Doctoral Degree CheckList is available in .pdf format

Complete written Comprehensive Examination

• You should have completed all the required courses (because requirements vary by time of admission and by program, check with your faculty advisor to determine if you have completed these courses).
• You should have completed a total of 30 hours of coursework including basic research.  (Again, check with your faculty advisor to determine if you have met these requirements).
• Read the requirements found on the Comprehensive Exam webpage.
• Submit Request to Complete Comprehensive Exam.  This form can be downloaded here: Comps_Exam_Guidelines-052012.doc
  
• Submit your request form (signed by your faculty advisor and you) and pick up your exam from the Graduate Coordinator (EDA 374).
• Complete the exam in 30 days and submit it to the Graduate Coordinator.

Complete Specialization Qualifying Examination

• Administered by each program area:  CCLP, CSP, EPP, HEAP.  Check with your faculty advisor to determine your eligibility and method of completing this requirement.

Prepare Dissertation/Treatise proposal

• Select chair and members for the dissertation/treatise committee
  Information about the composition of the dissertation committee can be found in the Graduate School website at:  http://www.utexas.edu/ogs/pdn/candidacy.html
  To determine if a faculty member is on the Graduate Studies Committee (GSC), which might impact their eligibility to be on your dissertation committee, go to: http://registrar.utexas.edu/catalogs/grad09-11/ch05/grad09.ch05a-f.html

• Prepare your proposal (traditionally, this is the first 3 chapters of your dissertation/treatise; however, you should work with your dissertation chair to determine the contents of your proposal).
• Once your dissertation committee chair approves your proposal draft, schedule a meeting for the oral proposal presentation and distribute copies to committee members.  (Your dissertation chair will assist you in determining the appropriate amount of time needed for your committee to read your proposal before making your presentation).
• Schedule a room in which to present your proposal (reservations for rooms in the Sanchez Building need to be made by you).  Ask the Graduate Coordinator for assistance in scheduling a room.

Apply for Advancement to Candidacy

• Complete Advancement to Doctoral Candidacy Application using the EDA Department packet (available from the Graduate Coordinator).
• Submit the above EDA packet to the Graduate Coordinator at least two weeks before the Graduate Studies Committee (GSC) meeting (you will need to ask your dissertation chair, the Graduate Advisor or Graduate Coordinator when the GSC meets in order to meet the deadline).
• Read all the information listed under “Human Subjects” (User Guide, Special Topics, Training, IRB Access, IRB members, IRB Policies & Procedures at UT, Forms and Templates, FAQs, and Contacts.  Read the information entitled “About IRB” (including information on Researchers, What is Human Subjects Research? and Dates & Deadlines).

Fill out the appropriate paperwork on Human Subjects Review and complete the
IRB Approval process at http://www.utexas.edu/research/rsc/index.html

More information about the Human Subjects IRB Approval is available at:
http://www.utexas.edu/research/rsc/index.html

• Complete the online application to advance to doctoral candidacy at http://www.utexas.edu/ogs/pdn/candidacy.html
• Take the UT Copyright Tutorial at:  http://www.utexas.edu/ogs/student_services/academic_policies/int_prop_tutorial.html and print out the certification, which proves that you have completed the tutorial.  You will include a copy of this certification when you submit your dissertation/treatise.

Complete Dissertation/Treatise Research Activities

• Only AFTER you receive IRB Approval, you may register for your first dissertation course (either 399R, 699R or 999R).
•  An advising bar on your registration record will be in place until you meet the IRB Approval Pre-requirement.
•  Two dissertation/treatise courses are required to be taken in consecutive semesters.  The first one is the dissertation research course (399R, 699R or 999R) followed by the dissertation writing course (399W, 699W or 999W).  The treatise research course numbers are 399K, 699K or 999K and the writing course numbers are 399L, 699L or 999L. 
• Work with your chair to determine your progress.
• Complete data collection and analysis (for peace of mind, be sure to back up your work).
• Write the final dissertation/treatise draft.
• Submit your draft to your chair for approval.

Complete Final Oral Exam

• Submit the Degree Candidate Form (application to graduate) the first week of the semester in which you plan to graduate).  This form is available at http://www.utexas.edu/ogs/pdn/.  Check the Graduation Deadlines for Doctoral Candidates for graduation information at http://www.utexas.edu/ogs/pdn/
• Get your committee chair’s approval of your final draft.
• Schedule your Final Oral Examination two weeks before the desired date using the “Request for Final Oral” (pink form), signed by each committee member and the graduate advisor (attach all the required documents), once the chair and committee members agree to meet.  Their signature signifies that they approve of your request for the final oral exam and serves as a receipt that they received your dissertation/treatise draft.  The form is available at: http://www.utexas.edu/ogs/pdn/ (read the instructions for submitting this form at http://www.utexas.edu/ogs/pdn/inst_final_oral.html).

• Fill out the remaining forms to be submitted to the Graduate School (the Checklist for final Submission of Dissertation/Treatise is available at:  http://www.utexas.edu/ogs/pdn/

• Work with your chair to determine the elements and presentation method needed for your final oral exam.
• Present your research results to your dissertation committee.  Be sure to have the necessary forms for them to sign at your final oral exam.

Submit all paperwork to the Office of Graduate Studies (Graduate School, Main Building 101 in the Tower).

• Make the appropriate corrections to your dissertation/treatise as suggested by your committee.
• Submit all materials to the Office of Graduate Studies following the deadlines of the semester in which you wish to graduate.  Deadlines may be found at:  http://www.utexas.edu/ogs/pdn/.

Submit IRB Protocol Closure Report (Electronic Closure) to Office of Research of Support and Compliance.  Form may be found at: http://www.utexas.edu/research/rsc/humanresearch/forms/index.php

Attend Graduation and Celebrate!!!

Graduation Information is available at: http://www.utexas.edu/ogs/awards/index.html

Helpful Resources

Helpful resources for completing the dissertation/treatise can be found on our Writing a Dissertation page.