Academic Progress and Milestones
Students progress toward the PhD degree in stages, guided by academic benchmarks known as milestones.
Milestones are established and administered by both the Social Welfare doctoral program ("Departmental Milestones") and the UC Berkeley Graduate Division ("Graduate Division Milestones"). There are nine academic milestones for the PhD in Social Welfare, summarized below and described in further detail throughout this Handbook:
- First Year Comprehensive Exam
- Qualifying Paper Proposal
- Qualifying Paper Results
- Qualifying Examination Eligibility:
- Formulate eligible QE Committee.
- Declare Fields of Expertise.
- Complete all Required Coursework.
- Dissertation Prospectus:
- Submit Dissertation Chair-approved prospectus to QE Committee four weeks before exam.
- Complete required revisions prior to submitting Application for Advancement to Candidacy.
- Qualifying Examination Approval
- Qualifying Examination Results
- Advancement to Doctoral Candidacy
- Dissertation Filed
Departmental Milestones Summary
Departmental Milestones are pre-candidacy benchmark activities administered by the Social Welfare PhD Program. These milestones appear on the student's Academic Progress Report (APR), but do not display in the student's Degree Progress Card in CalCentral. The GSAO for the doctoral program is responsible for updating Departmental Milestones for the student's APR.
Milestone |
Description |
Normative Time Deadlines |
---|---|---|
First Year Comprehensive Exam |
Comprehensive written exam based upon knowledge gained in SOC WEL 279 and SOC WEL 289A |
Exam administered at end of first year in program |
Qualifying Paper Proposal |
A 2-4 page proposal for the developing and writing the Qualifying Paper |
Due by October 15 of 2nd year in PhD program, or 3rd year of Combined MSW/PhD Program |
Qualifying Paper (QP) |
Preliminary exam (in the form of a single, standalone paper) |
Typically completed by end of 2nd year in PhD program or 3rd year in Combined MSW/PhD program |
Qualifying Exam (QE) Eligibility |
Formulate eligible QE committee; declare two fields of expertise to be examined on by the QE; complete all Required Coursework |
By the end of semester prior to the QE |
Dissertation Prospectus |
Dissertation research plan and proposed timeline for completion |
Dissertation Chair-approved prospectus required no later than four weeks prior to preferred QE date Revisions accepted prior to submitting Application for Doctoral Candidacy |
Graduate Division Milestones Summary
Graduate Division Milestones are those required for advancement to doctoral candidacy and eligibility for degree conferral. Graduate Division Milestones appear on the student's Academic Progress Report (APR), and are also displayed in the student's Degree Progress Card in CalCentral. The Graduate Division Degrees Office is responsible for updating Graduate Division Milestones as they are achieved by the student and submitted for approval.
Milestone |
Description |
Normative Time Deadlines |
---|---|---|
Qualifying Exam Approval |
Submit Graduate Division Application for the Qualifying Examination via Higher Degree Committee eForm in CalCentral |
Completed application must be received by Graduate Division at least 3 weeks before proposed examination date |
Qualifying Exam Results |
Report on the Qualifying Examination - eForm in Campus Solutions (submitted by faculty or staff) |
Must be submitted to Graduate Division no later than 2 weeks after exam |
Advancement to Doctoral Candidacy |
Submit Application for Doctoral Candidacy via Higher Degree Committee eForm in CalCentral. Complete CITI modules if working with human subjects or animals. |
Upon passing QE: by end of 3rd year in program |
Dissertation Filed |
Follow steps outlined in Procedure for Filing Your Dissertation |
By end of 5th year in program & according to published Degree Deadlines |