<aside> 💡 Copy and paste your PhD requirements or modify this list to suit your needs.

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• [ ] Complete your required coursework:

  • At least 51 total graduate credits
  • Of those 51 total credits, at least 36 “fresh” graduate credits
  • Of those 36 fresh credits, at least 18 graduate credits from C&I courses (excluding C&I 990, and 999). For students with a UW-Madison C&I master’s degree, this requirement drops to a 12 C&I credit minimum.
  • C&I 712: Introduction to Curriculum & Instruction
  • At least 3 courses of research methodology
  • A minor (Option A: 9-12 credits, Option B: 12 credits) - education policy

• [ ] In consultation with your advisor, assemble your preliminary exam committee.

• [ ] Apply to take the preliminary exam by submitting the to the Graduate Program Coordinator at least 3 weeks before your examination date.

  required paperwork

• [ ] Take and pass the preliminary examination within 5 years of admission to the Ph.D. program.

• [ ] In consultation with your advisor, assemble your dissertation proposal committee.

• [ ] Prepare and obtain approval of your dissertation proposal within 2 years of passing your preliminary exam. File this approved proposal with the C&I Graduate Program Coordinator at least one semester prior to your final oral exam (i.e., dissertation defense).

• [ ] Conduct your research, meeting the requirements of the (IRB) whenever applicable. Prepare your dissertation.

  Education Research Institutional Review Board

• [ ] In consultation with your advisor, finalize your final oral exam committee.

• [ ] In consultation with your advisor, send your finished dissertation to your final oral exam committee members at least 7 weeks prior to your oral defense date. This includes 4 weeks for the committee to read and 3 weeks for the Graduate Program office to work with the Graduate School to complete your paperwork.

• [ ] Set up a meeting with the Graduate Program Coordinator to discuss the oral defense, depositing process, and paperwork (optional, but highly recommended).

• [ ] Once your committee has read your dissertation and believes it is ready to be defended, complete and submit the necessary paperwork to the Graduate Program Coordinator at least 3 weeks before your oral defense date, to generate a warrant for your defense.

  • Three members of your committee must email the graduate program coordinator to indicate that they think you are ready to defend. Your advisor is always one of the three.
  • Complete the PhD Final Oral Examination Committee Form, including your advisor’s signature that approves your committee’s composition, and submit it to the graduate program coordinator.

• [ ] Pass the final oral exam within 5 years of passing the preliminary exam.

• [ ] Deposit your completed dissertation and the signed warrant with the Graduate School for final approval and acceptance.

• [ ] Attend commencement, if desired.

• [ ] Doing Individual Development Plans