Milestones for Timely Progress to the PhD

Guidelines for PhD Progress
FINANCIAL MATHEMATICS

Draft Version, Dec 07

The following Guidelines are applicable to students who enter the FSU Financial Mathematics Program in Summer 2007 or later. Students should consult the Guidelines for Advancing to PhD Candidacy for details on the steps mentioned here.

Graduate students pursuing the PhD degree in Financial Mathematics, and who have financial assistance in the form of a TA, RA, or Fellowship, are expected to make timely progress toward the degree in order to retain eligibility for continued financial support. The normal progress is described below, and applies unless special arrangements are made in advance with the Director.

(The following description assumes the student is full-time and enters the program in Summer or Fall. The Director will make small individual adjustments for students starting in Spring.)

Progress Milestones

		In the first year, PhD-intending students should take at least one course sequence supporting an approved Preliminary Exam, and take the corresponding exam in August at the start of the second year. Students should normally have passed one exam by January of the second year. (This allows time for a second attempt, if needed.)
		In the second year, PhD-intending students should take their second Prelim sequence, if not already completed, and attempt the second Preliminary Exam in August at the start of the third year. Both Preliminary Exams should be passed by January of the third year in the program. Students will normally have found a Major Professor by the end of the second year, or earlier.
		Students should plan to complete the PhD Candidacy Exam (formerly called ATE) by the end of the third year, or earlier. When the PhD Candidacy Exam has been passed, students will be advanced to Candidacy for the PhD and begin registering for dissertation hours.
		Students making good dissertation progress, as determined by the PhD Supervisory Committee, can normally expect a total of 5 years of financial support in the Department. Support beyond 5 years is possible but not guaranteed, and will depend on the student's progress to the degree, the Departmental budget, and recommendations from the Major Professor, Director, and Graduate Associate Chair.

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