Progress Towards Degree

If you are receiving a fellowship or assistantship, we expect you to complete the organized course work requirements for the MSE degree within four long- session semesters (plus a summer session), or roughly 2 years from your first semester. If you are not receiving a fellowship or assistantship, it is still in your best interest to make expeditious progress. For PhD students, we expect graduation in no more than 10 long semesters (5 years), but most students finish in fewer.

In all cases, it is vitally important to maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better or you will be placed on scholastic probation. This is not just an MSE requirement; this is a Graduate School requirement. If you fall below the 3.0 minimum at the end of any term, you will be warned by the Graduate School and maintain at least a 3.0 during the next term, or you will be subject to dismissal. During this time, you cannot drop a course or withdraw from the program without the approval of the Graduate Advisor and Graduate School Dean.

While on scholastic probation you are not eligible for teaching assistantship or research assistantship positions or any of the associated benefits. A loss of an assistantship means you will not receive a stipend, and you will have to pay tuition yourself and out-of-state residents will pay out-of-state tuition rates. It is imperative that you maintain the minimum grade point average on your courses.

You are expected to conduct research starting with your first semester. It is vitally important that you maintain communications with your supervisor to ensure that you are making adequate progress on your research. For most students, this will mean at least weekly meetings with your supervisor. Failure to make adequate progress in research can result in your teaching or research assistantship being withdrawn. A loss of an assistantship means you will not receive a stipend, and you will have to pay tuition yourself and out-of-state residents will pay out-of-state tuition rates

1^st Year Review of Progress of Work 

 The Graduate School requires that all doctoral students review their degree plans for their programs, which covers the degree requirements and estimated timelines for degree milestones. To review your Milestones, visit the Graduate Degree Planner in your UT Direct, select “See Your Program of Work at a Glance” on the lefthand side, and then select “Program of Work” for your program.

 After you review your PoW and Milestones, you can click the button “I have reviewed my Milestones.” The date will appear on the Milestone Review History. If any of your coursework was matched incorrectly to the requirements, please contact the Graduate Program Coordinator.