Graduation requirements and regulations for every academic program are provided in this catalog; however, this catalog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract. Degree and program requirements and course descriptions are subject to change.

For information on graduate program regulations, refer to the School of Education and Human Sciences Graduate Regulations tab.  In most cases, you will use the catalog of the year you entered KU (see your School of Education and Human Sciences advisor for details). Other years’ catalogs»

Undergraduate Programs

Graduate Regulations

The School of Education and Human Sciences follows the regulations and policies of the University and the Office of Graduate Studies (for example: Academic probation, enrollment status, grading policies, grievances, etc.).  In some cases, the School of Education and Human Sciences and departmental policies are more restrictive than those of the broader University.  Students are encouraged to work closely with their department and advisor for specific program requirements. Below include a description of the key School of Education and Human Sciences policies related to graduate studies.

Good Academic Standing

Certificate Programs

An application is required in order to be admitted to and pursue a Graduate Certificate.  Degree-seeking graduate students who wish to apply to a certificate program must be in good standing in their departments or programs.  An individual who is not currently a degree-seeking graduate student at KU must be admitted directly to a graduate certificate program.

With the consent of the certificate-granting department, students may count up to two (2) required certificate courses (maximum of 6 credit hours) taken at KU prior to admission to the certificate program toward the graduate certificate.   Any course credits that are counted are subject to the specific certificate coursework requirements in the certificate program. Students are not allowed course substitutions or transfer courses outside of KU to count towards the certificate. Graduate certificates are not granted retroactively and no exceptions to this two-course limit will be granted. Students who withdraw from a degree program and subsequently seek admission to a certificate program are subject to these same limits (i.e., 6 hours).  

If students admitted to a graduate certificate program are later admitted to a graduate degree program as degree-seeking students, applicable courses taken for the graduate certificate program may be counted toward the degree with the approval of the degree-granting program as long as the student is enrolled in the degree program prior to completing the last certificate requirement.

While the courses comprising a graduate certificate may be used as evidence in support of a student’s application for admission to a graduate degree program, the certificate itself is not considered to be a prerequisite and does not guarantee admission into any graduate degree program.

Graduate credit from another institution may not be transferred to a KU graduate certificate program.  Graduate courses taken at KU may count toward both a graduate degree and graduate certificate as long as the student is admitted and enrolled in the intended program prior to completion of the last required course. If the courses were taken as a KU non-degree seeking student, a Count Toward Degree form must be submitted prior to approval for graduation or approval of the certificate.

In order to earn the certificate, students must earn a 3.0 cumulative GPA or above in the required courses needed for the certificate.

The courses taken in the graduate certificate program will be listed on the student’s transcript and recognition of the earned certificate will also be posted on the transcript.  The awarding of graduate certificates will coincide with the August, December and May graduations at the University of Kansas.

Graduate certificates are not recognized by a diploma or any campus-wide and School recognition ceremony.

Completion of a graduate certificate is not a guarantee of licensure or endorsement of any kind.  It is each student’s responsibility to determine the licensure and endorsement requirements in his or her state and to apply for the licenses or endorsements necessary for his or her career goals.

View the current graduate certificate policies and processes.

View the current policy on eligibility and admission to a graduate certificate program. A current list of all certificate programs is available on the KU Academics page.

Master's Degree Programs

Master’s degrees are granted on satisfactory completion of not less than 1 academic year, or its equivalent, of graduate study. Broadly, the School provides 4 options for the master’s degree with specific requirements set by each program and department. 

• The thesis option, which requires an oral defense (minimum 30 graduate credit hours of study);
• The project or portfolio option (minimum 30 graduate credit hours of study); and
•  The examination option (minimum 36 graduate credit hours of study);
•  Coursework only option - culminating in a capstone course (students will work with the department as to how many credit hours are required).

At least 20 of the credit hours required for the thesis and project option master’s programs must be in regular course work, as contrasted with independent study and similar enrollments. Students pursuing the 36-hour examination program option must have 26 hours in regular course work.

Master of Arts

A candidate for the Master of Arts (MA) degree completes work both in education and in a teaching area (other than physical education). Students may choose the thesis, project/portfolio or examination option to earn this degree.  A  minimum of 30 hours of graduate credit is required for the thesis and project/portfolio options and a minimum of 36 hours is required for the examination option. No fewer than 10 credit hours and no more than 15 credit hours must be earned in the teaching area. Currently, the School of Education and Human Sciences only offers one Master of Arts degree in Curriculum & Instruction with an emphasis in Teaching English as a Second Language.

The MA candidate may complete a thesis in the concentration by enrolling in Master’s Thesis (6 hours maximum credit applicable to degree requirements) or complete the project/portfolio option by enrolling in Master’s Project (4 hours maximum applicable to degree requirements).  Students may also pursue the written examination option (36 hours of coursework applicable to degree requirements). Check with the Curriculum and Teaching department for specific requirements for this program.

Master of Science (Counseling Psychology)

A candidate for the degree of Master of Science in Counseling Psychology (MS) earns a concentration in mental health counseling. A minimum of 60 credit hours is required for this degree, about 50 of which are prescribed, with the rest made up of electives approved by the student's advisor.  The candidate must complete a Master's Thesis (3 hours maximum credit applicable to degree requirements), or complete a Master's Project (3 hours applicable to degree requirements), or complete a written comprehensive examination.  Check with the Educational Psychology department for specific requirements for each option.

Master of Science in Education

The Master of Science in Education (MSE) is offered in several departments, some with specific concentrations. A minimum of 30 credit hours is required.    

The MSE candidate may complete a thesis in the concentration by enrolling in Master’s Thesis (6 hours maximum credit applicable to degree requirements) or complete the project option by enrolling in Master’s Project (4 hours maximum applicable to degree requirements).  Students may also pursue the written examination option (36 hours of coursework applicable to degree requirements). Some programs offer the option to complete the degree through coursework only; these programs offer a culminating capstone course to complete the degree. Check with the department for specific program graduation requirements. 

Requirements for all Master's Degrees

Students must acquaint themselves thoroughly with departmental requirements for the degree, which may be in addition to general requirements and those of the School of Education and Human Sciences. Consistent with Graduate Studies’ general regulations, it is the student’s responsibility to know and observe all university, school, department, and academic program regulations and procedures relating to the graduate program.

In no case will a regulation be waived or an exception be granted because a student pleads ignorance of, or contends that he or she was not informed of requirements, regulations, procedures, or deadlines. Petitions for other reasons may be accepted.  Consult with your department and/or advisor for information on this process.

Responsibility for following all policies and meeting all requirements and deadlines rests with the student.

All master’s programs require a graduate class in social science research methods (i.e. EPSY 715), successfully completed during the first 12 hours.

