First read Advancement to Ph.D. Candidacy for an overview.
Step 1 — Notify the BISB Graduate Program Coordinator about your intent to take the “Senate” Exam. To allow adequate time, you should do this at least 4 weeks before the time you expect to take the “Senate” Exam. You should also discuss your “Senate” Exam with your faculty advisor to know what is expected of you.
Step 2 — You will need to form a doctoral committee and get it approved. See detailed information here.
Step 3 — Once the Graduate Coordinator submits your committee request and you wait for your committee approval, you can start scheduling your “Senate” Exam. You should reserve a room for the exam with the department that your advisor is affiliated with. Once you have the set date/time/place of your “Senate” Exam, you should notify the Graduate Coordinator at least 2 weeks in advance. This allows time for the office to get your academic file ready for the exam. Make sure you have notified all of your committee members of the date/time/place of your “Senate” Exam.
Step 4 — Your committee MUST be approved before you take the “Senate” Exam. If you have not received your committee approval by one week before the exam, please contact the Graduate Coordinator.
Step 5 — Your committee is approved, you have set the date/time/place of your “Senate” Exam — you are ready to take the “Senate”! The Graduate Coordinator will have your academic file ready and will provide the file to your faculty advisor one day before the exam. The file will contain the Report of the Qualifying Examination and Advancement to Candidacy for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Form (Report Form). Your committee will sign the report form after you successfully pass the Senate. Your faculty advisor will return your academic file and report form to the Graduate Coordinator. The Graduate Coordinator will obtain the required signature from the Chair. Once the report form is completed and signed by the Chair, the Graduate Coordinator will notify you & you will be responsible for submitting this report form. Before the report form is submitted to GEPA, you will need to pay a $50.00 candidacy fee at the Cashiers Office.
Step 6 — You will receive official notice from the Dean of Graduate Studies of your successful advancement — Congratulations you are In-Candidacy!