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Eberly College of Arts & Sciences Department of Physics and Astronomy
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Graduation Timeline

Graduate Student Handbook
This page contains information about the expected graduation timeline for graduate students in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. Information about requirements can be found in the WVU Graduate Catalog.

Ph.D. in Physics Catalog M.S. in Physics Catalog

Ph.D. Students

To be accepted as a candidate for the Ph.D. within the Department of Physics and Astronomy at West Virginia University, a student must pass the oral candidacy exam by the end of their sixth (academic) semester in the program to remain in good academic standing.

Students should plan to finish their degree program in a timely manner. This timeline should coincide with a course load that would allow students to leave the program with an M.S. degree if they do not remain in good academic standing.  T he Graduate Advising and Studies Committee is empowered to make all decisions regarding any exceptions to the above timelines. 

Typically, a first-year student should choose a faculty member with whom to complete their doctoral research. The student’s choice of faculty advisor must be accomplished in a timely manner to pass the candidacy exam by the end of the sixth (academic) semester in the program. More information about the candidacy examination can be found here.

In addition to the departmental requirements, West Virginia University dictates that doctoral candidates are allowed no more than five years in which to complete the remaining requirements of their program after being admitted to doctoral candidacy. Passing the candidacy exam starts the doctoral candidacy clock. This is a rule mandated by WVU which cannot be appealed internally. Therefore, given the timeline for the candidacy examination, a Ph.D. student must complete their final dissertation defense no later than the end of the spring semester of their ninth year after entering the program. Students usually complete their Ph.D. degree within five to six years. More information about Degree Regulations can be found here.

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