Ph.D. Milestone Requirements & Timeline

To remain in academic good standing, Cornell University MSE Ph.D. students must satisfy the below academic milestones in accordance with the official Ph.D. timeline. It is recommended that students check Graduate School deadlines prior to setting plans for completion of milestones.

See the detailed recommended planning timeline for completion milestones (B/M Exams).

MilestoneTimelineProcess
Nominate Chairpersonbefore end of 1st semester
  1. Follow matching process outlined at orientation
  2. Once notified by GFA of official match, add Chair to Student Center.
Qualifying (Q) ExamMay of 1st yearAutomatic. No sign up process required.
Student Progress Review (SPR)every spring semesterFollow prompts received from the department each spring semester.
Nominate 2 Minor Membersbefore end of 3rd semester
  1. Meet with potential minor members.
  2. Once selected, add to Student Center.

One of your minor members must represent a minor concentration. This minor concentration will show up on your transcript.

Admission to Candidacy (A Exam)before start of 7th semester
  1. Submit the A Exam Audit Form and await approval from GFA to officially schedule your exam.
  2. Coordinate date, time, location with full committee + field appointed faculty member (name provided by GFA after submission of A Exam Audit Form).
  3. No less than two weeks prior to exam, submit A Exam Scheduling Form
Public Dissertation Defense (B Exam)before start of 14th semester, but no less than 2 semesters after passing A Exam.
  1. Coordinate date, time, location with full committee.
  2. Submit the B Exam Audit Form and await approval from GFA to officially schedule your exam.
  3. No less than two weeks prior to exam:
Submit Dissertation on ProQuestno more than 60 days after passing B Exam.A degree is not conferred until the above requirements are met AND a student's dissertation is submitted and approved on ProQuest. Students should submit the dissertation at the approval of the full committee and no more than 60 days after passing the B Exam.

If any of the above requirements cannot be met according to the required timeline, students must Submit a Petition to the Graduate School. Communicate all petition requests with your committee, DGS, and GFA prior to submission.