# III.6 Sample Programs of Study There is no single way to progress through the program. As long as all requirements are completed in a timely fashion, the order in which courses are taken is up to the student and their advisor. The plans below are *illustrative, not prescriptive*. Two versions are shown: starting in the UCSB MA and transferring the usual allowable units; and entering with an MA from another institution. Students enroll in **COMM 505** every quarter they are in the program. Students are advised to enroll in **12 units** most quarters; **8 units** is the minimum for full-time status. ### III.6.2 PhD with a UCSB MA — (Assuming MA completed) ---
YearFallWinterSpring
3 (PhD) - **Content Elective** (in-dept) - **Methods/tools** - **COMM 505** Colloquium - **Content Elective** (in-dept) - **Content Elective** (out-dept) - **COMM 505** Colloquium - **Content Elective** (in-dept) - **Methods/tools** - **COMM 596A** Directed Research - **COMM 505** Colloquium
4 (PhD) - **Quals Writing Quarter** - **COMM 597** Preparation for the Qualifying Examination - **COMM 505** Colloquium - **COMM 599** Dissertation Preparation - **COMM 505** Colloquium - **Dissertation proposal Defense** - **COMM 599** Dissertation Preparation - **COMM 505** Colloquium
5 (PhD) - **COMM 599** Dissertation Preparation - **COMM 505** Colloquium - **COMM 599** Dissertation Preparation - **COMM 505** Colloquium - **COMM 599** Dissertation Preparation - **COMM 505** Colloquium
- **Fall of year 3** is the last quarter in which units may transfer from MA to Phd - **Required:** nominate MA advisor by end of Winter, year 1; MA committee by end of Spring, year 1 - **Recommended:** defend thesis proposal in Fall of year 2 (required by January 15); complete the thesis in Spring of year 2 - **Ideally,** choose a PhD advisor and finalize the PhD committee by end of Spring, year 3; both must be selected no later than the quarter prior to the commencement of qualifying exam preparation - Begin discussing the quals reading list with committee members as soon as they agree to serve - **Recommended:** hold the dissertation proposal meeting by end of **Spring, year 4** (**required:** proposal approved by **Nov. 1 of year 5**); complete data collection by end of Winter, year 5 ### III.6.3 PhD with an MA from another institution --- Time-to-degree for the PhD-only track is **3 years to advance** to candidacy and **4 years to complete** the PhD.
YearFallWinterSpring
1 (PhD) - **COMM 202** Introduction to Communication Graduate Studies - **COMM 204A** Research Methods in Communication - **COMM 505** Colloquium - **COMM 204B** Introduction to Applied Statistics - **Survey course** (COMM 207, 213, or 222) - **Content Elective** (in-dept) - **COMM 505** Colloquium - **COMM 200** Communication Theory Construction - **COMM 204C** Advanced Topics in Research Methods and Statistical Analysis - **COMM 505** Colloquium
2 (PhD) - **Second survey course** (COMM 207, 213, or 222) - **Content Elective** (in-dept) - **COMM 505** Colloquium - **Content Elective** (out-dept) - **Methods/tools** - **COMM 505** Colloquium - **Content Elective** (in-dept) - **Methods/tools** - **COMM 596A** Directed Research - **COMM 505** Colloquium
3 (PhD) - **Quals Writing Quarter** - **COMM 597** Preparation for the Qualifying Examination - **COMM 505** Colloquium - **COMM 599** Dissertation Preparation - **COMM 505** Colloquium - **Dissertation proposal Defense** - **COMM 599** Dissertation Preparation
4 (PhD) - **COMM 599** Dissertation Preparation - **COMM 505** Colloquium - **COMM 599** Dissertation Preparation - **COMM 505** Colloquium - **COMM 599** Dissertation Preparation - **COMM 505** Colloquium
- **Recommended:** choose a PhD advisor by end of **Spring, year 1** and finalize the committee by end of **Spring, year 2**; both must be selected no later than the quarter prior to the commencement of qualifying exam preparation - **Recommended:** defend qualifying exams at the end of the **Fall writing quarter, year 3** (no later than week 2 of Winter); hold the dissertation proposal meeting by end of **Spring, year 3** (**required:** proposal approved by **Nov. 1 of year 4**) - **Recommended:** complete data collection by end of Winter, year 4; defend the dissertation by end of Spring, year 4