Appendix C – Steps in the PhD Program

The following list summarizes the primary steps in the process of earning a Doctor of Philosophy in Communication and Information in the College of Communication and Information at the University of Tennessee. It does not substitute for the full details provided in this guide or other official university publications.

1) August of the first year - Orientation session including introduction to first-year adviser.

2) Take required first-year courses:

a) Fall - CCI 610 Perspectives on Communication and Information Knowledge and Research I and a statistics class (Stat 531 or a more advanced class as recommended by your first-year adviser).
b) Spring - CCI 615 Perspectives on Communication and Information Knowledge and Research II.

3) Submit research work for presentation at a conference and/or publication in a journal. This should be an ongoing process throughout your program - think of every class paper as a potential conference paper.

4) April 1 of first year - complete draft program plan and get approvals from first-year adviser and associate dean.

5) Spring of first year - Graduate Studies Committee performs first-year review.

6) Start of second year - identify a program chair (may be same or different from first-year adviser).

7) By the end of the second year you should have presented/published at least one research paper.

8) Typically by the end of the second year assemble a full program committee and complete the final program plan.

9) As you near the end of coursework, work with your program chair and other members of your program committee to define the areas of your comprehensive exams and begin preparing for the exams.

10) As you near the end of coursework you should also begin to define your dissertation topic.

11) After completion of coursework, take comprehensive exams (must be done within five years of enrollment)

12) Write a brief overview of your planned dissertation topic.

13) Two weeks after written exams are distributed to the program committee, meet with the committee for an oral defense of the comprehensive exams and a discussion of your dissertation topic.

14) File Admission to Candidacy form with the Office of the University Registrar immediately after successful completion of comprehensive examination - no later than a semester prior to intended graduation. A copy must be filed with the associate dean's office.

15) Assemble dissertation committee (may be the same as or different from the program committee).

16) Work with your dissertation chair to prepare a formal dissertation proposal and distribute to your committee for review.

17) Two weeks or more following distribution of proposal, meet with your dissertation committee for a formal defense of the proposal.

18) Conduct your dissertation research and write the full dissertation with direction as needed from your chair and committee.

19) Establish meeting for oral defense of dissertation (after chair determines you are ready for defense) and submit your dissertation to all members of your committee at least two weeks prior to that date.

20) File the "Recommended Arrangements for Final Examination" form with The Office of the University Registrar at least one week before the examination. Obtain this form from the Office of the University Registrar, 201-C Student Services Building.

21) Orally defend your dissertation research.

22) Each member of the Dissertation Committee must sign approval page of the final draft of the dissertation.

23) File approval form (passage of oral defense) with the Office of the University Registrar (must be completed within eight years of first enrollment in the program).

24) Submit dissertation (two copies) to the Graduate School and one copy of dissertation to the associate dean's office for archiving in the college. It is also customary to provide a copy of the dissertation to the committee chair.