Satisfactory Performance and Progression Through the Ph.D. Program

First Year:

To meet the satisfactory performance requirement in the first year, students must:

• Obtain a grade of B or better in all first-year courses.

Students wishing to stay in the Ph.D. program can retake courses one time to achieve this standard. Enrollment in courses with prerequisites requires a grade of B or better in those prerequisites.

Second Year:

To meet the satisfactory performance requirement in the second year, students must:

• Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in first-year and second-year courses.

Students may take less than 18 credits of field classes in their second year, but they must make up for this by taking additional field classes in their third year to fulfill the program's requirements. Credits earned in AREC 898/899 can be used, with the permission of the instructor and the DGS, to fulfill the requirements for student status and VISA. 

Third Year:

To meet the satisfactory performance requirement in the third year, students must:

• Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in first-year, second-year, and third-year courses.
• Pass all qualifying paper requirements.
• Present the qualifying paper at the student workshop during the Spring semester.

Fourth Year:

To meet the satisfactory performance requirement in the fourth year, students must:

• Successfully defend their prospectus by the beginning of the Spring semester.
• Make at least one presentation at the student workshop during the academic year. 

Fifth Year:

To meet the satisfactory performance requirement in the fifth year, students must:

• Make at least one presentation at the student workshop during the academic year.