To encourage students to complete their educational program in a timely fashion, a set of benchmarks has been established. These normal progress guidelines help students assess their own progress. They also enable departmental administrators to identify problems early and to provide timely advice and assistance. Students who fail to meet normal progress guide-lines risk losing their research or teaching assistantships and also may be dismissed from the program.

The benchmarks for M.S. students are:

• Maintain a 3.0 grade average overall.
• Maintain a 3.0 grade average for courses in the program of study filed with the Graduate School.
• Complete required courses and the thesis within four years. (Funding normally is available for no more than two years.)

Normal progress guidelines for Ph.D. students are:

• Maintain a 3.0 grade average overall.
• Maintain a 3.0 grade average for courses in the program of study filed with the Graduate School.
• Attempt the written core examinations by the end of the first year.
• Complete core theory and quantitative courses by the end of the first year.
• Pass the written core examinations by the end of the second year.
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• Complete electives and courses in the major field by the end of the second year.
• Complete the paper requirement and the preliminary oral examination by the end of the third year.
• Complete all degree requirements within seven years of entering the program. (Funding normally is available for no more than four years.)