Requirements for the Ph.D. Degree

Summary

Course Credits: Students must have at least 15 credits of GRAD 6950.

Courses: Students should complete at least six courses in the first three years of the program. These courses include PNB 5001 and PNB 5002 (Principles of Physiology and Neurobiology I and II) and four additional 2-to-3-credit graduate level courses on topics related to the student’s dissertation research; at least two of these four must be offered by the PNB department. All courses must be approved by the Advisory Committee.

Plan of Study: Students should complete this under advisement of their PI and Advisory Committee by the time they complete 18 credits.

General Exam: Students must pass the General Exam (both written and oral portions). This should be completed by the end of their third year.

Dissertation Proposal: Students must complete a written Dissertation Proposal and submit it to the Graduate School. The written document from the General Exam can be used for the Dissertation Proposal. The Dissertation proposal must be approved by the Department Head or Director of Graduate Studies and include approval pages from relevant compliance offices (such as IACUC or IRB).

Publication requirement: Students must have a minimum of one original first-author peer-reviewed research article accepted for publication (for example, a BioRxiv submission does not meet the requirement).

Dissertation: Students must complete a written dissertation describing a body of work that makes a significant contribution to the field of study as evaluated by the advisory committee. The student should seek Advisory Committee approval before scheduling the oral defense.

Typical Timeline and Time Limits

Year 1:

  1. Rotate through at least two labs to select a laboratory for dissertation research.
  2. Complete PNB 5001 and 5002
  3. Register for PNB 6405 (Journal Club) and PNB 5395 (Research Seminar) each semester
  4. Begin research. Register for PNB 5396 (Research) for research credits
  5. Aim to complete about 15 credits in the first year
  6. Establish an advisory committee of PI plus two additional faculty and have first committee meeting before the end of the second semester

Year 2:

  1. Complete remaining advanced graduate courses
  2. Continue dissertation research (PNB 5396) to generate preliminary results for the general examination.
  3. Starting this year, meet with advisory committee at minimum once/year. Two times/year is recommended.
  4. Fill out the Plan of Study for approval by advisory committee by the time 18 credits are completed. The Plan of Study must be approved prior to taking the General Exam.

Year 3: 

  1. Complete the General Exam by the end of year 3. Write a research proposal (see details below), give an oral presentation of the proposal, and successfully defend the proposal to your advisory committee to complete the General Exam. The student should add two more members to your committee from either inside or outside of PNB for your General Exam (at least three of the five committee members should be from PNB). The written proposal can function as your Dissertation Proposal. 
  2. Take any additional graduate-level courses as prescribed by the Plan of Study
  3. Continue work on dissertation research
  4. Meet with advisory committee at least once a year

Years 4 until completion:

  1. Complete dissertation research
  2. Complete at least 15 credits of GRAD 6950 (Research) in the latter part of the student’s program
  3. Dissertation Proposal: A written Dissertation Proposal must be approved by the advisory committee and submitted to the Graduate School by the time you have completed your 9th credit of GRAD 6950. Your proposal for the General Exam can function as your Dissertation Proposal. 
  4. The scheduling of the defense and conferral of the degree is based on the judgment by the Advisory Committee that the student has met the standard of scholarship and research productivity in the chosen field. Completion of the degree is notsolely dependent on completion of required credits.
  5. Present a written dissertation to the advisory committee at least two weeks prior to the public oral defense.
  6. Give oral defense of dissertation
  7. When planning for graduation, edit Plan of Study as necessary and apply for graduation through the Student Admin site at the beginning of the final semester.
  8. All requirements must be completed within 8 years

Required Courses

  1. Students should complete at least six courses in the first three years of the program. These courses include PNB 5001 and PNB 5002 (Principles of Physiology and Neurobiology I and II) and four additional 2-to-3-credit graduate level courses on topics related to the student’s dissertation research; at least two of these four must be offered by the PNB department. All courses must be approved by the Advisory Committee.
  2. The PNB program requires a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0. As well, “D+,” “D,” “D-,” “F,” or “U” grades in any course may not be counted on the Plan of Study and will trigger a review by the students advisory committee. Failing to meet these expectations can be grounds for academic dismissal.
  3. Students typically also enroll each semester in PNB Seminar (PNB 5395) and are to enroll, participate, and, after their first year, present in the Departmental Research in Progress talks (PNB 6405).
  4. Additional credit requirements should come from Research (PNB 5396 or GRAD 6950).

