Time Limit

Students in MCDB should be able to complete the Ph.D. program in approximately five years. However, under Graduate School rules, doctoral students have six years from date of matriculation in the program to complete all requirements, including filing of the dissertation with the Graduate School. If a student has not completed the Ph.D. in six years, the Graduate School notifies the student and the Department during the first semester of the seventh year that the student must finish their degree during that semester or get an extension. An extension of one year can be obtained by petitioning the Graduate School. The petition requires support from the thesis advisor and COGSA. COGSA will support such a petition only with very good cause. The petition must include a detailed plan including a schedule for the completion of the Ph.D. thesis. The student develops this plan in consultation with his/her advisor and thesis committee. The final plan should be approved by the advisor and thesis committee before it is sent to COGSA for its approval. COGSA, if it approves the plan, will support the student’s petition to the Graduate School.