It is a PhD program. I take my prelims and defend my dissertation proposal in the spring. And then, the big black hole that is dissertation research and writing! I'm thrilled and scared to death. Thanks for the comic link. It's amazing just how spot on they can be. Although I have a friend who had a very bad experience in his program and he refuses to read it anymore. Says it's not enough parody and too much like the real thing. Thank God for good advisers!

Are you working on a second masters?