The first two to four years of the doctoral program are typically devoted to course work, including the completion of an Early Research Project (ERP), in the area of concentration selected by the student. For students entering with an M.A./M.S., they are considered Stage II status by the Graduate College, and the ERP occurs early in Stage II. For students entering the PhD program directly from a B.A./B.S. degree, they are considered Stage I status by the Graduate College, and the ERP may be undertaken and completed in Stage I or Stage II. In the middle of Stage II, students will take a Qualifying Exam. Successful completion of the Qualifying Exam provides evidence of the student's satisfactory progress toward scholarly independence and indicates the student is then qualified to begin the planning stages of a dissertation proposal. A preliminary exam on the dissertation proposal occurs at the end of Stage II and marks the transition to Stage III by the Graduate College. The doctoral program culminates with a Final Exam/Dissertation Defense, and oral examination over a written document.