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UM Home > Academic Bulletin > Graduate Academic Programs > Graduate School > Degree Programs

Academic Bulletin

GRADUATE SCHOOL
www.miami.edu/grad

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

(For Doctor of Musical Arts, D.MA., see music section of bulletin. For Doctor of Physical Therapy, D.PT., see medicine section of bulletin. For Doctor of Nursing Practice, D.N.P., see Nursing & Health Studies section of bulletin, for Ed.D, see School of Education section.)

GENERAL

The Graduate School does not specify course requirements for the Ph.D. However, the Graduate School will not, ordinarily, approve the taking of the qualifying examination until the student has had a minimum of one continuous academic year of graduate work in courses, seminars, and directed or tutorial study. Sixty credits beyond the baccalaureate degree are the minimum requirement for the Ph.D., and not less than half of the total credits must be in work open only to graduate students. At least 24 must have been taken in residence at the University of Miami. A minimum of 12 dissertation credits must be taken. Graduate students studying for the Ph.D. who have received their master's degree in the same field must take at least twenty-four (24) hours in residence at the University of Miami in doctoral status.

The specific course requirements for the Ph.D. are established by the major department or program which may require such additional graduate credit as it deems necessary. Such requirements will be found in that part of the Bulletin which lists course offerings.

REGISTRATION

To maintain status as a graduate student, registration in each fall and spring semester is required. Otherwise, admission lapses and permission to re-enter must be granted. Doctoral students for whom course work is no longer appropriate and who are engaged on their dissertation should consult the following section.

DISSERTATION

A student must take a minimum of 12 hours of dissertation research except where otherwise stated. Not more than 12 hours of research may be taken in a regular semester, nor more than six in a summer session.

Ph.D., D.M.A., or Lecture Recital degree students must defend their dissertation, or doctoral essay, or lecture recital essay at least two weeks before the last day of classes and submit a Dissertation Editor-approved hard copy and paperwork to the Graduate School by the last day of exams in the semester the student wishes to graduate. It is recommended that students begin the process early in the semester by discussing with their advisors a suitable timetable for meeting these deadlines. All information pertaining to the formatting and electronic guidelines for electronic thesis and dissertation submission can be found at http://etd.library.miami.edu/students.html. The Graduate School also encourages students to contact the Dissertation Editor early in the semester at grad.dissertation@miami.edu if they have questions regarding any aspect of the ETD process.

Three typewritten, unbound copies of the thesis, in approved form on proper paper (the original and two legible copies), conforming in style to the standards set by the Graduate School, must be deposited with the Office of the Graduate School on or before the last day of exams in the semester the student wishes to graduate. It is the duty of the student to acquire a copy of the guidelines for preparing theses and dissertations and to conform to the requirements therein. Each dissertation must be accompanied by two certificates of approval of oral defense of thesis signed by all members of the Committee. Forms should be obtained in the Graduate School Office or downloaded from http://etd.library.miami.edu/students.html.

RESEARCH IN RESIDENCE

Once a student has completed all course and required research credits, he or she must enroll in Research in Residence status until the degree has been granted. Research in Residence status is considered full time enrollment. Time restrictions on obtaining degrees will be strictly enforced and can be waived only by the Dean of the Graduate School. Research in Residence students, while not required, may purchase or receive any perquisites that are normally available to graduate students. (see Recency of Credit section.)

RESIDENCE

The student must spend at least two consecutive semesters beyond the first year’s graduate work, wherever taken, in full-time study at the University of Miami. With program approval, a) one summer of full-time study in sessions I and II can be substituted for one semester of residence, or b) full-time study for two successive summers can be substituted for two regular semesters. Residence requirements may be altered only by the Dean of the Graduate School. (At least 24 credits must be taken in residence.)

THE SUPERVISORY AND DISSERTATION COMMITTEES

A supervisory committee is usually appointed when a student is formally admitted to a doctoral program. The committee must be comprised of at least four members; this includes the committee chair, who shall be a member of the program or department of concentration (this includes secondary appointments), as well as a regular member of the Graduate Faculty. Of the remaining members, it is also required that two shall be from Graduate Faculty, and one from outside the program or department of concentration. A department, program, or school or college may require additional members.

