Doctoral Degree: Performance Standards and Progress

Students are responsible for knowing all program requirements of their doctoral program when they matriculate.

Programs must have a procedure to review the progress of each doctoral student at least once a year and must provide the results to the student in writing.

Doctoral students must have an approved degree plan on file with their collegiate unit prior to taking the preliminary oral exam. It is recommended that the degree plan be filed a minimum of three months prior to the exam date.

-If a student intends to complete a minor, the minor must be declared on the degree plan prior to taking the preliminary oral exam.

-The degree plan must be centrally archived in the system of record.

Students are required to enroll every semester (fall and spring) from the time of matriculation until degree conferral except for cases with an approved Leave of Absence on the student’s record.

All requirements for the doctoral degree must be completed and the degree awarded within eight calendar years after initial enrollment to the graduate program or the more restrictive time frame specified by the program.

-Students who are unable to complete the degree within the time limits described above may, with the approval of their advisor/s and program DGS, petition the program and collegiate unit for one extension of up to 24 months. Students must submit the petition for an extension prior to the end of the term in which the time limit will expire.

§ If a petition is approved, the student is notified in writing of the expectations for progress and of the expected timeline for completion and award of degree.

§ If the petition is denied, the student is notified in writing that the student will be terminated from the doctoral program.

-Under extraordinary circumstances, students may file a second petition for an additional extension of up to 24 months; however such petitions after the initial extension must be reviewed and approved by the student’s advisor/s, program DGS, and Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Education. Students must submit the petition for an extension prior to the end of the term in which the initial extension will expire.

-If a petition is approved, the student is notified in writing of the expectations for progress and of the expected timeline for completion and award of degree

-If the petition is denied, the student is notified in writing that the student will be terminated from the doctoral program

-Students who have been terminated under such circumstances may apply for readmission to the program; however, readmission is not guaranteed.

5-year time limit for Earning the Doctoral Degree (students admitted and matriculated prior to spring 2013)

All requirements for the doctoral degree must be completed and the degree must be awarded within five years after passing the preliminary oral examination. Students who are unable to complete the degree within the 5-year limit, may petition for an extension of up to one additional year. Extensions beyond one year are considered only in the most extraordinary circumstances.

8-year Time Limit for Earning the Doctoral Degree (students admitted and matriculated spring 2013 and beyond)

All requirements for the doctoral degree must be completed and the degree awarded within eight years after admission and matriculation to the graduate program, or a more restrictive time frame specified by the program. Students who are unable to complete the degree within the time limits described above may petition the program and collegiate unit for one extension of up to 24 months.

To remain in good academic standing students must meet the minimum GPA requirement specified by the graduate program or 3.000 (on a 4.000 scale) for courses being applied toward program requirements, whichever is higher. Students who have filed a doctoral degree plan must maintain a 3.000 GPA for courses included on the degree plan. Only courses with grades of A, B, C (including C-) and S may be counted toward the degree.

Students who fall below the program's minimum GPA requirement may be terminated from the program.

Graduate courses on the Twin Cities campus have two main grading basis: A-F or S/N.

Grade point values:

• A = 4.000,

• A- = 3.667

• B+ = 3.333,

• B = 3.000

• B- = 2.667

• C+ = 2.333

• C = 2.000

• C- = 1.667

• D+ = 1.333

• D = 1.000

• F = 0.000

A minimum of 2/3 of the course credits included on a degree plan must be taken A/F.

A maximum of nine 4xxx level course credits may be used to satisfy Ph.D. degree requirements.

Partial credits from a course are not accepted.

If your 4xxx courses add up to 10 credits you will need to remove one course from your degree plan.