Student Status
G2 Status (starting from June, 2009).

Ph.D. Program Timeline
| year | status | description |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | G1 | * student enter the PhD program with a designation of precandidacy [G1] |
| 0~1 | G1 | * first year study is comprised of coursework, foundation courses, and preliminary research |
| 1 | G1 | * at the end of year one, student must take the Ph.D. qualifying examination and submit a research and course plan. when these requirements are met, students are admitted to candidacy [G2] |
| 1~2.5 | G2 | * students must complete a dissertation proposal within 1.5 years of passing the qualifying examination |
| 2.5~4 | G2 | * students that have achieved candidacy and completed all required courses beneficial to their research may go on sustaining status (focus purely on research) |
| 4+ | G2 | * candidates must submit a written dissertation and present the major findings to their dissertation committees |