1. Neuroscience Graduate Program Candidacy Exam Process
Step One: Consult
Step Three: Approval
Step Two: Write
Step Four: Schedule
Step Five: Complete
Neuroscience Graduate Program Candidacy Exam Process

2. During the 2nd year
After you have completed all coursework and your teaching requirement

3. Step One: Consult
Step One: Consult
Work with your advisor to select members for your Dissertation Advisory Committee
Note: A minimum of four faculty are required for your committee to include your advisor and at least two NGP faculty with Category P status (fourth person may be in NGP or another graduate program with P status)
the NGP administrator with list of committee members for approval
Note: Include a brief statement explaining the research focus of each proposed member and the unique perspective that each brings to the committee

4. End of 2nd year beginning of 3rd year
After your Dissertation Advisory Committee has been established and approved by the NGP administration

5. Step Two: Write
Step Two: Write
Prepare the specific aims page and submit it to your Dissertation Advisory Committee to review
Schedule a meeting with your Dissertation Advisory Committee to discuss the specific aims
Note: A formal group meeting is preferred; however, individual meetings are acceptable
If the Dissertation Advisory Committee approves your specific aims, you have up to 2 months to write the full proposal and submit it to your committee for review
Note: If the specific aims are not approved, you will have 2 weeks to submit revisions to your committee for review

6. Step Three: Approval
Step Three: Approval
Submit your grant proposal to your Dissertation Advisory Committee two months after your specific aims page was approved
If the committee approves your proposal, you may schedule your oral exam
Refer to Step Four: Schedule
If the committee DOES NOT approve your proposal, you have 2 weeks to revise the proposal
Note: You only have one chance for revision
If the committee DOES NOT approve your revision, you may waive the right to the oral exam following the guidelines in the Graduate School Handbook
Note: Contact the NGP office to petition the NGP committee if your candidacy exam will be delayed.

7. Beginning of 3rd year
Between September and December after your grant proposal is approved by your Dissertation Advisory Committee

8. Step Four: Schedule
Step Four: Schedule
Schedule your oral exam two to four weeks after the approval of your grant proposal
Log onto GRADFORMS.OSU.EDU to submit an Application for Candidacy Exam no less than two weeks prior to the exam date
Note: After you submit your application, contact your advisor to inform him/her that they need to log in to GRADFORMS to approve the application.
Periodically check the status of your application in GRADFORMS by clicking on the application then clicking on the “History” tab. Follow-up with your advisor and/or the NGP office if you do not see approved by each entry.
Note: Applications must be approved by your advisor and the NGP office two weeks prior to the exam date or you will need to reschedule your exam
Reserve a room and AV for your exam
Contact the NGP office if you need assistance

9. Step Five: Complete
Step Five: Complete
The oral portion of the candidacy exam will last approximately two hours
Note: At the discretion of the Dissertation Advisory Committee, the student may present a brief (~10 min) summary of the aims of research proposal.
At the conclusion of the exam, the student will be excused and the Dissertation Advisory Committee will decide the outcome of the exam (both written and oral)
The Report on Candidacy Exam will become available in GRADFORMS to your Dissertation Advisory Committee at the time of the exam
Note: All committee members must log into GRADFORMS.OSU.EDU to report the results of your exam prior to leaving the room
If the result is satisfactory – Congratulations you are now a candidate for the PhD!
If the result is unsatisfactory:
The Dissertation Advisory Committee must decide if the student will be permitted to take a second examination. This decision must be recorded on the Report on Candidacy Exam.

10. Candidacy Exam Timeline
Year Two
Complete coursework
Complete teaching requirement
Consult with advisor to select Dissertation Advisory Committee members
NGP office for committee approval
End of Year Two
Prepare and submit specific aims page to Dissertation Advisory Committee
Schedule a meeting with Dissertation Advisory Committee to discuss specific aims
Begin writing grant proposal (2 months) if specific aims is approved or Revise (2 weeks) specific aims if not approved
Submit grant proposal to Dissertation Advisory Committee
Schedule oral exam if proposal is approved or Revise proposal (2 weeks)
Year Three
Sept-Dec
Log onto GRADFORMS.OSU.EDU to submit Application for Candidacy Exam
Complete Oral Exam

11. Resources NGP Handbook Graduate School Handbook GRADFORMS.OSU.EDU
Refer to sections 9 and 10 for more detailed information regarding the Dissertation Advisory Committee and the candidacy exam
Graduate School Handbook
GRADFORMS.OSU.EDU
GRADFORMS Help
Reference guides to assist students and faculty with GRADFORMS.OSU.EDU