The distinctions among graduate degrees and their paths are complex. Find information below about the major milestones of graduate school.
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Doctoral Degrees
Doctoral degree programs create independent researchers who produce and share new knowledge. Doctoral students generally spend longer in both the early and later portions of their graduate careers, taking more courses, and conducting more extensive, and more original research to expand their field's knowledge.
Master's Degree Programs
Master’s degree programs develop highly skilled practitioners. Master's students spend their coursework acquiring the full scope of the knowledge within their field.
Doctoral Degrees
Doctoral Degrees in general follow a common pathway from admissions to commencement:
Admissions - Coursework - Candidacy Exam - Dissertation - Final Oral Exam - Commencement
Admission
Admission information varies by program. To learn more about your programs admissions requirements visit Graduate and Professional Admissions.
Coursework
Doctoral degrees require completing at least 80 credit hours; some programs require more. The nature of coursework depends on the program, but most programs divide coursework among graded graduate-level courses in your program, graded courses outside of your program, and research hours taken as S/U.
Candidacy Exam
Following coursework, doctoral students take a candidacy examination. With both a written and oral component, the Candidacy Exam tests comprehension of the field, allied areas of study, capacity to undertake independent research, and ability to think and express ideas clearly. The candidacy exam must be taken at least one term prior to the term of the defense.
Dissertation
The dissertation is a scholarly contribution to knowledge in the student’s area of specialization. The dissertation is a demonstration of a doctoral student’s capability to function as an independent researcher and to contribute original knowledge to the field. Work on the dissertation is typically begun in earnest once coursework has been completed.
Final Oral Exam
The final oral examination is sometimes called a dissertation defense, tests originality, independence of thought, the ability to synthesize and interpret, and the quality of research presented. The final oral examination concerns principles and historic perspective as well as data. The final oral examination includes but is not limited to discussion of the dissertation. The examiners often pursue lines of thought and argument from the data and concepts that have contributed to the research and to its critical evaluation by the student.
Once a graduate student has completed his or her final oral examination, she or he must make any requested changes to the dissertation, submit the dissertation for final review by the committee.
Commencement
Whether you are able to attend the ceremony or not, commencement marks the conclusion of your degree program. Make sure you have the correct regalia, that your name is how you would like it on your diploma, and to let the Graduate School know if you are not attending. Doctoral students are hooded by their advisor or Dean of the Graduate School as part of the ceremony.
Master's Degree Milestones
Master's Degrees typically take one of two paths which end in either the completion of a masters thesis and an examination or an examination without a thesis.
Master's Timeline with Thesis
Admissions - Coursework - Thesis - Master's Examination - Commencement
Master's Timeline without Thesis
Admissions - Coursework - Thesis - Master's Examination - Commencement
Admission
Admission requirements vary by program. Find out more by finding your program's specific requirements.
Coursework
Master’s degrees require completing at least 30 credit hours of coursework; some programs require more. The nature of coursework depends on the program, but most programs divide coursework between graded graduate-level courses in your program, graded courses outside of your program, and research hours taken as S/U.
Thesis
If your program requires a thesis, you must follow the standards and expectations of your graduate program and Graduate School.
Master’s Examination
The master’s examination is a test of the student’s knowledge of the field. It is the final validation of performance for that degree.
Commencement
Whether you are able to attend the ceremony or not, commencement marks the conclusion of your degree program. Make sure you have the correct regalia, that your name is how you would like it on your diploma, and to let the Graduate School know if you are not attending.
Professional doctoral degree programs prepare students for advanced professional practice as required by the relevant licensing board and professional organization. The professional doctoral examination, final document, and exit requirement are components that provide examination and capstone experiences consistent with the profession’s standards and the Graduate School’s expectations for professional doctoral programs. See Section 7.17 of the Graduate School Handbook for more information.