Overview of Degree Requirements
The PhD degree is the culmination of a sequential process of coursework, comprehensive examination, and the research, writing, and defense of a dissertation.
The primary benchmarks of progress toward the degree are the following:
- Completion of coursework requirements
- Comprehensive Examination
- Dissertation Proposal and Defense (oral presentation and an examination)
- Advancement to Candidacy
- Doctoral Dissertation and Defense (oral presentation and an examination)
Important Deadlines for Spring and Summer 2024 Graduation
| Fall 2024 & Winter 2025 | Institution | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 10/04/24 | PSU | Final day to apply to graduate |
| 10/25/24 | OHSU | Final day to apply to graduate |
| 2 weeks before you plan to defend your dissertation | OHSU | Final day to submit dissertation defense request form and publish public notice of defense |
| 11/8/24 | PSU | For all graduate students completing a thesis or dissertation. The student must deliver a draft of the thesis or dissertation to all members of the approved committee no fewer than 14 days before the defense date. |
| 11/22/24 | PSU | For all graduate students completing a thesis or dissertation. Final copies of theses and dissertations must be prepared in compliance with the ETD Formatting Requirements. |
| 12/13/24 | OHSU | Final day to defend dissertation. Will have 2 weeks to resolve any revisions |
| 12/17/24 | PSU | GO-17 Recommendation for the Master's or Doctoral Degree. For all graduate students completing a thesis or dissertation. This form not to be handled by students. |
| 12/27/24 | OHSU | Final day to file the final dissertation (all revisions complete) and approval form submitted with all required signatures |
| 1/10/25 | OHSU | Have an electronic copy of the dissertation sent to the OHSU Library. |
| 1/10/25 | PSU | Final day to apply to graduate |
| 1/31/25 | OHSU | Final day to apply to graduate |
| 2/14/25 | PSU | For all graduate students completing a thesis or dissertation. The student must deliver a draft of the thesis or dissertation to all members of the approved committee no fewer than 14 days before the defense date. |
| 2 weeks before you paln to defend your dissertation | OHSU | Final day to submit dissertation defense request form and publish public notice of defense |
| 2/28/2025 | PSU | For all graduate students completing a thesis or dissertation. Final copies of theses and dissertations must be prepared in compliance with the ETD Formatting Requirements. |
| 3/21/24 | OHSU | Final day to defend dissertation. Will have 2 weeks to resolve any revisions |
| 3/25/25 | PSU | GO-17 Recommendation for the Master's or Doctoral Degree. For all graduate students completing a thesis or dissertation. This form not to be handled by students. |
| 4/4/25 | OHSU | Final day to file the final dissertation (all revisions complete) and approval form submitted with all required signatures |
| 4/18/25 | OHSU | Have an electronic copy of the dissertation sent to the OHSU Library. |
Program Guides
Coursework, competencies, and additional academic requirements are outlined in in degree-specific Program Guides (2019 and after), and PhD Student Handbooks (2018 and earlier). Students will be held to the curricula in place for the year they matriculate (i.e., their “catalog year”).
Comprehensive Exam
The comprehensive exam is designed to test students’ mastery of the learning objectives of their doctoral program, and their ability to apply that knowledge to research in a manner that demonstrates readiness for planning their dissertation work. Students must pass the comprehensive exam before they can proceed to writing and defending their dissertation proposal and subsequently advance to doctoral candidacy.
The comprehensive exam may be taken only after completion of core coursework. Eligibility, scheduling, and specific procedures vary by program; please refer to the comprehensive exam section in each program’s guide or handbook
Dissertation
The dissertation is the doctoral student’s most substantial achievement — a significant work of research built upon an immersion in the academic literature, informed theoretical reasoning, and original research and analysis, intended for an educated readership of peers. A student does not begin the formal dissertation process until they have completed all relevant coursework and examinations according to program requirements.
The dissertation process consists of four key steps:
- Appointment of the Dissertation Committee.
- Dissertation proposal defense based upon written documentation and oral examination.
- Advancement to candidacy after passing the proposal defense.
- Dissertation defense and oral examination.
Dissertation procedures and requirements vary by program; please refer to the dissertation sections of each program’s guide or handbook.