A milestone of sorts

And now for a rare school related post …

This morning I handed in a paper and made a presentation in my pharmacoepidemiology class. Assuming that my performance was satisfactory and that nothing horrible happens in the last two weeks of the quarter this means that I am done taking electives for my PhD. No more coursework. My particular degree has more coursework requirements than any other program I’ve ever heard of in any field. My sister started her degree in September and finished her coursework in April! I’ve been at this for three years! I might never take a class again. I’ll probably end up taking a topics class if something interested is offered but it will because I want to not because I have to.

In any case the grand PhD to-do list now looks something like this:

1. Get admitted to program
2. Complete first year statistics and biostatistics course sequences
3. Pass first year theory exam
4. Complete second year theory and applied course sequences
5. Past second year theory and applied exams (1-5 got me a master’s degree)
6. Complete methodology electives
7. Complete biology electives
8. Complete consulting requirement
9. Nail down dissertation topic and advisor
10. Complete computing requirement
11. Complete biology project
12. Form a committee
13. Pass general exam
14. Write dissertation
15. Pass final exam

I’m getting closer. I really must get on that number 9.