Is there a qualifying exam on the road to the Ph.D.? When can I expect to graduate?

All candidates for the PhD degree are expected to take the oral examination by the end of their
fourth term in the program. The purpose of the oral examination is to determine a student’s depth
and breadth of scholarship and readiness for research in a chosen area of specialization. The exam will assess the student’s originality, capacity for synthesis and critical examination, intensity of intellectual curiosity, and clarity of communication. Students typically graduate in 5 to 6 years, but some students graduate in 4 years and others may take longer than 6.