Steps to complete a Doctoral Degree in the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design
If not assigned, establish a faculty member as your major advisor. *Faculty member MUST have Regular Graduate Faculty status (https://graduateeducation.wvu.edu/faculty-and-staff/graduate-faculty/graduate-faculty-members-list) in order to chair a graduate committee
Work with your major advisor to establish a graduate committee of at least 4 individuals. The committee must meet University guidelines (http://catalog.wvu.edu/graduate/advisingcoursesdegrees/degree_regulations/#committeestext) including that the majority of the committee must be Regular Graduate Faculty.
In collaboration with your major advisor and/or committee, and within the restrictions of the program in which you are admitted, determine the courses that you will be required to complete for your degree. http://catalog.wvu.edu/graduate/advisingcoursesdegrees/. It is recommended that you hold a committee meeting to discuss these courses.
Submit your Plan of Study for approval: https://www.davis.wvu.edu/current-students/graduate/plans-of-study. Please use the indicated form to upload your course list (link needed). This should be submitted within the first year of your program.
Complete courses for the program in which you are enrolled.
In collaboration with your major advisor and committee, schedule your candidacy examination http://catalog.wvu.edu/graduate/advisingcoursesdegrees/degree_regulations/#Doctoral_Coursework
Upon passing your candidacy examination and any other program-specific requirements for candidacy your major advisor should submit an electronic Promotion to Candidacy form for your committee members to approve (link to be added).
Complete research and all other program requirements for graduation, including preparation of your dissertation.
In your final semester you must apply to graduate through https://star.wvu.edu/starprod/twbkwbis.P_GenMenu?name=homepage or your degree works BEFORE the deadline, which can be found here: https://registrar.wvu.edu/graduation-diploma.
A final examination by your committee is required which involves a public presentation of the dissertation. This defense may be scheduled after your committee has tentatively approved your written thesis or problem report. Once the defense is scheduled, submit the Intent to Defend form (link to be added).
Defend your dissertation.
Your committee members will receive an email ballot on the day/time of your scheduled defense to submit their final vote of Pass or Fail.
Your final dissertation with all revisions approved by your major advisor and/or graduate committee should be submitted to the WVU Library: https://etd.lib.wvu.edu/ BEFORE the published deadline. This MUST include the Committee Signature Form https://etd.lib.wvu.edu/files/d/43efaf4a-8ae1-44b5-af0f-2dc1204c642d/fillable-etd-committee-signature-form.pdf.
Promotion to Candidacy form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdx7dDiN4EGkfW8cmMHA5djYyd_rwBAThws3u6f5Kg4n-hrEQ/viewform?usp=sf_link
- Intent to Defend link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSexgvFnbf-u4RDCibLgsmQbXVZ-paA_377hrU_Big-YdfuZuA/viewform?usp=sf_link