First-Year Rotation

  1. Students entering the Ph.D. program typically rotate through two laboratories in their first semester before choosing a laboratory for dissertation research. The Director of Graduate Studies, with the advice of the Graduate Affairs Committee, will coordinate rotation placement.
  2. Students should complete two rotations in the first semester as 2 credits of research (PNB 5396).
  3. If additional rotations are necessary, the student should coordinate with the Director of Graduate Studies.

Plan of Study

  1. The student should complete a Plan of Study form (https://registrar.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1604/2019/02/Plan-of-Study-Doctor-Philosophy.pdf) by the end of their third semester.
  2. Doctoral students must submit the signed Plan of Study to the Registrar no later than completion of 18 credits have been completed, and it must be approved before the completion of the General Exam.
  3. The Plan of Study should include courses already taken and those planned for completion of the degree.
  4. For the Ph.D., it must include at least 15 credits in Graduate Research (GRAD 6950).
  5. The foreign language requirement is waived for PNB students.
  6. The signed Plan of Study should be submitted to degreeaudit@uconn.edu, the Director of Graduate Studies, and the PNB Office.

General Exam

  1. Ph.D. students must pass the qualifying exam by the end of their 3rd year in order to advance to PhD candidacy. The qualifying exam consists of two parts: the written proposal and oral defense.
  2. The written proposal should describe the student’s planned Ph.D. research that is necessary to complete the degree and should be written in a format similar to a 12-page single-spaced NIH R01 grant application. The proposal will typically have 2 or 3 Specific Aims. The proposal should include the following sections: 1) Significance, 2) Innovation, and 3) Approach. This should encompass the scope of the student’s project within the laboratory. The Significance section should include the background and scientific premise of the project (1-2 pages). In the Approach section, there should be a discussion on how results will be analyzed, what the expected results are, and alternative strategies if the proposed experiments do not work. Additionally, the student needs to discuss strategies to enhance rigor and reproducibility of their research. (See the NIH guidelines https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-25-301.html). Contact the Director of Graduate Studies for examples of the written qualifying exam.
  3. The oral defense on the proposal will occur in a closed session with the student’s examination committee consisting of a major advisor and two associate advisors, at least two other associate advisors or examiners, and any interested faculty. The committee members and examiners will be given the proposal at least two weeks before the oral defense.  The oral defense time and place should be posted to the department one week prior to the examination. The Report on the General Examination for the Doctoral Degree (https://registrar.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1604/2018/02/Report-on-General-Exam-Doctoral.pdf) must be submitted to degreeaudit@uconn.edu, the Director of Graduate Studies, and the PNB Office.
  4. The outcome of the General Exam will be: Pass, Conditional Pass, or Fail. For conditional Pass, the advisory committee will provide specific instruction for meeting the criteria to Pass. All required changes should be completed within three months. All signatures should be obtained after the student passes the examination.
  5. PhD students may apply for a Plan B MS degree upon passing the General Exam. To do so, the committee must add a note in the Comments section of the signed General Exam form that notes a recommendation from the advisory committee for the MS degree to be awarded. To be awarded the MS degree, the student must also have submitted an approved Doctoral Plan of Study and completed at least 30 content credits (excluding GRAD 5950 or GRAD 6550). Coursework for the MS degree can also be used for the PhD Plan of Study.
  6. After successful completion of the General Exam, students are eligible to move to level 3 pay for the semester following the one in which all required paperwork is received by the Graduate School through degreeaudit@UConn.edu. If paperwork is not submitted by the first day of the new GAship or contract period, the student will not receive level 3 salary for that contract period. Required paperwork includes the approved Plan of Study, the Report on the Generation Examination of the Doctoral Degree, and the Dissertation Proposal.

