Degree Plan – Doctoral Degree

Understanding Doctorate Requirements

  • Doctoral degrees generally require 30 to 60 academic credits beyond a master’s degree or 60 to 90 academic credits beyond a bachelor’s degree.
  • Students should check with individual departments for specific credit-hour requirements.
  • A minimum of 12 dissertation credits (7970) is required if the student has a master’s degree and a minimum of 18 dissertation credits (7970) is required if the student has a bachelor’s degree.
  • The semesters during which a student registers for dissertation credit should correspond as closely as possible to the semesters in which the dissertation work is done, and faculty supervision is provided.

Please review the Doctoral Student Steps to Degree Completion & Graduation page for an overview of Doctorate degree requirements.

NOTE: Due to the variability of each graduate degree, a program may have additional steps, forms or specific requirements not listed below. Students should contact their Graduate Program Coordinator to make sure they are aware of all program requirements, required forms, timelines, and for official degree completion guidance.

1

By the End of the Third Semester

Establish a Supervisory Committee

  • A completed Supervisory Committee Approval form should be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies for approval by the end of the student’s third semester.
  • A doctoral supervisory committee must include at least five faculty who hold doctoral degrees and are current members of the Graduate Faculty.
  • The committee must consist of three members from within the student’s department and at least one member who is outside either the department or interdepartmental degree-granting program in which the student is enrolled.
  • Please review the Supervisory Committees page for more information pertaining to supervisory committee policies and procedures.

Finalize a Program of Study

Deadline for Submitting a Program of Study

  • Doctoral Degrees: Doctoral students are encouraged to submit a  Program of Study to the School of Graduate Studies for approval before the end of the third semester.
  • A program of study is created in DegreeWorks.
    • To finalize a Program of Study, log into Access Banner and enter the list of courses into the “Plans” section of DegreeWorks.
  • If a student needs assistance with making revisions to their program of study, they may contact their Graduate Program Coordinator, who will update the courses listed in DegreeWorks and submit a ServiceNow Program of Study request to the School of Graduate Studies for processing.
    • The student’s major professor and department head will receive the Program of Study revision and will follow the same approval procedure.
  • Students should not wait until their final semester to submit required forms, as it could impede their ability to graduate in a timely manner.

Forms to Submit:

 
2

By the End of the Second Year

Take and Pass Comprehensive Examinations

  • Some departments or interdepartmental programs administer qualifying examinations.
  • Students should check with their program for more details.

Receive approval on a dissertation research proposal

  • Students should finalize what they will be doing for their dissertation and present it to their supervisory committee.

Obtain Necessary Regulatory Approvals to Conduct the Proposed Research

Application for Candidacy Approved

  • The Application for Candidacy (ACDD) Form – Due as soon as a doctoral student’s dissertation proposal is approved, all regulatory approvals are complete, and the student passes their comprehensive exams.
    • NOTE: The Application for Candidacy Form should be submitted at least three months prior to the student’s final defense.
  • Submission of the Application for Candidacy form is a significant point in the student’s program because the Major Professor, Supervisory Committee, and Department Head thereby attest the student is ready to conduct independent dissertation research—although successful completion is not guaranteed.

Forms to Submit:

 
3

Preparing for the Defense

Review the Defense Process and Requirements

Determining the Credit Load for the Defense Semester

  • Students must be registered for at least 3 credits the semester of their defense.
  • To maintain full-time status at 3 credits, students must submit a Full Time at 3 Credits (FT3) form and receive departmental approval.

Submit an Appointment for Examination Form

  • The Appointment for Examination form confirms that all required paperwork is complete, and the student’s committee members have read the dissertation and agree that it is ready to be defended.
  • This form should be submitted and approved by the School of Graduate Studies at least 10 workdays before the final defense.

Forms to Submit:

 
4

After the Defense

Submit the Thesis/Dissertation Format & Style and Electronic Publication Approval form

Submit the Authorship & Copyright form

  • This form is used to specify a student’s plans for publication and confirm data copyright by submitting the Authorship & Copyright form.

Title Page

  • To gain final approval of a student’s Doctoral Dissertation, the committee members agree that the student’s final document is ready to be put before the School of Graduate Studies and the Vice Provost for final approval.
  • The Title Page is required before it can be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies for review.

Make Any Necessary Dissertation Revisions

Fill Out an Embargo Request Form (if desired)

  • An embargo means that the student’s work will be unavailable to read online for 5 years.
  • If desired, a student may submit an  embargo request form.

Ensure All Degree Requirements Have Been Met

Apply for graduation

  • To officially graduate and receive their diploma, students must:
    1. Complete the graduation application by the university deadline and pay the $15 graduation fee.
  • Students who do not complete ALL required forms will not be awarded a degree.

Forms to Submit:

 

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