Texas Tech University

Department of Plant and Soil Science

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Navigating Your Doctoral Degree

General steps for Doctoral students

1. Plan courses for degree

Who: Initiated through Graduate Advisor
Where: Submitted to Graduate Advisor
When: Prior to registration

PSS Departmental Doctoral Program of Study Approval Form

2. Take preliminary exam (option)

Who: Initiated through Graduate Advisor
Where: Submitted to Graduate School Enrollment Services
When: Early in doctoral study, usually first semester of coursework

3. Set up doctoral advisory committee and title

Who: Initiated through Graduate Advisor
Where: Submitted to Graduate School Enrollment Services
When: Prior to filing doctoral degree plan

4. File "Program for the Doctoral Degree" form

Who: Initiated through Graduate Advisor or Chair, Advisory Committee
Where: Submitted to Graduate School Enrollment Services
When: Before the second semester of enrollment in the program

Doctoral Degree Plan form

5. File changes in degree program, if necessary

Who: Initiated through Graduate Advisor or Chair, Advisory Committee
Where: Submitted to Graduate School Enrollment Services
When: As needed

6. Take Qualifying Examination for major and minor subjects

Who: Initiated through Graduate Advisor or Chair, Advisory Committee
Where: See step #7
When: After approval of doctoral program and completion of coursework

7. Recommendation for admission to candidacy

Who: Chair of Committee
Where: Submitted to Graduate School Enrollment Services
When: After passing qualifying exam and no later than 4 months before graduation

8. Enroll in semester of graduation if all requirements are met

Who: Initiated through Graduate Advisor or Chair, Advisory Committee
Where: Submitted to Registrar
When: Semester of graduation

At least 3 hours

9. Apply to Graduate

Who: Initiated through Student
Where: Submitted to Graduate School Enrollment Services
When: Semester of graduation no later than posted deadline (One must be filed for each intended graduation semester)

Go to raiderlink.ttu.edu » 'TTU MyTech' » 'Current Term' » 'Apply to Graduate'

10. Pay the Thesis-Dissertation fee through Student Business Services

Who: Initiated through Graduate School Dissertation Supervisor
Where: Submitted to Student Business Services
When: Semester of graduation (This is paid only once.)

11. Schedule final oral defense of dissertation and submit “Doctoral Final Oral Examination Notification Form”

Who: Initiated through Student, Committee Chair, and Advisory Committee
Where: Submitted to Graduate School Dissertation Supervisor
When: At least 3 weeks before defense

12. Stand for final oral defense of dissertation and send result by memo to the Graduate School

Who: Initiated through Advisory Committee
Where: Submitted to Graduate School Doctoral Coordinator
When: Semester of graduation

13. Submit signed Thesis-Dissertation Approval Form, and after incorporating committee changes, submit .pdf file of dissertation to ETD site for review

Who: Initiated through Student, Advisory Committee
Where: Submitted to Graduate School Dissertation Supervisor
When: Semester of graduation (usually 5 weeks before graduation date)

Oral Defense and Thesis-Dissertation Approval Form

ETD Checklist

ETD Website

14. Final grade for thesis hours (A or B)

Who: Initiated through Committee Chair or Advisory Committee
Where: Submitted to Registrar – Final grade roll
When: End of semester

15. Submit official .pdf of dissertation to ETD website

Who: Initiated through Student
Where: Submitted to Graduate School Dissertation Supervisor
When: Prior to deadline

ETD Website

16. Complete Doctoral Survey

Who: Initiated through Student
Where: Submitted to the National Science Foundation
When: Before Graduation

NSE Survey of Earned Doctorates

Department of Plant and Soil Science

Address

Texas Tech University, Department of Plant and Soil Science, Box 42122, Lubbock, TX 79409
Phone
806.742.2838
Email
psstechsupport@ttu.edu