Timeline for a Ph.D.

Average time to completion of a Ph.D. is a little over 5 years. How does that break down in milestones for students?

First year: complete core courses in Biochemistry

• First semester: rotations and selection of a lab
• Second semester: selection and first meeting of supervisory committee; select coursework for second year of study.

Second year: continue/complete all coursework; first year of seminar

• Second semester: second meeting of supervisory committee; select format / topic for written and oral comprehensive exams.

Third year: complete seminar requirements; first semester of teaching

• First semester: complete written and oral comprehensive exams
• Second semester: third meeting of supervisory committee

Fourth year: complete teaching assignment

• Second semester: fourth meeting of supervisory committee; discussion of time to graduation

Fifth year: complete research; write thesis; final defense of thesis work; final examination by supervisory committee; Ph.D. conferred