The requirements for the Ph.D. degree are extensions of those presented above for the Master's degree. Advisory/examining committees consist of at least five members of the graduate faculty: the major advisor (committee chair), at least two-faculty member from the student's major, and at least one university-at-large member from the graduate faculty. Students may request the appointment of a committee member from the faculty of another university or from a relevant discipline or profession, provided the prospective member has achieved a record of distinction. Formal approval of the student’s advisory/examining committee is made by the Graduate Dean. The committee is very important in guiding the student’s progress towards an advance degree, and a high priority is placed in forming the committee early in the graduate program. For the student entering the Ph.D. program with a Master's degree, the committee should be formed during the first semester.
Student must also pass a candidacy examination, which is intended to evaluate the student's overall knowledge and understanding of his/her requirements. This examination includes both written and oral sections and may cover material not offered in formal course work.
Students pursuing the Ph.D. degree must file for candidacy after passing the comprehensive examination and no later than eight calendar months prior to graduation. Admission to Candidacy forms are availability on the Graduate School website. Admission to candidacy confirms that a student has successfully completed the departmental course requirements and the university residency requirements. In order to gain admission to candidacy, a student must meet all the following:
NOTE: The department may impose additional requirements.
The last examination for completion of the Ph.D. is the final oral examination (dissertation defense), which is conducted by the advisory committee after the preparation of the dissertation.
The final date for submission of the dissertation in final form is one week before the close of the semester. No extension of this deadline is permitted. The Graduate Dean makes final approval of dissertation. Guidelines for format of the dissertation can be found on the Graduate School website.
Graduate Progress
Students typically complete a Master's program in one and one-half to two years. Students on assistantships must take at least 6 credit hours per semester and are allowed to take a maximum of 9 credit hours of coursework per semester. Students earning both their Master's and Ph.D. degrees in the program can expect a length of study of at least four years, but this can vary.
Graduate Support
Graduate Research Assistantships and state-supported Graduate Teaching Assistantships are the main forms of support for the graduate students.
Graduate Standards
The final record of each candidate is reviewed by the student’s advisory committee and by the Graduate School to ensure satisfactory completion of the Program of Study. A minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0 must have been maintained. Further, no grade lower than a C- in any course can have been received by the student.
For additional requirements, please see the Graduate School website.