The chronological steps in the doctoral degree process are:

• Admission
• Formation of an advisory committee (first year)
• Prescription of course work (end of first year or 1^st semester of 2^nd year)
• Completion of course work
• Qualifying examination
• Admission to candidacy
• Formation of research committee
• Dissertation proposal meeting
• Completion of dissertation research
• Application to participate in IU Commencement (via Graduate School eDoc)
• Application to defend dissertation (via internal SPH form)
• Defense announcement (via Graduate School eDoc)
• Defense of dissertation
• Submission of final dissertation
• Graduation (degree conferral)