Students are required to make satisfactory progress towards their degree as determined by the faculty in their department and may be placed on probation or dismissed for failure to do so.

All graduate students enrolled in master’s programs must be enrolled the semester they complete master’s degree requirements. Master’s students who complete degree requirements during the first week of summer session or within the first two weeks of the fall or spring semester are not required to be enrolled for that term unless they were not enrolled during the previous semester.  These dates can be verified on the Graduate School calendar.

Master's Program Time Constraints

Normal expectations are that most master’s degrees are typically completed in two years of full-time study. However, master’s degree students are allowed seven years for completion of all degree requirements assuming satisfactory progress.

In cases in which compelling reasons or circumstances recommend a one-year extension, the Graduate Division, on recommendation of the department/committee, has authority to grant the extension. In cases where more than eight years are requested, the School of Education and Human Sciences Associate Dean for Graduate Studies considers petitions for further extensions and, where evidence of continuous progress, currency of knowledge, and other reasons are compelling, may grant them.

Some departments may have more stringent rulings about time restrictions. Students should ask about the policy in effect in the department in which they plan to study. View the current Lawrence and Edwards Campus policy on master's program time constraints.

Continuous Enrollment

Students are expected to maintain continuous enrollment (fall & spring) while in their academic program.  

A student may petition the Graduate Division through the department for a leave of absence if they experience extraordinary circumstances (e.g. cases of illness, emergency, financial hardship, military leave), to pursue family responsibilities, or to pursue full-time activities related to long-range professional goals. Appropriate documentation related to these extraordinary circumstances may be requested from the student directly.  Evidence of progress towards degree will also be a determining factor in the decision to grant a leave of absence. If approved, a leave of absence is typically granted for one year, with the possibility of extension upon request. The time taken for a leave of absence does not count against the student’s time to degree. However, after an absence of five years, a master's candidate loses status as such and must apply for readmission to the program and the Graduate Division.

If a student has been actively enrolled in a graduate program and has not applied for a leave of absence, but has not been enrolled for one academic year, they will be discontinued from their program.  If they wish to return, they will need permission from the department and will need to submit the Permit to Re-Enroll form and must reapply for graduate admission.  

Transfer Credit

The transfer credit option allows master’s students to count graduate coursework completed at a regionally-accredited institution toward their KU degree. Students can transfer up to 9 credit hours toward their master’s degrees.  The department, advisor, School of Education and Human Sciences, and Dean of Graduate Studies must approve the transfer request. The course(s) and grade(s) will then appear on the student's KU transcript as the KU course equivalent.

Some restrictions apply to what non-KU courses can be counted toward a KU master’s degree:

• Only courses taken for graduate credit and graded B or higher (3.0 on a 4.0 scale or higher) can be transferred.
• The courses in question cannot have counted toward any previously completed undergraduate or graduate degrees.
• Courses must be current (taken within the last 7 years).
• KU does not accept transfer credit for educational institutes, workshops, or work/life experience.
• Courses must be approved by the student’s department as fulfilling a specific, regular degree requirement (including elective coursework) and should be equal in rigor to KU's graduate coursework, as reflected in the course description and syllabus.

To begin the transfer process, students should contact their departments to submit the required transfer materials, including an official transcript reflecting the courses from the other institution to be transferred in, as well as descriptions and/or syllabi for the courses in question.  The department, advisor, and department chair will then determine whether the course may count for KU credit and, if so, what KU course is equivalent. The Associate Dean for Graduate Studies makes the final approval of transfer credits.

Count Toward Degree

 In the count toward degree process, a student may be allowed to count graduate coursework taken as a graduate non-degree seeking student at KU toward a graduate degree.  No more than 9 credit hours may be counted in this way, assuming the degree-granting department endorses the request and the courses in question meet the University's criteria for transfer credit as specified under the Transfer Credit description above. The student must contact the department to complete a Count Toward Degree form, which must then be submitted to the School of Education and Human Sciences Graduate Associate Dean for review and approval.  If the form is approved, the School of Education and Human Sciences and the department will include the counted courses when verifying that degree requirements have been met. 

Students should be advised that graduate coursework taken as a non-degree-seeking student already counts into the calculation of the student's graduate GPA, but the count towards degree form is still required for the coursework to count toward completion of degree requirements.  The change is not otherwise reflected on the student's transcript. 

With the exception of coursework completed via a pre-approved co-enrollment arrangement, graduate coursework completed as an undergraduate degree-seeking or undergraduate non-degree seeking student may not be counted toward a graduate degree at KU.

Graduate courses taken at KU may count toward both a graduate degree and graduate certificate(s) as long as the student is admitted and enrolled in the intended program prior to completion of the last required course. If the courses were taken as a non-degree seeking student, a Count Toward Degree form must be submitted prior to approval for graduation or approval of the certificate.

Reduced Hour Degree

Kansas Board of Regents policy defines 30 hours as the minimum for master's degrees at KU.  Departments may petition for a reduced-hour master's degree for individual students.  A reduction in hours is distinct from a transfer of credit and is reserved for those students especially well-prepared to complete a graduate-level degree and who are able to maintain a superior grade point average.  If approved, a student will be allowed to complete his or her degree by enrolling in up to 6 fewer hours of graduate credit than is typically required for that degree.  No coursework is transferred and no modifications to the transcript are made. This policy is enacted in rare circumstances.

To find out more about reduced-hour degrees, please contact your department directly.  The department must support the request and the School of Education and Human Sciences Graduate Associate Dean must approve it before the reduced degree requirements will be granted.

Minimum KU Hours

In all cases, a minimum of 15 credits toward a master’s degree must be earned in graduate coursework at the University of Kansas.

Master's Final exam, Thesis, Project, OR Capstone Course

A final general examination, defense of the thesis, completion of the master’s project (or portfolio) in the major subject or capstone course is required of all candidates for the Master of Arts, Master of Science or Master of Science in Education. The degree program and the Graduate Division should ascertain that the graduate student is in good academic standing (3.0 or higher grade-point average) and not have a grade of I (incomplete) or a grade of WG (Withhold Grade) in any course, before scheduling the final general examination, thesis defense, project or culminating capstone.

At the option of the department, the examination may be oral or written, or partly oral and partly written. In some departments, passing a written examination is a necessary preliminary to taking the oral examination by which success or failure is judged. Master’s examinations are administered by a committee of at least three members of the Graduate Faculty. Students work closely with their department to determine committee composition. The examination is held during the semester of the student’s final enrollment in course work.

The thesis/project defense should be held when they have been substantially completed and are in the final semester of their enrollment. The department’s request to schedule the general examination must be made on or before the date set by the Graduate Division, a minimum of two weeks before the examination date.

