Congratulations on passing your Qualifying Exam!!
Now that you are past the qualifying exam, it is to your advantage to Advance to Candidacy, and it also marks a significant milestone in your progress towards completion. The term “candidate” means that you have completed all the coursework requirements and, by passing your qualifying exam, have been given the go-ahead to devote your time to research. In terms of administrative procedure, it also means that the only thing needing to be completed now is your dissertation. Also, you will not be allowed to go on Filing Fee without first advancing to candidacy.
Here are instructions on how to Advance to Candidacy:
- Identify your 5 member Dissertation Committee:
- It is important that you ask each person to serve on your dissertation committee prior to listing them as a member on your candidacy application
- Your major professor is automatically Chair of your Dissertation Committee
- Check the Qualifying Exam Information page to see how you should structure your committee.
- Complete the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Plan B Candidacy Application Form on GradSphere
- Graduate Program = Neuroscience
- Program Code = GNES
- You will Need electronic signatures from the following:
- Faculty Academic Adviser (if you don't know who that is, ask Linette)
- Dissertation Committee Chair (major professor)
- Graduate Coordinator- Linette
- Designated Emphasis Chair (if applicable)
- Candidacy fees can be paid online at the GS Forms Store (link available on the forms). You will receive an email receipt which you will uploaded into Gradsphere.
The main concern with filling out the candidacy form is defining the members of your dissertation committee. This should be done in collaboration with your major professor, who will also be the Chair of your dissertation committee. If, however, later on, your dissertation committee needs to change, that can be done by “reconstituting” your committee.