Progress Towards a CIS PhD Degree

This page outlines the basic requirements and timeline for the Communication and Information Sciences Ph.D. program. This summary is provided for your convenience. Refer to the CIS Policy Document and the Graduate Division Site Map for the academic policies, degree requirements, etc. on which this summary is based.

Major Milestones

The following are the major milestones of the CIS program. Each is a prerequisite for the milestone following.

  1. Meet area exam, coursework, and research paper (if applicable) requirements.
    • Old Plan: Pass two secondary and two primary area exams, and finish all three of CIS 701, 702, 703.
    • New Plan: Pass two secondary and one primary area exam, publish or obtain faculty approval of a research paper, and finish all three of CIS 701, 702, 703.
  2. Pass your proposal defense
  3. Pass dissertation defense
  4. Turn in final revised dissertation with signatures

Deadlines

By the end of the ...

  • first year: you must attempt at least one area exam
  • second year:
    • Old Plan: you must pass at least two area exams
    • New Plan: you must pass at least two area exams and submit a research paper for publication or review
  • third year: all area examination and research paper requirements should be completed
  • fourth year: you must complete the proposal defense (under the new plan, this requires that you have completed 701 702 and 703)
  • seventh year: you must finish the dissertation

Generalized Timeline

This timeline is provided as a guide to meeting your degree requirements, based on prerequisites and deadlines noted above as well as prior experience. Some students may progress faster than this timeline; no student should progress slower.

Every Semester:

First year:

  • Take whichever of CIS 701, 702, or 703 are offered
  • Take whatever courses you need to prepare for exams
  • Attempt at least one exam by the second semester
  • During and through these courses as well as personal contacts, familiarize yourself with as many faculty and research areas as possible

Second year

  • Take whichever of CIS 701, 702, or 703 are offered if you missed one
  • Take whatever courses you need to prepare for exams
  • Take sufficient area exams to pass two by the end of your fourth semester
    • Ideally you'd pass them all now, and combine the Third and Fourth years of the timeline below!
  • Identify a tentative advisor and research area, and work with your advisor to develop appropriate research topics for your proposal. New Plan students will either choose or be assigned a research mentor by the beginning of the year.
  • New Plan students: submit a research paper for publication or review by the summer that ends the second year.

Third through Fourth Year

  • Take whatever courses you need to prepare for exams
  • Complete initial program requirements:
    • Complete all area exam requirements by the end of your sixth semester
    • New Plan: Additionally, have a research paper accepted for publication or approved by faculty
    • Form I may be signed when passed (often this is done after the proposal defense)
  • Identify an advisor. Consulting with your advisor, choose committee members from eligible faculty, and discuss your proposal plans with each of them
  • Finish your literature review for your proposal

Fourth Year (or third if you are fast):

  • Conduct a pilot study if needed
  • Write or revise your proposal
  • Defend your proposal
    • Proposal given to committee two weeks in advance
    • Defense advertised to CIS lists two weeks in advance
    • Only two attempts are allowed
    • Form II is signed when passed
  • Begin work on empirical aspect of your research (data gathering, experiment, etc. as appropriate). New Plan students may have already done this in their research paper.

Fifth through Final Year (no more than Seven):

  • Complete work on empirical aspect of your dissertation
  • Begin and complete work on analytic aspect of your dissertation
    • Discuss this work regularly with your advisor and committee members as it progresses
  • Finish writing your dissertation
    • Try to get feedback from advisor and committee members as it progresses
  • Defend your dissertation
    • Committee consent to schedule defense and announcement information given to CIS Chair three weeks in advance (required for New Plan; recommended for Old Plan)
    • Dissertation given to committee at least two weeks in advance
    • Defense advertised via graduate division and CIS lists at least two weeks in advance
    • Form III signed when passed
  • Revise and format your dissertation and get remaining signatures on cover sheet

Graduation Semester

  • Deadline for filing for graduation is typically the first few weeks of the semester!
  • Deadline for final defense is typically mid-semester!
  • Deadline for turning in dissertation is typically 2/3 through semester!
  • Don a gown and walk, Doctor!

Probation

Students may be put on probation for inadequate progress, including the following:

If a student is not taken off of probation by the end of the semester after the semester in which the student was placed on probation, the student may be dismissed from the program. Extensions require exceptional circumstances and approval of the executive council.