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VideoFirst-Year Ph.D. Students
During the first year of the Ph.D. program, students prepare for formal candidacy by taking courses and participating in faculty-directed research projects.
Advisory Committee
Each student works with a 3-member special advisory committee, which includes the student's prospective research advisor and at least one faculty member whose research interests differ significantly from the student's.
First-Year Program Plan
The committee helps each student develop a first-year program of study, which the student submits to the Graduate Programs Office during the first week of the term. A typical first-year program of study includes:
- ENGG 196: Seminar on Applied Science and Technology (3 terms)
- Graduate-level courses completed with a grade of B or higher (can be a combination of Dartmouth courses and courses taken at another institution beyond B.S. or B.E. degree requirements) (6 courses)
- ENGG 296: Graduate research completed with a grade of B or higher (3 terms)
Go to Banner Student to complete the Ph.D. Program Plan (First Year Scheduling).
Full Ph.D. Program Plan
During the first term, the committee helps the student develop a full program plan to fulfill the Ph.D. requirements, which the student submits to the Graduate Program Office before the beginning of the second term. The Ph.D. program plan includes the remaining engineering courses required plus participation in the following seminars and workshops:
- ENGG 195: Seminar on Science, Technology and Society (1 term)
- ENGG 196: Seminar on Applied Science and Technology (2 terms, in addition to the 3 terms completed during the first year)
- ENGG 197: Ph.D. Professional Workshops (1 term, usually taken in one of the latter years in residence)
- ENGG 198: Research-in-Progress Workshop (Annual participation during spring break)
Ph.D. Course Planning Sheet (PDF) - for planning purposes only. You will need to go to Banner Student to complete the Ph.D Program Plan.
Academic Performance Review
At the end of the first 3 terms, students undergo a review of their grades in research and formal coursework. Following this, and before the middle of the 5th term, the advisor provides the Registrar with a letter of support describing a student's research performance. Satisfactory progress is required for students to schedule their oral qualifying examination, which is normally taken before or during the 5th term in residence. Students who are not progressing are transferred to the M.S. program with the understanding that they may later request to be reconsidered as Ph.D. candidates.