Degree Candidacy Review
The ProcessDegree candidacy is a screening and advising process. Students are expected to apply to their respective departments for admission to degree candidacy after completion of no fewer than 6 and no more than 15 semester hours of departmentally approved graduate study. It is the student’s responsibility to initiate the candidacy review process within the required semester-hour limitation.
The effectiveness of the candidacy process is diminished if a student continues beyond the 15 semester-hour limit without undertaking the candidacy evaluation. One of the functions of the evaluation is to identify areas of study that may need to be strengthened through specific courses or projects during the remainder of the degree program. If a student does not schedule the evaluation within the stated limit, more semester hours may be required in order to strengthen competency(ies) identified in the review process.
Departmental Requirements
Each department describes the specifics of its degree
candidacy process. The general evaluation is based on: 1) the student’s
performance in graduate study to date; 2) the results of a departmental
examination; and, 3) other criteria appropriate to the field as determined
by the department.
If a student is unsuccessful in the initial attempt to earn degree candidacy he/she may petition the department for a second evaluation. Prior to the second attempt the student must be advised by the department of the areas in which performance was deficient, and of any other factors that were considered in the denial of student’s admission to degree candidacy.
The results of the candidacy evaluation will be forwarded to the Office of Graduate Studies and the student will be notified of the results.
The final phase of the candidacy process is the development of a program of study for the remaining requirements in the degree program. This program of study should be developed in consultation with an adviser and copies filed in the department and the Office of Graduate Studies.