Graduation Timeline for MSTP Students
| Milestone | Expected MSTP Deadline | Latest Acceptable Deadline | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Pre-qualifying exam/ minor prop/ field exam, etc. |
Fall or winter, G1 year |
Winter, G1 year |
Graduate programs may vary |
|
Form thesis committee |
Winter or spring, G1 year |
Summer, G1 year |
Start planning early and confirm members in advance |
|
Advance to candidacy/ qualifying exam |
Spring, G2 year |
Fall, G3 year |
Must complete all coursework and exams prior to advancement |
|
Pre-defense meeting/ defense preparation |
Spring, G2 year |
Summer before G2 year |
Meet with your committee to review readiness for defense and finalize timeline |
|
Notify MSTP admin of your plans to defend/ return to MS3 |
Summer before G3 year |
Fall, G4 year |
Students planning to return to MS3 the following spring must defend no later than early April |
|
Advisor approval of defense draft and distribute to committee |
Fall/winter,G3 year |
No later than 3 weeks before your defense date |
Several important steps can and should be completed before your oral defense to ensure a smooth finalization process and to avoid administrative delays afterward |
|
SOM clerkship selections for spring MS3 year |
Fall (December), G3 year |
Fall (December), G4 year |
Work with MSTP admin to submit your clerkship selections to SOM 3rd-year coordinator |
|
MSTP re-immersion activities |
Winter, G3 year |
Winter, G4 year |
All activities will take place before Clinical Transitions Week (CTW) the first week of May (SOM spring quarter) |
|
Thesis oral defense |
Winter, G3 year |
(Early April) spring, G4 year |
G3/G4 students planning to return to MS3 the following spring must defend their dissertation no later than April. |
|
Finalize paperwork and submit PhD certificate to MSTP |
End of April (spring, G3 year) |
End of April (spring, G4 year) |
Defense paperwork, clearance, and certificate need to be finalized and submitted prior to CTW to return to MS3 |
|
Return to MS3 |
Spring, MS3 (CTW first week of May) |
Follow guidance from SOM |
|
|
Wrap up papers and experimentations in lab |
Spring/summer of MS3 (depending on clerkship schedule) |
If you completed a clerkship prior to Ph.D., you may use the free block of time to finish up lab work |
|