officially Advanced to Candidacy in the term following the submission of these materials and, if applicable, completion of any incomplete (I) grades.

All forms are available through the links on this page and through the Graduate Division website.