Upon entering the program, an Advisory Guidance Committee of three graduate program faculty is appointed for each student to monitor and aid each student’s progress until the student passes the qualifying exam. The Advisory Committee will consist of the student's major professor, who will serve as Chair, and two other professors from the program with expertise in the student's area of interest. Until the student advances to candidacy (passes qualifying exam), he or she will present the Advisory Committee with a written summary of his/her research progress and plans at the beginning of each academic year.

The student will have the most contact with his or her major professor during the course of graduate study. The major professor provides direct research guidance and is ultimately responsible for advising the student and making sure that all degree requirements are fulfilled. Each student must have identified a major professor willing to supervise his/her study by the end of the first year in order to remain in the program.