* For exact dates, refer to a current copy of Doctoral Degree Deadline Dates distributed by the Office of Graduate Studies.
** Form is also available in the Entomology Main Office.
*** Dissertations can be engraved and bound at the East Campus Union Copy Center.

Student ____________________________________

Form Advisory Committee (the Graduate Committee Chair recommends a committee to the Graduate College)

The advisory committee must consist of at least 4 members, all of whom are Graduate Faculty Fellows, and one must be from outside the department

Submit Appointment of Supervisory Committee for the Doctoral Degree form to
Graduate College

Hold First Committee Meeting

Prepare a list of masters degree, and any pertinent undergraduate courses for supervisory
committee

Identify courses to be taken to remove deficiencies (if any). These courses will not count toward the Ph.D. program

Prepare Program of Study:

• At least 90 total credit hours (beyond the B.A. or B.S.)

• At least 30 credit hours apply from the masters degree. Up to 15 additional credits from the masters degree can apply toward the Ph.D. (at the discretion of the supervisory committee)

• 6-8 credit hours for masters thesis research can be applied toward the Ph.D.

• At least 45 hours and half of all total hours must be completed after the program of study is approved (courses being taken in the semester the program of study is filed with the Office of Graduate Studies count as after the filing)

• At least half of all total hours must be in entomology (hours from the masters degree and dissertation can count toward this total)

• Between 12-55 hours of dissertation research

• Must take or have taken Entomology 800 (Biology and Classification)
• Must take or have taken a minimum of 2 of:

Entomology 801	Insect Physiology
Entomology 804	Insect Morphology
Entomology 806	Insect Ecology

• Must take 3 credits of seminar (typically Entomology 905) (Seminar must include a formal
[ca. 30 minutes] presentation; 1 credit seminar from the masters degree can count toward this requirement

• Language/Research Tool/Collateral Field/Minor. All Ph.D. students must qualify in one of these areas, which is regarded as an addition to the regular course of study. Consequently, credit hours to meet this requirement (except for minors) will not count toward the total needed for the Ph.D. degree

Language - a demonstrated reading knowledge of a foreign language or sufficient knowledge to converse in the language and translate both directions.

Research Tool - demonstrated mastery of a special technique approved by the supervisory committee.

Collateral Field - 15 credit hours in a field related to, but not overlapping, the major. Credits may not apply toward 90 hours required for a Ph.D.

Minor - the department accepts a formal minor to meet this requirement (credits for a minor do count toward the Ph.D.). The minor must include 16 credit hours with 6 credit hours in courses open exclusively to graduate students (900- or 800-level courses without 400 counterparts), and credits from the masters degree may not apply toward the minor.

• At least half of the total credit hours must be completed at the University of Nebraska

Indicate to the advisory committee the general area of research and provide a brief description of the proposed research objectives. A brief description of the research topic or field is required on the Program of Study

Designate a dissertation reading committee (two supervisory committee members other than the Chair). The reading committee will evaluate the dissertation before it is circulated to the entire supervisory committee

After meeting, the Program of Study must be signed by:
• Major Professor(s)
• Member of Graduate Committee from Minor Department (if applicable)
• Dean of Graduate Studies

After a copy of the approved Program of Study is returned from the Graduate College (to the major advisor), a signed copy also should be placed in the student's graduate file in the main office.

Hold Second Committee Meeting

Prepare formal research proposal for presentation to committee. It should include:

• Review of pertinent literature - although the literature review will need to be expanded as research progresses, a thorough basic knowledge is necessary to develop sound objectives and a strong plan of attack. The review should be sufficiently complete at this point to guarantee that the committee is comfortable with the student's knowledge of the research area.

• Statement of research question - what is needed and what new knowledge will be contributed?

• Research objectives - define the specific research objectives to address the research question.

• Procedures - for each objective, describe the specific experimental procedures to be followed including experimental design and analysis, schedule of activities

A revised research proposal (revised in response to committee suggestions) should be placed in
student's folder

Hold Committee Meeting

Inform committee of progress in courses and research. Make any necessary modifications to research as needed (and to the Program of Study if absolutely necessary; changes will require approval from the Graduate College). A written summary of research findings to date is
encouraged

The major advisor should send a memo to graduate committee chair indicating that meeting was held and whether satisfactory progress has been made to date. This will be included in the student's file in the main office. Written summaries should be given to the committee

Take and Pass Comprehensive Exams

Take and pass (or have previously passed) the departmental standard entomology exam or the Entomology Certification Board exam

Take and pass the written comprehensive exam, an investigation of the student's breadth of understanding of their field of knowledge, from the supervisory committee

Upon successful completion of the written comprehensive exam, take and pass the oral comprehensive exam administered by the supervisory committee

Application for Admission to Candidacy (Must occur at least 7 months prior to graduation)

After passing the comprehensive examinations, the supervisory committee will report the results to the Office of Graduate Studies. Once the comprehensive exams are passed and the Language/Research Tool/Collateral Field/Minor requirement is met, the supervisory committee recommends admission to Candidacy to the Ph.D., and submits the form to the Graduate College for approval. If the term of Candidacy extends beyond 3 years, the student must retake the comprehensive examination. After admission to Candidacy, the student must register each academic semester until the Ph.D. is received. Failure to register will terminate Candidacy.

File Application for Degree and $25 with Graduation Services effective for current term
only.

Give copy of dissertation and abstract to reading committee for approval before the dissertation is submitted to the entire supervisory committee. Reference: Guidebook for Preparing Thesis or Dissertation.

Give copy of dissertation and abstract to supervisory committee at least 3 weeks before final exam. (The dissertation and abstract are evaluated by a reading committee of two supervisory committee members, other than the chair.)

Present Application for Final Oral Examination (with signatures of reading committee) and copy of dissertation and abstract to Office of Graduate Studies (for preliminary review) at least 3 weeks before final exam

Take and pass final oral exam

Give dissertation seminar to the department and defend the dissertation with the supervisory committee. The final exam may include questions in areas unrelated to the dissertation at the supervisory committee's discretion

Submit Report on Doctoral Degree form (provided by Graduate College) and signature pages to Graduate College. Also present 2 copies of dissertation prior to depositing with Love Library

Deposit 2 complete copies of dissertation, 3 copies of abstract, and signed microfilm and Doctoral Dissertation Agreement form with Dean of University Libraries (106 Love Library). Additionally, an $18 binding fee and $50 microfilming fee must be paid

Deposit 1 complete copy of the dissertation with the department

TIME LIMITS

The work for the Ph.D. degree must be completed within 8 years from the time of filing the Program of Study.