Students earning a master’s thesis degree must have completed at least one hour of thesis enrollment before the master’s degree may be awarded. See the Graduate Studies website for information and requirements related to submitting the thesis electronically.

View the current Lawrence and Edwards Campus policy on master's final examinations.

Master’s Student Oral Exam Committee Composition (thesis only)

Students who complete a thesis are required to hold an oral exam.

If there is an oral component of the exam, attendance is governed by the Graduate Student Oral Exam Attendance policy.

When the master’s student final examination is partly or entirely oral (i.e., thesis defense), the oral portion of the examination must be conducted by a committee that meets the following conditions:

1. Committees are composed of at least three (3) voting members;
2. All committee members must be members of the Graduate Faculty authorized to serve on master's examinations;
3. The committee chair must also be authorized to chair master's examinations; and
4. The majority of committee members must be tenured or tenure-track faculty in the candidate’s department or program of study. 
   • Tenured and tenure-track faculty who are appointed as courtesy faculty within a program or department are considered to be faculty of that program or department for the purposes of committee composition.
   • Program-level exceptions to allow career/specialty faculty with continuing appointments in the home department to count toward this majority requirement may be requested. Approved exceptions are noted below in Exclusions or Special Circumstances.
   • As long as the majority requirement is met, additional committee members may be, but need not be, members of the candidate’s department or program.

As long as the conditions above are met, the committee may include more than three members.

The master’s committee chair must be tenured/tenure-track faculty holding regular or dissertation graduate faculty status in the candidate’s department/program of study. While master’s committees are not required to have a co-chair, the student or the committee members may decide to select a co-chair. The co-chair can hold any graduate faculty status.

Substitutions of the committee chair (and/or co-chair) are prohibited after the committee has been approved by the Graduate Division of the school or college. If a committee chair (and/or co-chair) needs to be replaced, the revised committee must be approved by the Graduate Division of the school or college in advance of the exam.

Substitutions of the committee members are permitted as long as the new members hold regular or dissertation graduate faculty status. Additional members can be added after the committee has been approved by the Graduate Division of the school or College, but these additions must be approved by the Graduate Division of the school or College in advance of the exam.

All members of the exam committee must participate in graduate student oral examinations. One (1) or more members, as well as the student, may participate via video-conferencing technology. If a committee member does not arrive or appear, the exam may not begin, and if a committee member leaves, the exam may not proceed. Oral examinations that do not meet these attendance requirements are not valid. All members of the examining committee must be aware of what transpires during the examination. All committee members must be able to participate fully in the discussion with the student and each other. All committee members shall have full access to all relevant exam materials. For more information see:  Graduate Student Oral Exam Attendance.

MASTER’S STUDENT COMMITTEE COMPOSITION for written examination, and project/portfolio (No Oral component)

The School of Education and Human Sciences requires a committee made up of 3 faculty members with graduate faculty status to serve on written examination and project/portfolio committees. The composition of the committee is determined by the department and may include any combination of tenure track faculty or full time teaching faculty and professors of the practice with pre-approved graduate faculty status. A majority of the committee members must be full time faculty from the department. The third member may hold any graduate faculty status. 

GRADING FOR THESIS AND PROJECT

Master's students who choose the thesis or project option will be graded using the grading scale established in USRR 2.2.5. It evaluates a student's thesis/project as demonstrating satisfactory progress (SP), limited progress (LP), or no progress (NP)  A grade of SP must be assigned for a student's final semester of enrollment in thesis/project. The SP indicates that the final product was of satisfactory quality to earn the degree.

If a student earns a grade of NP in thesis/project hours any semester, the student will be placed on academic probation for the following semester until they receive a LP or SP for thesis/project hours.  Students are encouraged to meet with their advisor to discuss their progress. Earning consecutive semesters or LP may also place a student on academic probation. Students who do not make satisfactory progress may be discontinued from their program at any time.

If a student earns a grade of NP (equivalent to grade of F or No Credit) in master's project or thesis any semester, those hours will not count towards their graduation requirement.  A student must enroll in those credit hours again the following semester and earn at least a LP for them to apply to their degree requirements.  Students must have a SP in the final semester of their enrollment of this milestone.  

Master's Thesis Submission

When the master’s candidate has passed the final oral examination and the members of the committee have signed the thesis, a title page and acceptance page with original signatures must be delivered to the Graduate Division of the school in which the student’s program resides so that completion of degree requirements may be officially certified. As a requirement of graduation, the candidate must publish the thesis electronically and pay all applicable fees. Learn more about the electronic submission and publication process here.

Theses will be made available through UMI/Proquest and KU ScholarWorks, unless there is an embargo in place or special circumstances pertain as outlined in the KU Embargo policy.

Specialist in Education-School Psychology

The Specialist in Education program consists of 2 years of full-time graduate study (about 70 semester credit hours) followed by a third year of internship.  Check with the Educational Psychology department for specific requirements.

Doctoral Degree Programs

Doctor of Philosophy with a Major in Education (Ph.D.)

The Doctor of Philosophy degree is awarded for mastering a field of scholarship, learning the methods of investigation appropriate to that field, and completing a substantial piece of original research. The degree is intended to produce highly competent scholars who are prepared to be university faculty members and other professionals, to conduct and evaluate original research, to teach at the college/university level, and to provide discipline-related leadership to the field and to the public. The Ph.D. is offered in all School of Education and Human Sciences departments.

Although the courses and the research leading to the Ph.D. are necessarily specialized, the attainment of this degree should not be an isolated event in the enterprise of learning. The aspirant for the Ph.D. is expected to be a well-educated person and should have acquired a broad base of general knowledge, both as preparation for more advanced work and as a means of knowing how the concentration is related to other fields of human thought.

Advisory Committee and Program Plan

A student admitted to study for the Ph.D. is known as an aspirant for the degree until the comprehensive examination has been passed. After passing this examination, the student is known as a candidate for the degree.

Each student must have an advisory committee consisting of at least three members of the Graduate Faculty. One member of the committee serves as the chair. The student meets with this committee before completing 12 hours of course work to plan and formally approve an appropriate program leading to the Ph.D. The approved program plan, signed by members of the committee and the student, is placed in the student’s file in the School of Education and Human Sciences Graduate Division office.

Requirements

Students must acquaint themselves thoroughly with departmental requirements for the degree, which may be in addition to general requirements and those of the School of Education and Human Sciences. Consistent with Graduate Studies’ general regulations, it is the student’s responsibility to know and observe all university, school, department, and academic program regulations and procedures relating to the graduate program.

In no case will a regulation be waived or an exception be granted because a student pleads ignorance of, or contends that he or she was not informed of requirements, regulations, procedures, or deadlines. Responsibility for following all policies and meeting all requirements and deadlines rests with the student.

