Year 1

Fall Semester

• Enroll in 4 courses from Core Curriculum in chosen area of study. (Have registration form signed by a member of the Graduate Committee in your area.)
• Begin attending research seminars, group meetings, and departmental colloquia. In late October, attend the ECE Graduate Student Council series of open forums discussing the various research groups and their personalities. In early November, the faculty post lists of suggested First Year Projects for the coming spring.
• By the last day of classes in December, submit to the Graduate Committee a list of three potential First Year Project Advisors and justifications of why you would like to work on their project.
• You will be notified by the Graduate Committee regarding your First Year Project Advisor by the last day of exams in December.
  
• Assemble an ELEC 599 Project Committee (consisting of your Project Advisor and at least two other faculty members from ECE or a related department) and begin background preparation for the project.

Spring Semester

• With Project Advisor, choose 2 courses for the Spring Semester.
• Enroll in 2 courses plus 6 units of Elec 599 First Year Project.
• By the First Day of the Third Week of Spring Semester Classes: Submit project title, abstract, time-line, and list of Project Committee members to the Department Coordinator.
• Work on project. Keep your Project Committee up to date on your progress (ideally weekly).
• Find an PhD Thesis Advisor who is willing to support you financially (starting May 16). find out as much as you can about potential advisors, their research interests, and their management styles. This is a two-way process: you need to find an advisor that you can work comfortably with, and faculty members are looking for students that they feel are qualified and capable of contributing to their research programs. Once you have found a Thesis Advisor (by mutual agreement), it is usually both difficult and somewhat painful to change, so try to do this right the first time. It is the student's sole responsibility to explore research opportunities and find an MS Thesis Advisor. DO NOT PUT THIS OFF UNTIL THE END OF THE SECOND SEMESTER!
• Schedule mid-term project progress evaluation with advisor.
• Write project report; prepare oral presentation.
• Schedule your oral presentation with your Project Committee (it must take place by the First Friday of General Spring Finals). Many faculty have busy schedules, so arrange this well in advance.
• By the First Day of General Finals in the Spring: Provide each member of your Project Committee and LDepartment Coordinator a copy of your written report.
• Practice your oral presentation with your Project Advisor.
• Project presentation and examination by Project Committee.

May

• Graduate Committee makes decisions on admission to MS Candidacy.
  
• Check PhD Course Plan.
  

Summer

• Register for Elec 800 Research and Thesis.
  
• Begin research for MS Thesis. This may involve a continuation of your First Year Project.

Year 2
Fall Semester

• Enroll in additional courses, as per Course Plan.
• Continue research for MS Thesis.
• Form MS Thesis Committee.
  

Spring Semester

• Enroll in additional courses, as per Course Plan.
• Submit Petition for MS Candidacy form by February 1.
• Continue and complete MS Thesis research (keep Thesis Committee up to date on progress).
• Write publications/thesis.
• Copy of thesis submitted to department coordinator two weeks prior to oral defense.
• Defend thesis in oral examination.
• MS completion - thesis due last day of classes (April) at NOON.

May

• Commencement.
• Graduate Committee makes decision on admission to PhD Qualified status.

Year 3

• Enroll in additional courses, as per Course Plan.
• Begin research for PhD Thesis. This may involve a continuation of the research that you began with your MS work; however, students often switch to new problems for the PhD thesis.
• Form PhD Thesis Committee.
  

Year 4

• Enroll in additional courses, as per Course Plan.
• Continue research for PhD Thesis.
• Prepare and defend PhD Thesis Proposal.
• Submit Petition for PhD Candidacy form (by November 1 for May graduation).
• Graduate Committee makes decision on admission to PhD Candidacy.
  

Year 5+

• Enroll in additional courses, as per Course Plan.
• Continue research for PhD Thesis.
• Write PhD Thesis. You must submit a draft of your thesis in acceptable form to the members of your Thesis Committee no later than March 15 of the year in which you expect to receive your degree.
• Copy of thesis must be submitted to department coordinator two weeks prior to oral defense.
• Defend Thesis as oral examination. This must be publicized at least two weeks in advance, by printing a notice in the University Calendar and posting the notice on the bulletin boards in Fondren Library, the Graduate Programs Office, and the Department.
• Deposit Final Dissertation by last day of classes.
• Commencement.
  

Completion of a PhD degree requires a minimum of three years from the time you first entered as a graduate student. Most students should expect to spend four or perhaps five years. There is a limit on the maximum number of years in the program.