This committee is nominated by the chairperson of the program or department concerned. It is appropriate for the chairperson to consult with the student regarding the membership of the committee. The supervisory committee is empowered to plan the course of study for the student; to determine deficiencies, if any; to set language and other requirements; to request applicable transfer of credit where appropriate and to make up and administer the qualifying examination.

When the student is admitted to candidacy, a dissertation committee is formed. This may be the supervisory committee, but it may also be a committee formed anew to undertake the duties of advising and passing upon the dissertation. The dissertation committee is nominated by the department or program concerned, and appointed by the Graduate Program Director and approved by department chair. As with the supervisory committee, it must be comprised of at least four members; this includes the committee chair, who shall be a member of the program or department of concentration, as well as a regular member of the Graduate Faculty. Of the remaining members, it is also required that two shall be from Graduate Faculty http://www6.miami.edu/UMH/CDA/UMH_Main/0,1770,23370-1;29879-2;56942-3,00.html and one from outside the program or department of concentration. A department, program, or school or college may require additional members. The duties of the Dissertation Committee are:

1. to consult with and to advise students on their research;

2. to meet, at regular intervals, to review progress and expected results;

3. to read and comment upon the draft dissertation;

4. to meet, when the dissertation is completed, to conduct the final oral examination and to satisfy itself that the dissertation is a contribution to knowledge and that it is written in lucid and correct English and submitted in approved form.

The candidate is well advised to have a final, acceptable typescript of the dissertation in the hands of each member of his/her committee at a time reasonably in advance of the final defense of the work a minimum of two weeks prior to the defense.

Three copies of the dissertation in approved form on proper paper and two copies of an abstract of not over 350 words will be handed in to the Graduate School on or before the date specified in the calendar published each session, accompanied by 1 certificate of approval of doctoral dissertation defense. It is the duty of the student to acquire a copy of the guidelines for preparing dissertations from the Graduate School or http://etd.library.miami.edu/students.html and to conform to the requirements therein. All dissertations are published by ProQuest/University Microfilms, Inc.

No student gains the right to be recommended for the degree simply by fulfilling requirements. This right is reserved to the student’s committee. Changes of committee members must be approved by Graduate Program Director.

QUALIFYING EXAMINATIONS

A written qualifying examination is to be taken by each doctoral degree (Ph.D., D.M.A., D.N.P, D.P.T., Ed.D.) candidate at the time that the student and the Supervisory Committee deem appropriate. The school or major program may specify that its students must take an oral examination as well. In those cases, normally, the student shall pass the written examination before the oral examination is conducted. Upon completion of the examination process, the supervisory committee shall notify the Graduate School and the instructional school or program that the student has passed or failed the examination. A student who fails the examination will be given one opportunity to retake it with the permission of the supervisory committee. Some programs do not administer qualifying examinations during the summer months. Check with the Graduate Program Director for specific program requirements.

ADMISSION TO CANDIDACY

When the student has met all requirements and passed the qualifying examinations, admission to candidacy for the degree is approved. No student may receive the degree in the same semester or summer session in which he or she is admitted to candidacy. The student must be admitted to candidacy before the defense of dissertation is scheduled.

FINAL EXAMINATION

A final public oral defense of the dissertation is required. However, only the members of the dissertation committee may interrogate the candidate. In addition there may be required, if desired by the program, a final written integration examination to test the candidate’s ability to integrate the whole graduate program and the dissertation in relation to it. See academic calendar for deadlines regarding dissertation defense.

TRANSFER OF CREDIT

Transfer of graduate credit from another institution will not be made until the student has completed a like amount of credit at the University of Miami, and the transfer has been approved by the supervisory committee and the Dean of the Graduate School. Credit transferred is subject to the same recency rules as all other credit counted toward the degree, and is also subject to examination by the program. An official transcript of work to be transferred must be on file in the Graduate School. Credits that pertain to or have been counted toward another degree cannot be transferred.

Florida International University and University of Miami agreement for Ph.D. Courses

Effective as of Fall 2007, students may take up to six credits at the host institution as long as the following requirements are met:

1. Approval from both home and host institution;

2. Approval of Graduate School Deans;

3. Space at the host institution is available.

Tuition and fees are to be paid at the home institution. Performance level is set at host institution. Contact the Graduate School for more information.

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