Students are required to make satisfactory progress towards their degree as determined by the faculty in their department and may be discontinued for failure to do so.

Time Limit-Maximum Tenure

After being admitted to a doctoral program at KU, students who are making satisfactory progress must complete all degree requirements in eight years.  Students who complete the master’s degree at KU and subsequently begin doctoral studies have a maximum total enrolled time of 10 years to complete both degrees.  Normal expectations, however, are that most master’s degrees (excluding some professional terminal degrees) should be completed in two years of full-time study, and both master’s and doctorate in six years of full-time study.   Some graduate degree programs may have more stringent time restrictions.  Students should inquire about the policy in effect in the department in which they plan to study.

In cases in which compelling circumstances exist, students can petition for a one-year extension of their time limit with the support of their advisory committee. Doctoral students requesting a time extension must have an approved dissertation proposal on file prior to being granted the extension.  In rare cases, students can request a second extension with support from their dissertation chair and committee and a clear plan for how they will complete the final degree requirements. All extensions must be approved by the Graduate Division in the School of Education and Human Sciences.

Under normal circumstances, the doctoral candidacy period between passage of the oral comprehensive examination and the final dissertation defense must last no longer than 5 years. If a student took the oral comprehensive examination more than 5 years prior to the dissertation defense, a re-evaluation of the student’s candidacy status is necessary to verify recency of knowledge. Re-evaluation of the student’s candidacy status can include retaking the comprehensive written or oral examination or through some other means approved by the chair and the dissertation committee.

Transfer Credit

Because general requirements do not specify a minimum number of hours for the degree, no transfer of credits is allowed. Departments do, however, consider relevant prior graduate work in setting up programs of study leading to the doctorate.

Continuous Enrollment

Students are expected to maintain continuous enrollment (fall & spring) while in their academic program.  Summer enrollment is optional unless the student is completing a milestone (i.e., comprehensive exam, proposal defense, or dissertation defense).  See below for post-comprehensive examination enrollment policy.

A student may petition the Graduate Division through the department for a leave of absence during either the pre- or post-comprehensive examination period if they experience extraordinary circumstances (e.g. cases of illness, emergency, financial hardship, military leave), to pursue family responsibilities, or to pursue full-time activities related to long-range professional goals. Appropriate documentation related to these extraordinary circumstances may be requested from the student directly.  Evidence of progress towards degree will also be a determining factor in the decision to grant a leave of absence.  If approved, a leave of absence is typically granted for one year, with the possibility of extension upon request. The time taken for a leave of absence does not count against the student’s time to degree. However, after an absence of five years, a doctoral aspirant or candidate loses status as such and must apply for readmission to the program and the Graduate Division.

If a student has been actively enrolled in a graduate program and has not applied for a leave of absence, but has not been enrolled for one academic year, they will be discontinued from their program.  If they wish to return, they will need permission from the department and will need to submit the Permit to Re-Enroll form and must reapply for graduate admission.  

Residence Requirement

The general purpose of the residency requirement is to allow for a concentrated period of immersion in formal study, and the close association of the aspirant with faculty, graduate student colleagues, and other university resources. Because the Ph.D. is a scholarly, research-oriented degree, residency is met through academic involvement in the graduate program. 

Residency must be completed and the residency agreement filed prior to comprehensive examinations and cannot include dissertation hours.

The residency requirement is not measured merely in hours of enrollment or of credit in courses counted towards a degree, but should also include academic and professional activities appropriate to the field of study (i.e., engaging with a professor in research, publishing, presenting at a conference, writing grants, etc.).  These activities should be arranged with your advisor.  Though they are not part of the formal residency approval process, they are an expectation of the Ph.D. degree.

The formal residency can be met in 2 ways: 

1. Students who hold a 50% Graduate Assistant, Graduate Teaching Assistant or a Graduate Research Assistant (GA/GTA/GRA) position during residency, need to enroll in two consecutive semesters following one of the three patterns outlined below:

• Spring enrollment of 6 credit hours and fall enrollment of 6 credit hours;
• Spring enrollment of 6 credit hours and summer enrollment of 3 credit hours;
• Summer enrollment of 3 credit hours and fall enrollment of 6 credit hours.

2.  Students without a 50% GA, GTA or GRA position during residency, need to enroll in two consecutive semesters following one of the three patterns outlined below:

• Spring enrollment of 9 credit hours and fall enrollment of 9 credit hours;
• Spring enrollment of 9 credit hours and summer enrollment of 6 credit hours;
• Summer enrollment of 6 credit hours and fall enrollment of 9 credit hours.

If a student cannot meet the above residency enrollment requirements, they should meet with their advisor and develop a plan to meet the spirit of the residency requirement.  Such a plan must be approved in advance through departmental and School petition processes. These exceptions will not be automatically approved.

The student, with the help of the advisory committee, must file in the Graduate Division office, a residence plan congruent with School of Education and Human Sciences requirements before the beginning of the formal residence period. This plan may be filed as a part of the overall program plan.

Residency must be completed prior to comprehensive exams and may not include dissertation and college teaching hours

Program Area

In applying for doctoral study, students specify a program area in which formal classes and research work are to be done and in which they expect to become a scholar. A minimum of 36 credit hours is required in the major area, excluding credits used to fulfill research skills and the dissertation requirements. The doctoral core requirement (EDUC 800) may be included as part of the major if it is consistent with the student’s area of study and if doing so is supported by the student’s department and doctoral committee.

Fifty-percent of the student’s major must be 800-level or above (18 credit hours). The program must include at least 6 credit hours outside of the student’s home department, not including courses required to fulfill the student’s research skills component or the doctoral core (EDUC 800).

Course work completed at KU or at another institution as part of a previous graduate degree, cannot be used to meet the credit hour requirements for this degree.

Upon admission to doctoral study, students who have not completed a research and evaluation methods course for the education master’s degree must take the course, e.g. EPSY 715 , during the first doctoral enrollment. The course taken to fulfill this requirement, whether taken at KU or at another institution, does not count toward any doctoral requirements.

Core Requirement

All students are required to complete a Responsible Conduct of Research course as specified by their program.

The course, EDUC 800: Education as a Field of Scholarship, is required for all Ph.D. students except for those in HSES (requires HSES 990), Counseling Psychology (requires EPSY 880) and School Psychology (EPSY 880).

Teaching Experience

Some programs require students to satisfactorily complete at least 1 semester of supervised college teaching experience under the direction of a KU faculty member. This may be completed during the semester in which the student takes the comprehensive examination.  This experience does not count towards the 36 credit hour requirement.  Documentation of the student’s supervised college teaching experience or enrollment in the departmental college teaching course must be submitted to the Graduate Division office.  Contact your program for specifics. 

