• All graduate students are encouraged to select a research director and to begin their thesis research no later than the end of the second semester in residence. The graduate program is flexible in order to meet the specific objectives of the candidate. It is possible to work on a problem involving collaborations with more than one faculty member.
  • At the beginning of the third year, all students must pass an informal oral examination designed to assure that significant progress has been made in the design and execution of the Ph.D. research project. Students are required to give a seminar in the Department. The Ph.D. course of study typically requires 4-5 years. The final requirement for graduation is an oral defense of a thesis written by the candidate as a formal exposition of his or her research accomplishments.