PhD Milestones Agreement

This PhD Milestones Agreement form is provided as a roadmap to the Ph.D.  Students are expected to reach each milestone within the specified time period in order to make satisfactory progress through the program. Students who are not making satisfactory progress may lose funding, be placed on academic probation, or be dismissed from the program.

  • Milestones for PhD students in Civil Engineering

    UT Austin Milestones

    Expected Time of Achievement

    Review degree requirements and milestones agreement form with advisor

    First semester beyond MS degree

    Successful completion of Qualifying exam needed to advance to candidacy

    End of 1st year beyond MS degree

    Complete all required, formal coursework

    End of 2nd year beyond MS degree

    Advancement to Candidacy

    2nd year beyond MS degree

    Comprehensive or Prelim exam

    End of 2nd or early 3rd year beyond MS degree

    IRB (human testing) approvals (if needed)

    Beginning of 3rd year beyond MS degree

    IACUC (animal testing) approvals (if needed)

    Beginning of 3rd year beyond MS degree

    Dissertation/treatise (or equivalent) completed, successfully defended, and approved by committee

    End of 5th (or 6th) year

    Student completes and files all paperwork required for graduation

    End of 5th (or 6th) year

    Dissertation/treatise (or equivalent) accepted by Graduate School

    End of 5th (or 6th) year

    Exit interview completed and submitted to Survey of Earned Doctorates

    End of 5th (or 6th) year

    Other program specific requirements Describe:

    3rd year beyond MS degree

    Recommended Steps for Completing a PhD in Civil Engineering
    RequiredRecommendedPROGRAM REQUIREMENTS / OPTIONS

    Review Milestones Agreement Form with advisor

    Plan coursework / complete any required background coursework. Meet with your faculty advisor each semester to discuss courses. 

    Safety training, as needed

    Learn research protocols

    Identify supervising professor (or temporary advisor)

    Complete required coursework for degree

    Prepare for major exams

    Pass project proposal and defense

    Visit Career Center, or equivalent

    Write and submit research proposal

    Establish qualifying exam committee

    Pass all written and/or oral qualifying exams

    Complete master’s level requirements

    Apply for pre-­‐doctoral fellowship or other extramural funding

    Establish comprehensive exam committee

    Pass comprehensive exams

    Formal request for admission to Ph.D. program

    Define area of specialization / Identify dissertation topic

    Defend research proposal

    Apply for IRB (humans) or IACUC (animals) approval from UT, if needed

    Form dissertation committee

    Copyright tutorial

    Statement of Research with Human Subjects (IRB) Form Submitted

    Apply for candidacy online at


    https://gradschool.utexas.edu/academics/theses-and-dissertations/doctoral-candidacy

    Enroll in dissertation minimum 6 hours (X99W)

    Continue to develop research proposal / proposal review

    Give research presentation

    Begin dissertation data collection and/or dissertation fieldwork

    Apply for dissertation fellowship

    Develop timeline for dissertation completion with supervisor

    Complete data collection and/or dissertation fieldwork

    Submit paper(s) for publication

    Apply to graduate in the final semester through the Graduate School web page / Provide placement data

    Contact committee members to schedule date for defense, submit Request for Final Defense form to Graduate School by the posted deadline.

    Circulate draft to committee one month in advance.  Observe all deadlines posted by the Graduate School.

    Submit dissertation to the Graduate School by posted deadline.

    Approval of GSC Chair that all degree requirements met (signature on Report of Dissertation Committee, due to Graduate School by posted deadline)

    Exit interview

    Survey of Earned Doctorates

    Register to attend convocation / Order regalia

    Other: English Writing Proficiency for international students
  • Please visit the following Graduate School website and follow the instructions on this page after you have read this form and have had the opportunity to discuss the information contained in it with your advisor:
    https://utdirect.utexas.edu/ogs/gdp/index.WBX.  Please review the form to understand the academic milestones that you are expected to reach in order to successfully complete the CAEE program, as well as the expected timeline for completing these milestones.

    The Milestones include the qualifying exam, advancing to candidacy, the comprehensive exam and the final defense.

    This form asks students to indicate that they understand the expectations and have reviewed the items: https://utdirect.utexas.edu/ogs/gdp/index.WBX   

    • Select the link to “See Your Program of Work at a Glance.”
    • Select the “Program of Work” link for your doctoral degree plan.
    • After your review, select “I have reviewed my Milestones” as the bottom of the page.