Research Skills

Before being admitted to the comprehensive examination, the student must have completed the research skills requirements established for the degree. Specific research skills requirements vary with department and program, but all reflect the expectation of a significant research skills component distinct from the dissertation but strongly supportive of it. The Ph.D. research skills requirement includes completion of at least 12 graduate hours relevant to the aspirant’s research: statistics, measurement and assessment, qualitative methods, and historical and philosophical methods.  When the aspirant has particularly strong research skills, up to 6 hours, excluding credit hours for the required master’s course in research methods and evaluation, whether taken at KU or elsewhere, may be waived using prior B level or higher graduate course work upon the approval of their advisory committee. At least 9 of the 12 credit hours must be 800 level or above. The 12 credit hours cannot include EPSY 715 or its program equivalent.

Comprehensive Examination

When a Ph.D. aspirant has completed the required course work at a satisfactory level and has completed the research skills requirement and all other departmental requirements prerequisite to the comprehensive examination, the department asks the School of Education and Human Sciences Graduate Division office to schedule the comprehensive examination. The graduate student must be in good academic standing (3.0 or higher grade-point average) and not have a grade of I (incomplete) or WG (waiting grade) in any course, before scheduling their comprehensive examination.  The examination request must be made to the School's Graduate Division Office at least 3 weeks before the date of the written portion of the examination. Doctoral students in Counseling Psychology and School Psychology should refer to their department for timing of the comprehensive examination.

Students must be enrolled when they take the exam.  During the semester in which the student takes their comprehensive examination, the student can be enrolled in no more than 6 credits of required regularly scheduled coursework.  All required research skills courses must be completed prior to the semester in which the student takes their comprehensive examination.  These course requirements can be petitioned under exceptional circumstances.  

The examining committee must consist of at least 4 members (usually including the advisory committee). All must be graduate faculty, and 2 of the 4 must be tenured or tenure-track faculty from the student’s home department. The committee chair must be authorized to chair doctoral examinations. Tenured and tenure-track faculty who are appointed as courtesy faculty within a program are considered to be faculty of that program for the purposes of committee composition.  As long as the majority requirement is met, additional committee members may be, but need not need be, a member of the candidates unit or program. One member must meet the requirements for serving as Graduate Studies Representative.  For more information visit the KU Policy library:  Doctoral Student Oral Exam Committee Composition, Graduate Studies Representative on Doctoral Exam Committees and Graduate Faculty Appointments.

The comprehensive examination consists of both written and oral parts and covers the major area pursued by the student, as well as the minor area, if one is required by the student's program. The student passes the comprehensive examination if a majority of the official examining committee (including the chair) approves the student’s performance. The grade on this examination is Honors, Satisfactory, or Unsatisfactory. An aspirant who receives a grade of Unsatisfactory may be allowed, upon the recommendation of the department, to repeat it, but it may not be taken more than 3 times. The aspirant may not repeat the oral examination until at least 90 days have elapsed since the last unsuccessful attempt or by petition.

Students in Ph.D. education programs must pass both written and oral components of the comprehensive examination. Satisfactory performance on the written component must be attained before the oral component may be attempted. To fail either component is to fail the examination. All 4 members of the student’s comprehensive examination committee are involved in the evaluation process. The written component of the comprehensive examination, like the oral, focuses on advanced knowledge in the major and any appropriate related areas. To pass, the student must be evaluated as having responded satisfactorily to questions in the major areas. If a student fails any portion of the written comprehensive component, a failure of the examination is recorded. The examining committee determines if the entire written component of the examination, or only the failed portion(s), must be retaken. The entire written component lasts a minimum of 16 hours. If a student passes the written component but fails the oral, the examining committee determines if both components or only the oral must be repeated.

All members of the exam committee must participate in graduate student oral examinations. One (1) or more members, as well as the student, may participate via video-conferencing technology. If a committee member does not arrive or appear, the exam may not begin, and if a committee member leaves, the exam may not proceed. Oral examinations that do not meet these attendance requirements are not valid. All members of the examining committee must be aware of what transpires during the examination. All committee members must be able to participate fully in the discussion with the student and each other. All committee members shall have full access to all relevant exam materials. For more information see:  Graduate Student Oral Exam Attendance.

Dissertation Proposal Committee and Proposal

Upon passing the comprehensive examination, the aspirant becomes a candidate for the Ph.D.

Students are required to present a dissertation proposal.  The dissertation proposal must be read by a minimum of 3 dissertation committee members. One copy of the approved dissertation proposal title sheet, signed by these members of the dissertation committee, along with an electronic copy of the proposal must be submitted to the School of Education and Human Sciences Graduate Division office.

Post-comprehensive Examination Continuous Enrollment

After passing the comprehensive examination, the candidate must be continuously enrolled (fall and spring, and summer if completing a milestone) until the degree is completed. Students must enroll for at least 6 hours a semester (fall and spring) until they reach 18 post-comprehensive hours or all degree requirements are completed (whichever comes first).  At least one of the 6 hours must be in dissertation every term until the dissertation is defended and uploaded.  The other hours can be in non-required dissertation related coursework and/or field experience/internship as required by the program.  If the dissertation is not completed after 18 hours, then the candidate must enroll in 1 hour of dissertation per term (fall and spring) until they have passed their final oral defense and uploaded their dissertation.  Students who have completed the dissertation but still have remaining degree requirements (i.e., internship) must continue to enroll in at least one credit hour each semester (fall and spring) until all degree requirements are met.  

Summer enrollment in dissertation hours is required only when students complete major milestones in the summer (i.e., comprehensive examination, proposal meeting, dissertation defense) or require significant faculty time. If students are completing a milestone in the summer prior to earning 18 hours of post-comprehensive exam enrollment, they must enroll in at least 3 dissertation hours in the summer.  After completing the 18 hour requirement, summer enrollment requires 1 dissertation hour of enrollment.

Post-comprehensive enrollment may include enrollment during the semester in which the comprehensive examination has been passed. Dissertation hours taken during the semester in which the student passes the comprehensive examination count towards the 18 hour requirement, as does enrollment in field experience/internship. Other required coursework taken this semester does not count towards the 18 hours. Students who do not pass the examination cannot apply dissertation hours to degree requirements. Dissertation hours taken in semesters prior to passing the comprehensive examination will not count towards the post-comprehensive continuous enrollment requirement.

Non-required coursework that is related to the dissertation and/or internship/field experience credits taken after the comprehensive examination semester may be counted towards the 18 hours post-comprehensive examination requirement. However, students are required to enroll in at least 1 dissertation hour per term (fall and spring) until passing the final oral defense and uploading the dissertation.

Check with the department regarding specific post-comprehensive enrollment requirements.

