Auburn University Graduate School Doctoral Studies Checklist               

 I. Early program: First Year Tasks
   

A. Be familiar with Graduate School policies

 

B. Identify Major Professor & Advisory Committee Members

  C. Develop Initial Plan of Study
  D. Submit Residency Certification
 
    
 II. General Written and Oral Exam & Entry to Candidacy 
  A. Written Exam
  B. General Oral Exam
    1. Form A: Apply for Exam at Least 1 Week before Scheduled Exam Date
    2. Form B: Exam Announced by Graduate School
    3. Form C: Major Professor Report Results
    ("Pass" Requires Unanimous Aggreement of Examining Committee and Admits You to Candidacy)
 
      
 III. Develop & Defend Dissertation Proposal  
  A. Write Proposal (Use "Dissertation Guide")
  B. File Appropriate Research Protocols with the Office of the VP for Research

 

 

1. Animal Subjects Review Form or Animal Production/ Maintenance Facility Form

 

 

2. Research Protocol Review Form for Research Involving Human Subjects

  C. Defend proposal
 
   
 IV. Submit Graduation Check  
  A. Verify Your Own Plan of Study Is Complete
  B. Submit Graduation Check on GAAAP
  C. What if I'm late?
     Late Graduation Checks and Late Registrations are accepted through the 15th class day of the anticipated graduation semester (5th class day in Summer semesters)
 
    
 V. Dissertation Review, Including Outside Reader: Cycle of Evaluation & Revision
  A. Major Professor Considers Dissertation Ready to Defend
  B. Committee Receives, Reads, and Evaluates Dissertation
  C. Revision Completed Based on Committee Feedback
  D. Submit "1st Draft Action Form"
  E. Format Check with Grad School
  F. Identify Outside Reader
  G. Deliver Dissertation to Outside Reader  Via Graduate School
  H. "Dissertation Evaluation Form" Returned by Outside Reader to Graduate School
  I.  Final Revisions Complete
 
    
 VI. Defend Dissertation: Final Oral Exam
  A. Form X: Apply for Exam  
   (Graduate School sends Form X to Major professor when Dissertation Evaluation Form Is Returned by Outside Reader)
  B. Form Y: Exam Announced  
   (Graduate School sends Form Y to Committee Members a Week before Meeting)
  C. Form Z: Report Results
   (Graduate School sends Form Z to Major professor with Form Y)
 
    
 VII. Final Details
  A. Register
  B. Order cap, gown, & hood
  C. File "Dissertation Binding Certification Form"
  D. Supply 3 Paper Copies of Finalized Dissertation to Graduate School for Binding
  E. Publish Dissertation on AUETD
  F. Submit Final Report to the Office of the VP for Research if Human or Animal Subjects Were Used

 

 

1. Human Subjects

 

 

2. Animal Subjects

  G. File "Survey of Earned Doctorates ... Survey"
  H. File "Doctoral Dissertation Publishing Agreement (pdf)"

 

  Designed and developed by Dr. Joe Pittman, Dr. Stephen L. McFarland, Li-ching Chien and Junmo Yang.
Graduate School, Auburn University