Doctoral Candidacy & Continuous Enrollment

Candidacy for a doctoral degree is established by passing the comprehensive examination. Status as a continuous enrollment doctoral student begins the term after the term in which the comprehensive exam was successfully completed.

Procedure for Enrollment

Candidacy is maintained by enrolling for two credit hours each spring and fall semester and one credit hour each summer semester up to and including the semester in which the dissertation is defended. Most doctoral candidates choose to fulfill this requirement by enrolling in 9090 Research (or 9990 research for those in Engineering Programs) with their program adviser during this period of continuous enrollment. ontinuous enrollment provides access to an adviser's support, doctoral program committee guidance and University research facilities for completion of the dissertation.Failure to continuously enroll in the appropriate number of credit hours each semester through the semester in which the dissertation is defended terminates candidacy.

Comprehensive Examination Results & Application for Continuous Enrollment (pdf)

Re-Establishing Candidacy After Time Off

Candidacy may be re-established by paying the registration and late fees owed and completing the requirements specified by the student's doctoral program committee. Registration fees owed may not exceed the amount owed for seven terms, regardless of the number of terms beyond seven for which the student failed to continuously enroll.

The committee's requirements may include a second comprehensive examination or evidence of currency in the research field as suggested by publications in refereed journals. Candidacy is re-established when the student's adviser and the departmental, area program or divisional director of graduate studies submits a written request to the Graduate School explaining the basis for the decision.

Once approved, a Graduate School Reactivation Form must be completed by the student and sent to the department/program for processing.