Candidates may petition the School of Education and Human Sciences Graduate Division for a leave of absence during the period between the comprehensive examination and the final dissertation oral under extraordinary circumstances outlined above.

Dissertation

The candidate must present a dissertation showing the results of original research. The dissertation for the Ph.D. considers applied or basic concerns and results in conclusions that have broad theoretical implications. The format and style of a student’s dissertation is left to the discretion of the student, the advisor, and the dissertation committee, but format and style options may be constrained or dictated by Graduate Studies policies. The dissertation is prepared under the direction of the dissertation committee. The minimum number of post-comprehensive dissertation hours in the Ph.D. program is 18 or until done. Instructions regarding the proper form of the final document may be obtained from the School of Education and Human Sciences Graduate Division office.

Grading for Dissertation Hours

Dissertation hours are graded using the grading scale established in USRR 2.2.5. It evaluates a student's dissertation as demonstrating satisfactory progress (SP), limited progress (LP), or no progress (NP)  A grade of SP must be assigned for a student's final semester of enrollment in their dissertation. The SP indicates that the final product was of satisfactory quality to earn the degree.

If a student earns a grade of NP in dissertation hours any semester, the student will be placed on academic probation for the following semester until they receive a LP or SP.   Students are encouraged to meet with their advisor to discuss their progress.  Earning consecutive semesters with the grade of LP may also place a student on academic probation.  Students who do not make satisfactory progress may be discontinued from their program at any time.

If a student earns a grade of NP (equivalent to grade of F or No Credit) in dissertation, those hours will not count towards their 18 hour post-comprehensive enrollment requirement.  A student must enroll in those dissertation credit hours again the following semester and earn at least a LP for them to apply to their degree requirements.  Students must have a SP in the final semester of their enrollment of this milestone.  

Final Oral Examination

When the dissertation has been tentatively accepted by the dissertation committee, and approved as ready for defense, the chair of the dissertation committee must notify the department of the date and time of the proposed defense, committee members, and dissertation title.  This notification must be made at least three weeks before the desired defense date. 

The examining committee for the final oral exam must consist of at least 4 members (usually including the advisory committee). All must be graduate faculty, and 2 of the 4 must be tenured or tenure-track faculty from the student’s home department. The committee chair must be authorized to chair doctoral examinations. Tenured and tenure-track faculty who are appointed as courtesy faculty within a program are considered to be faculty of that program for the purposes of committee composition.  As long as the majority requirement is met, additional committee members may be, but need not need be, a member of the candidates unit or program. One member must meet the requirements for serving as Graduate Studies Representative.  For more information visit the KU Policy library:  Doctoral Student Oral Exam Committee Composition, Graduate Studies Representative on Doctoral Exam Committees and Graduate Faculty Appointments.

The examination covers the dissertation and the candidate’s concentration area. The candidate passes the final examination if a majority of the official examining committee members (including the chair) approves the candidate’s performance. When the final oral examination has been passed, the dissertation committee reports a grade of Honors, Satisfactory, or Unsatisfactory. Candidates who fail the final oral examination may be allowed to repeat it upon the recommendation of the dissertation committee.  

It is common, after the dissertation final defense for the student to be asked to make amendments to the dissertation prior to final submission.

Dissertation Copies 

When the final oral examination has been passed and the dissertation has been signed by the members of the dissertation committee, a title page and acceptance page with original signatures and ETD Release form, submission of the dissertation to Proquest, and other paperwork are to be delivered to the Graduate Division so that completion of degree requirements may be officially certified.

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

The Doctor of Education is a professional degree intended primarily for practitioners in education rather than for researchers, for whom the Ph.D. is the appropriate degree plan. The Ed.D. is offered in the department of Curriculum & Teaching (curriculum and instruction), and the department of Educational Leadership & Policy Studies (educational administration and higher education).

Advisory Committee and Program Plan

A student admitted to study for the Ed.D. is considered an aspirant for the degree until the comprehensive examination has been passed. After passing this examination, the student is considered a candidate for the degree. Each student must have an advisory committee of at least 3 members of the Graduate Faculty from within the department. This internal department majority may include one non-tenure track faculty member from within the department. One member of the committee serves as the chair.  The approved program plan, signed by members of the committee and the student, should be completed in the first 12 hours of the student's enrollment.  It is placed in the student’s file in the School of Education and Human Sciences Graduate Division office.

Requirements

Students must acquaint themselves thoroughly with departmental requirements for the degree, which may be in addition to general requirements and those of the School of Education and Human Sciences. Consistent with Graduate Studies’ general regulations, it is the student’s responsibility to know and observe all university, school, department, and academic program regulations and procedures relating to the graduate program.

In no case will a regulation be waived or an exception be granted because a student pleads ignorance of, or contends that he or she was not informed of requirements, regulations, procedures, or deadlines.

Responsibility for following all policies and meeting all requirements and deadlines rests with the student.

Students are required to make satisfactory progress towards their degree as determined by the faculty in their department and may be put on probation or dismissed for failure to do so.

Time Limit-Maximum Tenure

After being admitted to a doctoral program at KU, students who are making satisfactory progress must complete all degree requirements in eight years.  Students who complete the master’s degree at KU and subsequently begin doctoral studies have a maximum total enrolled time of 10 years to complete both degrees.  Normal expectations, however, are that most master’s degrees (excluding some professional terminal degrees) should be completed in two years of full-time study, and both master’s and doctorate in six years of full-time study.   Some graduate degree programs may have more stringent time restrictions.  Students should inquire about the policy in effect in the department in which they plan to study.

In cases in which compelling circumstances exist, students can petition for a one-year extension of their time limit with the support of their advisory committee.   Doctoral students requesting a time extension must have an approved dissertation proposal on file prior to being granted the extension.  In rare cases, students can request a second extension with support from their dissertation chair and committee and a clear plan for how they will complete the final degree requirements. All extensions must be approved by the Graduate Division in the School of Education and Human Sciences.

Under normal circumstances, the doctoral candidacy period between passage of the oral comprehensive examination and the final dissertation defense must last no longer than 5 years. If a student took the oral comprehensive examination more than 5 years prior to the dissertation defense, a re-evaluation of the student’s candidacy status is necessary to verify recency of knowledge. Reevaluation of the student’s candidacy status can include retaking the comprehensive written or oral examination or through some other means approved by the chair and the dissertation committee.

Transfer Credit

Because general requirements do not specify a minimum number of hours for the degree, no transfer of credits is allowed. Departments do, however, consider relevant prior graduate work in setting up programs of study leading to the doctorate.

Continuous Enrollment

Students are expected to maintain continuous enrollment (fall & spring) while in their academic program.  Summer enrollment is optional unless there is a required course or if the student is completing a milestone (i.e., comprehensive exam, proposal defense, or dissertation defense).  

