Students are required to remain in good standing in the program and to make satisfactory progress toward the completion of degree requirements.
Students who maintain the requirement of minimum grade performance in course work, successfully complete the comprehensive examination, and achieve candidacy will be in good standing. A student who fails the comprehensive examination will be permitted one attempt to complete it.
Satisfactory progress refers to the speed and timeliness of progression through degree requirements such as course work, examinations and research. Progress will be reviewed annually by the student’s Supervisory Committee. All doctoral students are required to meet with their Supervisory Committees once a year, or more often if required by the committee.
The Supervisory Committee has the authority to recommend termination of a student’s program if insufficient progress or scholarly achievement is observed. The student must be provided with adequate warning of problems and be given a chance to correct deficiencies. Every effort should be made to identify problems early in a student’s program.
Candidacy and Time Limits
To achieve candidacy, students must complete all requirements for the degree exclusive of thesis research and courses such as ongoing research seminars that run continuously through the program. Students must also have an approved thesis topic, supervisor and supervisory committee. Achieving candidacy at the end of the third year of study (or fourth year for direct-entry PhD students) is noted on the student transcript.
The normal program length is four years (five for direct-entry students). The time limit is six years (seven for direct-entry).