Important Degree Requirement Information
For DOCTORAL Students

RESIDENCE REQUIREMENTS:

1. Part of this residence must be spent in full-time involvement in one’s discipline, at the University, beyond the first 24 semester hours of graduate work. This requirement can be met either by: (a) enrollment as a full-time student (9 semester hours minimum) in each of two semesters, or (b) enrollment for a minimum of 6 semester hours in each of three semesters during which the student holds at least a one-third time assistantship certified by the department as contributing to the student’s doctoral program.

2. RESIDENCE CREDIT IS NOT ALLOWED FOR CORRESPONDENCE COURSES. However, up to 9 semester hours of correspondence courses may be utilized in meeting degree requirements.

REDUCTION OF OLD CREDITS:

1. Courses taken ten or more years prior to the comprehensive must be updated if they are to be included on the Doctoral Plan of Study. Contact your advisor or the Office of Education Services regarding the update procedure.

2. Course work over ten years old, which has not been verified by an update letter, must be deleted from the Plan of Study.

REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS:

1. Students must be registered during the session of comprehensive examinations and each semester after passing the exam through the session in which the degree is awarded. This excludes summer session when students make no use of University resources unless the degree is conferred during a summer session.

COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATIONS:

1. The Office of Education Services schedules the comprehensive examinations for doctoral students once each session. Application materials and instructions are available in this office and should be obtained the session prior to examination.

DISSERTATION DEFENSE:

1. Students must present themselves for their dissertation defense no later than five years after passing the comprehensive examination. Application materials are available in the Office of Education Services. (Change in Plan of Study forms are also available if necessary.)

2. Application must be made 2 weeks prior to the defense date and by the College of Education deadline established for that session. See the Graduate Comprehensive Examinations page for the application (Information for Request for Final Exam) form.

After receipt of the degree, you must file a Change of Graduate College Status in the Office of Education Services if you wish to take additional course work in the College of Education.

Feel free to contact the Office of Education Services, N310 Lindquist Center, 335-5260 if you have any questions regarding these requirements.