Because the time needed to complete the dissertation varies widely, the time required for completion of the PhD program also varies. In general, students take from four to five years to complete all requirements. The following outlines a suggested plan for progress in the program.
Requirements | First Year | Second Year | Third Year | Fourth Year and Beyond |
| Coursework | Courses to meet degree requirements | Courses to meet degree requirements | Complete coursework by beginning of year | |
| Qualifying Exam | Complete qualifying exam by beginning of year | |||
| Dissertation | Pre-dissertation research | Pre-dissertation research | Dissertation proposal | Dissertation data collection, analysis, writing, and defense |
| Assistantships | Research assistantship | Research assistantship | Teaching assistantship | Teaching assistantship |