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Track your progress on the PHYS Grad Academic Tracker
ℹ️ Below is a sample plan. Your plan may vary depending on prior coursework, research opportunity, and individual circumstance. To be a full-time student you must enroll in 10 credits per quarter.
🍁Fall
🍁Fall
📝 Written Qual Exams, 1st Attempt
PHYS 202 Introduction to Teaching in Physics
PHYS 210 Classical Mechanics and Thermal Physics
PHYS 212 Electromagnetism I
PHYS 292 Seminar
☀️Summer
☀️Summer
Year 2 - Explore Research Groups & Road to Master's Degree
Year 2 - Explore Research Groups & Road to Master's Degree
🍁Fall
🍁Fall
❄️Winter
❄️Winter
🌱Spring
🌱Spring
📝 Apply for MS (double check requirements)
PHYS 297B Independent Study
PHYS 292 Seminar
Join Research Group & Establish Faculty Advisor
☀️Summer
☀️Summer
TA/Research
Year 3 - Advance to Candidacy (ATC)
Year 3 - Advance to Candidacy (ATC)
🌎 International students must ATC by the end of their third year
❄️Winter
❄️Winter
PHYS 297B Independent Study
🌱Spring
🌱Spring
PHYS 297B Independent Study
Take Oral Qualifying Exams
Nominate a Dissertation Reading Committee
Committee Chair sends Report on Qualifying Exams to Grad Coordinator
☀️Summer
☀️Summer
Year 4 - Thesis Research
Year 4 - Thesis Research
Year 5 Dissertation Defense
Year 5 Dissertation Defense
ℹ️ UCSC commits to funding full-time PhD students for 5 years. Work with your faculty advisor and Graduate Program Coordinator on how to find funding if you are continuing beyond 5 years.
Year 6 Normative Time
Year 6 Normative Time
Year 7+ Beyond Normative Time
Year 7+ Beyond Normative Time
Students are expected to graduate within 5-6 years. You can continue your degree after Year 6, but you will need to submit a request to extend your program beyond normative time to receive funding. Work closely with your faculty advisor and the Graduate Program Coordinator on a timeline to complete your research and locate additional funding, if needed.
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