Dissertation Proposal Requirement

  1. A satisfactory approved written proposal from the General Examination may be used as the student’s Dissertation Proposal.
  2. The Dissertation Proposal for Doctoral Degree form (https://registrar.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1604/2018/02/Dissertation-Proposal-for-Doctoral-Degree.pdf) should be completed and signed by the advisory committee. The Dissertation Proposal form must also be signed by the Department Chair or Director of Graduate Studies and then submitted to degreeaudit@uconn.edu, the Director of Graduate Studies, and PNB Office along with approval pages for any applicable compliance offices, such as the IACUC or IRB.

Applying for Graduation

  1. Specific information on graduation can be found here: https://registrar.uconn.edu/graduation/doctoral-degrees/
  2. Graduate students must apply for graduation on Student Admin before the 4th week of their final semester. The exact dates can be found on the academic calendar on the Registrar’s website (https://registrar.uconn.edu/academic-calendar/). They can confirm that they have applied by going to the Graduation Tile in their Student Center.
  3. Degrees are conferred in August, December, or May. Graduation ceremonies are only held in May.

Dissertation Defense

  1. The student must seek approval from their advisory committee before planning a dissertation defense.
  2. The student must provide a written version of the dissertation to all members of the Advisory Committee at least two weeks prior to the defense date.
  3. Notice of the time and place of the public oral defense must be sent to the PNB Office to the Graduate School and must be announced publicly by means of the University’s online Events Calendar at least two (2) weeks prior to the date of the defense. Public notice must be also posted within the Department.
  4. The student will make a public presentation of their dissertation research.
  5. The Advisory Committee must have a minimum of five faculty members for approval of the dissertation and for the oral defense.
  6. The decision on the outcome of both the written dissertation and the oral defense must be unanimous and will either be Pass, Conditional Pass, or Fail. If the decision is Conditional Pass for either the written dissertation or the oral defense, the committee will give instruction to the student on what is needed to pass.
  7. After successful completion of the Dissertation Defense, the student must submit the required paperwork below by the published deadline on the Academic Calendar.

Summary of Steps for Graduation for PhD students

Deadline Task
Before the Completion of 18 Credits Students must:
  1. Submit their Plan of Study to degreeaudit@uconn.edu using the proper form: Doctor of Philosophy
A Foreign Language is NOT required for PNB PhD students No report to the registrar is needed as PNB does not require a foreign language exam.
After Successful Completion of General Examination Students must:

Submit the Report on the General Examination for the Doctoral Degree to degreeaudit@uconn.edu. It should be noted if the committee recommends a MS degree should be awarded en route to the PhD.
Submission of the Dissertation Proposal Students must:

Submit the Dissertation Proposal for Doctoral Degree form to degreeaudit@uconn.edu
Before the 4th Week of the Student’s Final Semester (Exact date can be found on the Academic Calendar). If not done by 4th week, go into Student Admin and apply ASAP)

 

 Students must:
  1. Apply for graduation on Student Admin.*
  2. Submit their Final Plan of Study to degreeaudit@uconn.edu.

* Students can confirm that they have applied by going to the graduation tile in their Student Center.
Two Weeks Before Oral Defense Students must:
  1. Announce their Oral Defense in the University Events Calendar
  2. Send a working copy of their dissertation to the members of their advisory committee.
  3. Note: The Dissertation Proposal must be submitted to the registrar and approved before the announcement of the oral defense.
After Successful Completion of Dissertation Defense and Revisions

 

 Students must:
  1. Initiate the Approval Page. This form will route to all committee members to request approval.
  2. Submit their Dissertation in the Thesis and Dissertation Portal
  3. Complete the Survey of Earned Doctorates Completion Certificate

The Degree Audit team in the Office of the Registrar provides comprehensive information on each of the steps described above. Please review the information provided at their website as you prepare to complete your degree.

Still have questions regarding graduate steps? For more assistance, please reach out to Jenn Horan (jenn.horan@uconn.edu) if you are a doctoral student