Roadmap to completion
To help students plan for completing their degree, we present a possible timeline for the Ph.D. and both M.S. Plan A (thesis) and Plan B (non-thesis) options. This simply illustrates how all program requirements could be satisfied in a timely manner. Keep in mind that full-time graduate students usually take 6 - 9 credits/semester, and that Plan B students need to take at least one more 700-level course than Plan A students. Also, any student interested in pursuing a doctoral degree after completing the Master’s is urged to choose the Plan A option.
NOTE: Faculty are off-contract (and frequently off campus) during the summer, and only occasionally (and by making prior special arrangements) can a student count on completing a defense during the summer months.
Ph.D. in Geography timeline
Year One
- Discuss and decide upon research topic with your advisor
- Discuss and decide upon two or three areas of expertise for the comprehensive examination
- Establish a graduate committee
- First draft of dissertation prospectus
- Map out research agenda & requirements (e.g., prep for fieldwork, necessary forms & protocols, )
Year Two
Third semester (Fall):
- Complete “Program of Study” form – obtain approval of thesis committee
- Graduate committee approval of dissertation prospectus
Fourth semester (Spring):
- Complete coursework
- Complete comprehensive examination
- Begin research & writing of dissertation
Year Three
- Complete research
- Complete dissertation
- Defend dissertation
MS Geography Plan A (thesis) timeline
First (Fall) semester:
- Begin thesis prospectus (GEOG 700)
- Discuss thesis topic(s) and potential committee members with Advisor
Second (Spring) semester:
- Complete “Declaration of Advisor” form
- Prepare for fieldwork - if necessary, clear Human Subjects committee (requires completion of approved prospectus) or clear Animal Care committee
- Complete thesis prospectus
- Constitute committee
Third (Fall) semester:
- Complete “Program of Study” form – obtain approval of thesis committee
- Sometime between the second and third semester, the student should have the committee provide final approval of the thesis proposal
- Conduct fieldwork
- Analyze data
- Prepare thesis drafts
- File for graduation
Fourth (Spring) semester:
- Finish, defend, and file thesis with the Graduate School
Geography Plan B (non-thesis option) timeline
First (Fall) semester
- Discuss professional paper topic(s) and potential committee members with advisor
Second (Spring) semester:
- Complete "Declaration of Advisor" form
- Complete annotated bibliography
- Constitute committee
Third (Fall) semester:
- File for graduation
- Complete "program of study" form – obtain approval of thesis committee
Fourth (Spring) semester:
- Complete non-thesis option (not filed with the Graduate School).
Despite using the non-thesis option, students must still defend their final work, using the same general criteria as the student who is following the thesis option