Preliminary exams and candidacy requirements will be as determined by the departments. At least two DG faculty will be required to be on the examining committees of all DG students for both preliminary and thesis examinations.

Thesis research will be in the laboratory of one of the DG faculty; interdisciplinary or cross-system research is encouraged. The principle element of the doctoral program is the completion of a substantial, scholarly, original and independent research study. During the period of research, students are required to meet periodically (at least annually) with their Advisory Committee, the composition of which is dictated by the department in which the student resides. The final basis for the conferral of the doctorate is the successful presentation and defense of a dissertation on this research before an examining committee. In addition to the departmental requirements, the DG track requires at least two DG faculty to be present on the committee.