PhD Program Links and Procedures 2024

Graduate School Forms, Links, and Procedures for PhD Students:

Coursework –Please work with your faculty advisor prior to each semester on registration towards academic progress.

Apply for transfer credit evaluation early in your academic career, after you have completed at least 6 hours of graduate course work in the program, by consulting with your advisor and the Education Coordinator, using this form:

Transfer Credit Evaluation Request

Once you have completed or are near completion of your 39 hours of coursework requirements per the Handbook, please consult with your advisor and the education coordinator 𲹰to prepare for your portfolio semester.

Portfolio Preparation (procedural):Send the names of your Portfolio Advisory and Defense Committee members to the Education Coordinator before, or early in the semester of your portfolio defense (comprehensive examination). Their committee appointments may need to be renewed.

Submit a Doctoral Comprehensive Exam form two weeks prior to the date of your portfolio defense (comprehensive examination):

Doctoral Comprehensive Exam Form

Within two weeks of a successful portfolio defense, apply to Candidacy using the form and instructions on this page.

Once completed, that will advance you to “D” status in CU’s fee schedule. You can then work on your prospectus with your advisor. Please submit a signed copy of your Prospectus Approval Form to the Education Coordinator.

Provide the names of your dissertation committee members to the Education Coordinator as soon as possible.

Preparing to Graduate:As your dissertation nears completion, and you have completed at least 30 dissertation hours, be aware of the deadlines for the semester in which you intend to graduate. There are several steps you need to complete during that term.

Doctoral Graduation DeadlinesThose steps include:

  • Applying to graduate through the Buff Portal prior to the deadline for yoursemester.
  • Scheduling your dissertation defense date and informing the Education Coordinator of the date along with the title of your dissertation.
  • Initiating aDoctoral Final Examination Form two weeks prior to your scheduled defensedate.
  • Preparing theformattingfor your dissertation submission to ProQuest well in advance of the graduate school’s deadline for the semester in which you intend to graduate.The Graduate School recommends that a pre-check of your format be done before you submit the final version. You can request that by e-mailing a pdf of your thesis togradinfo@colorado.edu.
  • Initiating aThesis Approval Formin plenty of time for your committee chair and member to sign off before your submission deadline.You need to include a copy with yourdissertation.
  • Ph.D. graduates are also asked to complete a survey of earned doctorates by thedeadline for thatsemester.

Graduate School Doctoral ChecklistAll GS Forms Page