Doctor of Philosophy

Degree milestones indicate progress toward a degree. They are listed on unofficial transcripts and document satisfactory and timely completion of various events, such as candidacy examinations, submission of completed degree progress forms, dates of reading committee meetings, and assisting with teaching Oceans courses.

Doctoral candidates should submit forms as appropriate to departmental student services. Students approaching a milestone should be aware of intradepartmental communications and support, and students with questions or concerns should discuss them with student services staff. 

Students in the PhD program are required to complete 135 units of unduplicated coursework. In addition to the program requirements listed above, this total may be satisfied by:

• seminar units

• research units (e.g., OCEANS 300)

• additional lecture/lab courses taken for a letter grade, if offered

• approved non-departmental units in nontechnical areas

Teaching experience and training, and service are a core part of the Oceans graduate curriculum. PhD students in the Oceans Department must complete at least one TA appointment at a rate of at least 25% throughout their study. Students have the option to choose between a second TAship or a service commitment with effort equivalent to a 25% TA appointment (10 hours per week for 10 weeks), either by serving on departmental committees or participating in external service opportunities.

Detailed information regarding a student’s research requirement is included in the Oceans Handbook. opens in a new tab

Admission to a doctoral degree program is preliminary to, and distinct from, admission to candidacy. Admission to candidacy for the doctoral degree is a judgment by the faculty in the degree program of the student’s potential to complete the degree program’s requirements successfully. University policy requires all PhD students to complete their department’s degree program qualifying procedures, apply for candidacy by the end of their second year of graduate study, excluding summers, and remain in good standing in the PhD program. Candidacy is valid for five years, subject to satisfactory academic progress.

1. Written dissertation proposal that outlines the student’s projected dissertation research, which the candidate’s Reading Committee must approve

2. Oral defense of the dissertation proposal

After passing the qualifying exams, students file for PhD candidacy, a university milestone. The Application to Candidacy form opens in a new tab must be submitted by the final study list deadline in spring quarter of the second year. Candidacy is valid for five years, during which students are expected to complete their degree.

The doctoral dissertation is defended in a university Oral Examination. The oral examination defense is a public seminar followed by a closed session with the student’s Oral Examination committee opens in a new tab comprised of at least five faculty members. The committee must meet university requirements for doctoral committee membership opens in a new tab. A substantial dissertation draft must be submitted to the student’s Oral Examination committee at least one month before the oral exam occurs.

At least four weeks before a proposed date for the university oral examination, submit the University Oral Examination form opens in a new tab and evidence of approval for the final draft of the dissertation by the dissertation reading committee to the department.

Once the university Oral Examination has been passed, students may submit a final draft of the dissertation to the university Registrar by requesting to graduate and receiving a conferral of the doctoral degree in Oceans.

Under the supervision of the research reading committee that includes the faculty advisor, the candidate must prepare a doctoral dissertation that contributes to knowledge and is the result of independent research. The student is strongly urged to prepare dissertation chapters that, in scientific content and format, are readily publishable. The format of the dissertation must meet university dissertation guidelines opens in a new tab. In addition, the final written dissertation must be approved by the student’s reading committee opens in a new tab (a minimum of three approved faculty) and submitted to the Registrar’s Office. Upon completing this final requirement, a student is eligible for degree conferral.

If you have questions, please review resources available via Student Services opens in a new tab or submit a help request. opens in a new tab