Time Requirements for the Degree

Consistent with Graduate School policy, students are to complete the doctoral degree within seven years of the first day of the semester in which a student first enrolls in a Doctoral Program class. To assure this time-line is met, students are advised to gain candidacy status as early as possible. In the event of extraordinary circumstances, a student may petition for additional time to complete the degree. The Doctoral Program faculty will consider this petition, but the final decision is made by the Graduate School Dean.

In 1996 and 1997, a total of 36 students completed their degrees. The average length of time was 5.9 years. However, six of these graduates required ten years or more. The policy for students admitted since 1995 allows students only seven years from the time they begin the program to complete the degree. When student who needed ten or more years to complete the degree are excluded from the analysis, the average drops to 4.9 years.

Additional policy changes with earlier candidacy, stricter requirements for enrolling in DPLS 730 Proposal Seminar, and changes in dissertation credits that allow for closer monitoring of student progress should significantly reduce the time needed to complete the degree.