A student may petition the Graduate Division through the department for a leave of absence during either the pre- or post-comprehensive examination period if they experience extraordinary circumstances (e.g. cases of illness, emergency, financial hardship, military leave), to pursue family responsibilities, or to pursue full-time activities related to long-range professional goals. Appropriate documentation related to these extraordinary circumstances may be requested from the student directly.  Evidence of progress towards degree will also be a determining factor in the decision to grant a leave of absence. If approved, a leave of absence is typically granted for one year, with the possibility of extension upon request. The time taken for a leave of absence does not count against the student’s time to degree. However, after an absence of five years, a doctoral aspirant or candidate loses status as such and must apply for readmission to the program and the Graduate Division.

If a student has been actively enrolled in a graduate program and has not applied for a leave of absence, but has not been enrolled for one academic year, they will be discontinued from their program.  If they wish to return, they will need permission from the department and will need to submit the Permit to Re-Enroll form and must reapply for graduate admission.  

Period of Continuous Study

The Ed.D. period of continuous study requirement is fulfilled according to its purpose and with maximal benefit to the doctoral aspirant.  It is recognized that the typical Ed.D. student works full-time while enrolling in their doctoral program.

In all options it has been recognized that continuous involvement in formal study and the close association with faculty and graduate student colleagues, which are the general goals of this requirement may be enhanced, particularly for the professional/ practitioner degree aspirant, by related professional activities—if such experiences are directly related, contributory to and coordinated with on-campus courses and research.

The period of continuous study must be completed and form filed prior to comprehensive examinations and cannot include dissertation hours.

The following is required:

Enrollment in two consecutive semesters following one of the three patterns outlined below

• Spring enrollment of 6 credit hours and fall enrollment of 6 credit hours;
• Spring enrollment of 6 credit hours and summer enrollment of 3 credit hours;
• Summer enrollment of 3 credit hours and fall enrollment of 6 credit hours.

The student, with the help of the advisory committee, must file in the Graduate Division office a period of continuous study plan congruent with School of Education and Human Sciences requirements before the beginning of the formal period of continuous study.  This plan may be filed as a part of the overall program plan.  This policy is petitionable as long as the aspirant is continuously enrolled for 3 semesters in a row.

Program Area

All candidates for the Ed.D. must complete a minimum of 27 credit hours in their major area, excluding credits used to fulfill Research Skills, Dissertation, and the doctoral practicum requirements. Coursework completed at KU or at another institution as part of a previous graduate degree, cannot be used to meet the credit hour requirements for this degree.

Research Skills

Upon admission to doctoral study, students who have not completed a research and evaluation methods course for the education master’s degree must take the course, e.g., EPSY 715 , during the first doctoral enrollment. The course used to fulfill this requirement, whether taken at KU or at another institution, does not count toward any doctoral requirements.

Before being admitted to the comprehensive examination, students must have successfully completed the research skills requirements that demonstrate satisfactory evidence that they possess the professional research skills of advanced practitioners in their concentrations, as established for the degree. Specific research skills requirements vary with department and program, but all reflect the expectation of a significant research skills component distinct from the dissertation but strongly supportive of it.

The Ed.D research skills requirement includes completion of at least 9 graduate hours relevant to understanding, promoting and evaluating professional practice, including, statistics, assessment and evaluation, qualitative methods, and/or historical and philosophical methods.  When the aspirant has particularly strong research skills, up to 3 hours, excluding credit hours for the required master’s course in research methods and evaluation, whether taken at KU or elsewhere, may be waived using prior B level or higher graduate course work upon the approval of their advisory committee. At least 6 of the 9 credit hours must be 800 level or above. The 9 credit hours cannot include EPSY 715  or its program equivalent.

Responsible Conduct of Research

 All students must satisfy departmental and university requirements regarding the responsible conduct of research. Contact your department or program for more information about research skills and responsible scholarship, and the current requirements for Ed.D. students. Current Lawrence and Edwards Campus policies on Doctoral Research Skills and Responsible Scholarship are listed in the KU Policy Library.

Doctoral RESEARCH Practicum/Field Experience Enrollment

Ed.D. aspirants must complete a 3-credit-hour research practicum/field experience. Specific requirements for this research practicum/field experience are available from students’ departments.

Comprehensive Examination

When an Ed.D. aspirant has completed the required course work at a satisfactory level and has completed the research skills requirement and all other departmental requirements prerequisite to the comprehensive examination, the department asks the School of Education and Human Sciences Graduate Division office to schedule the comprehensive examination. The graduate student must be in good academic standing (3.0 or higher grade-point average) and not have a grade of I (incomplete) or WG (waiting grade) in any course, before scheduling their comprehensive examination.  The examination request must be made to the School's Graduate Division Office at least 3 weeks before the date of the written portion of the examination. 

Students must be enrolled when they take the exam.  During the semester in which the student takes their comprehensive examination, the student can be enrolled in no more than 6 credits of required regularly scheduled coursework.  All required research skills courses must be completed prior to the semester in which the student takes their comprehensive examination.  These course requirements can be petitioned under exceptional circumstances.  

The examining committee must consist of at least 4 members (usually including the advisory committee). All must be graduate faculty, and 2 of the 4 must be tenured or tenure-track faculty from the student’s home department. The committee chair must be authorized to chair doctoral examinations. Tenured and tenure-track faculty who are appointed as courtesy faculty within a program are considered to be faculty of that program for the purposes of committee composition.  As long as the majority requirement is met, additional committee members may be, but need not need be, a member of the candidates unit or program. One member must meet the requirements for serving as Graduate Studies Representative.  For more information visit the KU Policy library:  Doctoral Student Oral Exam Committee Composition, Graduate Studies Representative on Doctoral Exam Committees and Graduate Faculty Appointments.

The comprehensive examination consists of both written and oral parts and covers the major area pursued by the student. The student passes the comprehensive examination if a majority of the official examining committee (including the chair) approves the student’s performance. The grade on this examination is Honors, Satisfactory, or Unsatisfactory. An aspirant who receives a grade of Unsatisfactory may be allowed, upon the recommendation of the department, to repeat it, but it may not be taken more than 3 times. The aspirant may not repeat the oral examination until at least 90 days have elapsed since the last unsuccessful attempt or by petition.

Students in Ed.D education programs must pass both written and oral components of the comprehensive examination. Satisfactory performance on the written component must be attained before the oral component may be attempted. To fail either component is to fail the examination. All 4 members of the student’s comprehensive examination committee are involved in the evaluation process. The written component of the comprehensive examination, like the oral focuses on the ability to relate program knowledge to tasks and problems faced by practitioners. To pass, the student must be evaluated as having responded satisfactorily to questions in the major areas. If a student fails any portion of the written comprehensive component, a failure of the examination is recorded. The examining committee determines if the entire written component of the examination, or only the failed portion(s), must be retaken. The entire written component lasts a minimum of 16 hours. If a student passes the written component but fails the oral, the examining committee determines if both components or only the oral must be repeated.

