Graduate Advising

Students who are currently enrolled in a PhD-Direct program and who have completed or plan to complete all requirements for the master’s degree in the same discipline may submit the GS2-14 form to receive a Master’s en route. Students will be able to participate in a graduation ceremony for their Master’s, but will also be expected to continue in the doctoral program after receiving the master’s degree.

Students must pass at least one exam in the first round of testing to continue in the program. Students must have passed all three exams by the semester following their first round of exams in order to continue in the program. Ph.D. QE Request form is circulated with Ph.D. students mid-semester to allow them to sign up for the upcoming Ph.D. Qualifying Exams. Students who fail to attend an exam for which they signed up will be given an F for that exam.

• Full-time Ph.D. students: 3 exams before the second semester (Fall/Spring).
• Full-time Ph.D.-Direct students: 3 exams before the third semester (Fall/Spring).
• Part-time Ph.D. students: 3 exams before the start of their fourth semester.

If a student changes status from M.S. to Ph.D., they must take the exam within one calendar year of filing for change of status and before their fifth semester (Fall/Spring).

Ph.D. students may convert to M.S. program by completing the GS-14 form before the last day to add classes for the semester they are planning to convert in. The conversion must take place prior to the M.S. student’s fifth semester in the program.

The comprehensive exam is designed to evaluate your overall mastery of a body of knowledge and skills after most of the program of study is completed. Advisory committees often require that a student take the comprehensive examination after preparing or in conjunction with presenting the research proposal. The precise format is determined by the advisory committee and may be oral and/or written.

The comprehensive examination typically focuses on the student's research area but may also cover additional material to obtain objective evidence of an adequate intellectual mastery of major and minor specializations. Consult with your major advisor on preparing for the comprehensive examination.

GS5 form should be signed by the committee members of a doctorate student during the research proposal defense. The forms should be emailed to the Graduate Student Services Office at megrad@clemson.edu and Enrolled Student Services. Upon successful completion of the comprehensive examination and dissertation proposal, a doctoral student becomes a candidate for the doctorate (or is “admitted to candidacy”).

Students need to coordinate the time with their advisory committee and reserve the room for their research proposal. The advisory committees often require that a student take the comprehensive examination after preparing or in conjunction with presenting the research proposal.

Completion is documented by submitting the GS-Research Approval form to Enrolled Student Services indicating that the committee has approved the proposed research topic. GS-Research Approval should be signed by the committee members of a doctorate student during the research proposal defense. The form should be emailed to the Graduate Student Services Office at megrad@clemson.edu and Enrolled Student Services. Upon successful completion of the comprehensive examination and dissertation proposal, a doctoral student becomes a candidate for the doctorate (or is “admitted to candidacy”).

Students on academic probation are required to complete the Graduate Student Plan for Success (GSPS) form prior to their registration. This form allows students to reflect on areas for improvement and develop new study strategies. The form must be approved by the Graduate Program Coordinator.

Graduating students typically will be required to submit their graduation application within the first one to two weeks of the semester during which they are planning to graduate. Please review the graduation deadlines. Graduation application is located in iRoar > Student Records > under Apply to Graduate. Final GS2 must be on file at the time of graduation application.

During the Graduation Audit, Student Services will reach out to students missing any forms, courses or milestones required for graduation. Please continue to monitor your email after submitting your graduation application. To review all graduate program checklists and deadlines, please visit the Graduation Deadlines page.

To schedule their defense, students should email the details of their defense to the Graduate Student Services Office at ikharit@clemson.edu. Please note that your defense should be scheduled early enough to allow two weeks for revisions between your defense and the GS7 deadline. The following information should be included in your email:

• Date
• Time
• Room number (room should be reserved ahead of time)
• Title and abstract
• Program (M.S./Ph.D.)
• Committee chair and member

In addition, students must complete the Submit Defense Form on the Graduate School webpage at least 10 days prior to their defense.