As a requirement of graduation, doctoral students must complete the Survey of Earned Doctorates. The survey, sponsored by federal agencies including the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health, compiles data on all doctorate recipients from United States universities. Any information students provide to the survey is confidential. Data is reported only in aggregate form or in a manner that does not identify information about any individual.

Doctoral candidates should take this survey online. In order to complete the web-based survey, you will need to acquire a PIN and password from NORC. To register for the survey and receive your PIN and password, submit the SED registration form. Once you’ve received your credentials, go to the current SED questionnaire, where you will be asked for your PIN and password to get access to the questions.

After taking the survey, make sure to send the consultant your certificate of completion. The survey interface will allow you to send an automated email confirming your completion. You may choose to have this email automatically sent to thesis@utk.edu, or you may forward the confirmation that will be automatically sent to your own email address to thesis@utk.edu after completing the survey. Please do not print a paper copy of this survey and deliver it to the consultant in person.

Visit the SED website for more information about SED, including the purpose and use of the survey and an overview of its privacy policies.