Qualification / Advancement to Candidacy

General Description

Please note, for the purposes of this document, the Qualifying Examination will be referred to as either “Qualification” or “Advancement”. The doctoral program involves two stages. The first stage, a minimum of three academic quarters of residence (but typically 3-4 years), is spent in fulfilling general requirements, consisting of formal course work, teaching, beginning research, and examinations.

Timeline

The student must have completed at least three continuous academic quarters of residence at UCSD before the dissertation committee may be appointed.

Each student is expected to complete the requirements for advancement to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree by December 1 of the fourth year. Interdisciplinary Program students are expected to complete these requirements by the end of Spring quarter of their fourth year.

Students not completing the qualifying requirements by that time will be placed on departmental probation. Any student who fails to qualify by the end of the spring quarter of the fourth year of residence will automatically have a hold placed on their account by OGS. Additionally, per OGS rules, students are not permitted to receive financial support from the university or the department beyond their eighth year. Completion of the degree beyond the eighth year is granted only by special exception.