All members of the exam committee must participate in graduate student oral examinations. One (1) or more members, as well as the student, may participate via video-conferencing technology. If a committee member does not arrive or appear, the exam may not begin, and if a committee member leaves, the exam may not proceed. Oral examinations that do not meet these attendance requirements are not valid. All members of the examining committee must be aware of what transpires during the examination. All committee members must be able to participate fully in the discussion with the student and each other. All committee members shall have full access to all relevant exam materials. For more information see:  Graduate Student Oral Exam Attendance.

Dissertation Proposal Committee and Proposal

Upon passing the comprehensive examination, the aspirant becomes a candidate for the Ed.D.

A proposal is required for the doctoral degree. The dissertation proposal must be read by a minimum of 3 dissertation committee members. One copy of the approved dissertation proposal title sheet, signed by these members of the dissertation committee, along with an electronic copy of the proposal must be submitted to the School of Education and Human Sciences Graduate Division office.

Post-comprehensive Examination Continuous Enrollment

After passing the comprehensive examination, the candidate must be continuously enrolled (fall and spring, and summer if completing a milestone) until the degree is completed. Students must enroll for at least 6 hours a semester (fall and spring) until they reach 18 post-comprehensive hours or all degree requirements are completed (whichever comes first).  At least one of the 6 hours must be in dissertation every term until the dissertation is defended and uploaded.  The other hours can be in non-required dissertation related coursework and/or field experience/internship as required by the program.  If the dissertation is not completed after 18 hours, then the candidate must enroll in 1 hour of dissertation per term (fall and spring) until they have passed their final oral defense and uploaded their dissertation.  Students who have completed the dissertation but still have remaining degree requirements (i.e., internship) must continue to enroll in at least one credit hour each semester (fall and spring) until all degree requirements are met.  

Summer enrollment in dissertation hours is required only when students complete major milestones in the summer (i.e., comprehensive examination, proposal meeting, dissertation defense) or require significant faculty time. If students are completing a milestone in the summer prior to earning 18 hours of post-comprehensive exam enrollment, they must enroll in at least 3 dissertation hours in the summer.  After completing the 18 hour requirement, summer enrollment requires 1 dissertation hour of enrollment.

Post-comprehensive enrollment may include enrollment during the semester in which the comprehensive examination has been passed. Dissertation hours taken during the semester in which the student passes the comprehensive examination count towards the 18 hour requirement, as does enrollment in field experience/internship. Other required coursework taken this semester does not count towards the 18 hours. Students who do not pass the examination cannot apply dissertation hours to degree requirements. Dissertation hours taken in semesters prior to passing the comprehensive examination will not count towards the post-comprehensive continuous enrollment requirement.

Non-required coursework that is related to the dissertation and/or internship/field experience credits taken after the comprehensive examination semester may be counted towards the 18 hours post-comprehensive examination requirement. However, students are required to enroll in at least 1 dissertation hour per term (fall and spring) until passing the final oral defense and uploading the dissertation.

Check with the department regarding specific post-comprehensive enrollment requirements.

Candidates may petition the School of Education and Human Sciences Graduate Division for a leave of absence during the period between the comprehensive examination and the final dissertation oral under extraordinary circumstances outlined above.

Dissertation

The candidate must present a dissertation that exhibits the application of existing knowledge in the major field of professional study. Ed.D. The dissertation should demonstrate the application of existing knowledge to the author’s area of professional practice. The format and style of a student’s dissertation is left to the discretion of the student, advisor, and committee, but format and style options may be constrained or dictated by the policy of the department from which the student is to receive the degree and by the Office of Graduate Studies. The dissertation is prepared under the direction of the dissertation committee.

Instructions regarding the proper form of the final document may be obtained from the School of Education Graduate Division office.

Grading for Dissertation Hours

Dissertation hours will be graded using the grading scale established in USRR 2.2.5. It evaluates a student's dissertation as demonstrating satisfactory progress (SP), limited progress (LP), or no progress (NP)  A grade of SP must be assigned for a student's final semester of enrollment in their dissertation. The SP indicates that the final product was of satisfactory quality to earn the degree.

If a student earns a grade of NP in dissertation hours any semester, the student will be placed on academic probation for the following semester until they receive a LP or SP.   Students are encouraged to meet with their advisor to discuss their progress.  Earning consecutive semesters with the grade of LP may also place a student on academic probation.  Students who do not make satisfactory progress may be dismissed or put on probation at any time.

If a student earns a grade of NP (equivalent to grade of F or No Credit) in dissertation, those hours will not count towards their 18 hour post-comprehensive enrollment requirement.  A student must enroll in those dissertation credit hours again the following semester and earn at least a LP for them to apply to their degree requirements.  Students must have a SP in the final semester of their enrollment of this milestone.  

FINAL ORAL EXAMINATION

When the dissertation has been tentatively accepted by the dissertation committee, and approved as ready for defense, the chair of the dissertation committee must notify the department of the date and time of the proposed defense, committee members, and dissertation title.  This notification must be made at least three weeks before the desired defense date. 

The examining committee for the final oral exam must consist of at least 4 members (usually including the advisory committee). All must be graduate faculty, and 2 of the 4 must be tenured or tenure-track faculty from the student’s home department. The committee chair must be authorized to chair doctoral examinations. Tenured and tenure-track faculty who are appointed as courtesy faculty within a program are considered to be faculty of that program for the purposes of committee composition.  As long as the majority requirement is met, additional committee members may be, but need not need be, a member of the candidates unit or program. One member must meet the requirements for serving as Graduate Studies Representative.  For more information visit the KU Policy library:  Doctoral Student Oral Exam Committee Composition, Graduate Studies Representative on Doctoral Exam Committees and Graduate Faculty Appointments.

The examination covers the dissertation and the candidate’s concentration area. The candidate passes the final examination if a majority of the official examining committee members (including the chair) approves the candidate’s performance. When the final oral examination has been passed, the dissertation committee reports a grade of Honors, Satisfactory, or Unsatisfactory. Candidates who fail the final oral examination may be allowed to repeat it upon the recommendation of the dissertation committee.  

It is common, after the dissertation final defense for the student to be asked to make amendments to the dissertation prior to final submission.

DISSERTATION COPIES 

When the final oral examination has been passed and the dissertation has been signed by the members of the dissertation committee, a title page and acceptance page with original signatures and ETD Release form, submission of the dissertation to Proquest, and other paperwork are to be delivered to the Graduate Division so that completion of degree requirements may be officially certified.