For Current Students
A full list of Duke Graduate School forms, regulations, and general information can be found at: http://gradschool.duke.edu/faculty_staff/index.php
Entering students: Meet with the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) and your major professor before registration. Attend the Responsible Conduct in Research (RCR) training during Orientation. Web-resource: http://gradschool.duke.edu/academics/degree_reqs/rcr/index.php
First semester: Meet with major professor before registration for spring semester. International students whose native language is not English must pass the English proficiency test or take Composition and Oral Communication listed as Graduate Studies 200 A & B in the first year. Web-resource: http://www.duke.edu/web/eis/
Second semester: Begin to identify potential faculty members for your PhD committee. Consult with major professor. Meet with major professor before the end of the semester for progress review and for request of continuation of financial aid.
Third semester: By now you will have identified your Ph.D. Committee, with two or more from the Duke Ecology Program. Hold a certification meeting for a proposed program of study before registration for spring term (form in this booklet). The report of the certification meeting to your committee should include a plan for your major and minor courses and a proposed dissertation topic. Form for creation of PhD committee get the Committee Approval PDF from this site: http://gradschool.duke.edu/academics/forms/index.php To fill out this form, enter the date, your name, the department name (Ecology) and the list of committee members. You must put one of the committee member names on the last line directly above "minor area representative." E-mail this document as an attachment to Meg Stephens.
Fourth semester: Meet with your PhD committee before the end of the semester for progress review (and for request of continuation of financial aid, if appropriate). Email written progress report to the DGSA (see Form at the end of this document), major professor, and committee members.
Fifth semester: Take oral preliminary exam (normal time). Formal notice in writing must be sent to the DGSA two weeks prior to the exam. This list should include a list of your committee members who will be in attendance, their email addresses, and the time and location of your exam. Exams must occur while a term for which you are registered is in session unless prior approval has been granted by the Associate Dean of the Graduate School. Your committee needs to be approved by the Graduate School at least 60 days prior to the exam. Web-resource and form: http://gradschool.duke.edu/academics/forms/index.php
Sixth semester: Oral preliminary exam must be completed. If it is not, a request for extension must be sent to the Graduate School by the DGS and student advisor. Normally, this is the last semester of coursework. Be sure that minor area proficiency and departmental (or committee) course requirements have been met. Email progress report to DGSA, major professor, and committee members.
Seventh semester: Progress on the dissertation work. Ensure that all TA requirements are fulfilled. TA requirements include conducting teaching services for one semester (as a TA assigned to a course).
Eighth semester: Email progress report to DGSA, major professor, and committee members.
Tenth semester: Normally all PhD students should be finished by the end of the semester. Formal notice in writing must be sent to the DGSA two weeks prior to the dissertation defense. This list should include a list of your committee members who will be in attendance, their e-mail addresses, and the time and location of your defense. The defense must occur while in a term for which you are registered in unless prior approval has been granted by the Associate Dean of the Graduate School. In the event of a committee member participating remotely, permission from the Associate Dean of the Graduate School needs to be in place at least 30 days prior to the exam. Only one committee member can be approved to participate remotely in the defense. Web-resource and form: http://gradschool.duke.edu/documents/policies_and_forms/CMTTEE.PDF For Dissertation: Web-resource: http://gradschool.duke.edu/academics/theses/etd.php
Other Important Annual Deadlines Progress review and Request for renewal of TA and Fellowship awards - Annually, before the end of the spring semester (after year 1).
Intent to Receive a Degree Form must be filed by January 25 for May graduation; by July 1 for September graduation; by November 1 for December graduation. Web-resources: http://gradschool.duke.edu/academics/apply_to_grad.php http://gradschool.duke.edu/academics/grad_deadlines.php
November 2012