Doctor of Philosophy

During the first year of graduate study in the department, each student will take seven upper-level (200-series) courses for a total of 10 units.

First- and second-year graduate students must participate in a bi-weekly journal club.

Additionally, students must complete two ethics courses within their first three years of the program. Students are required to enroll in MED 255 in year one and are required to take the department’s RCR mini course when offered in Spring term (this in house course is offered every other year). It’s expected that all students attend the RCR mini course in their 2nd and 3rd  year(s) regardless of serving on the T32 grant or not. Students should have both ethics requirements completed by the end of year

Teaching experience and training are also important parts of the graduate curriculum. Graduate students are required to act as teaching assistants for at least one course during their first three years.

In autumn quarter of the second year, each student defends orally a formal research proposal on a topic related to the intended thesis project. This qualifying examination proposal is due to the thesis committee two weeks before the oral defense. In spring quarter of the second year, this research proposal will be updated to incorporate the student’s research progress. This will be followed by a thesis committee meeting where the student presents their data and discusses plans.   The student should send their updated research proposal to the committee two weeks in advance of the meeting and the meeting should be completed by the end of spring quarter. The student is admitted to candidacy based on successful performance on the qualifying exam and the thesis committee meeting.

Ph.D. candidates are expected to complete and defend their dissertation within three years of advancing to candidacy. The University Oral Examination tests a student's command of their field following completion of the written dissertation.

The defense includes a one-hour public seminar, followed by a closed-door examination with the committee.

Submission of an approved doctoral dissertation to the degree program and the Committee on Graduate Studies is required for the PhD degree. The doctoral dissertation is expected to be an original contribution to scholarship or scientific knowledge, to exemplify the highest standards of the discipline, and to be of lasting value to the intellectual community. Every doctoral dissertation is read and approved by members of the Stanford faculty to ensure that standards for programmatic and university quality are met. Standards for professional presentation of doctoral work have been established by the Committee on Graduate Studies.

An approved doctoral dissertation is required for the PhD degree. Every doctoral dissertation is read and approved by the three members of the student’s doctoral dissertation reading committee.