Geography Department > Graduate Study > Doctoral Program > Time Limits
Doctoral Program Time Limits
It is in the interest of all parties to have graduate programs completed with reasonable dispatch to make the most efficient use of university, faculty and student resources. Graduate students should be aware of various university and departmental policies that have been instituted to ensure that students maintain a reasonable rate of progress in completing degree requirements.
The doctoral program should take between 48-60 months to complete including coursework, fieldwork, and the writing of the dissertation. In practice, time taken will vary according to the prior experience of the student and the nature of the dissertation research project. The Graduate Division requires students to complete all requirements within seven years of entering the program. Candidates who fail to complete all requirements within the specified time are subject to academic action, including being placed on probation or dismissal. Reinstatement for a limited period of time is only possible upon approval of the Dean of the Graduate Division. Recommendation for approval will be made by the Graduate Chair only if the student submits an acceptable degree plan and time line for completion of all requirements endorsed by their advisor. Failure to comply with this plan will usually result in the student being dropped from the program. Students pursuing graduate degrees who are not on an approved leave of absence must maintain continuous registration during the academic year. Students failing to meet this requirement are considered to have voluntarily withdrawn from the program and must petition for re-admission should they wish to return. Please note - international students must be registered as full-time students during their degree program. This typically requires registration in at least 8 credits of coursework, or registration in GEOG 800.
