Degree Information

Residency Requirement

All students are expected to spend a period of uninterrupted, intensive study toward their degree, known as the residency requirement. This residency requirement is satisfied through the successful completion of 9 or more graduate credits in each of two consecutive semesters, excluding summer sessions or by completing at least six graduate credits in each of four consecutive semesters, excluding summer.

Major Professor

Each student selects a Major Professor/Doctoral Advisor who assists in planning course work, offers guidance in designing and executing the dissertation, and provides overall direction to the student within the framework of the Program requirements. The Major Professor must be chosen from among those faculty members who have been approved to act as Major Professor. The Major Professor is selected within the first four semesters after admission to the doctoral program.

The Doctoral Committee

All students must select a doctoral committee, of five professors chaired by the Major Professor, to supervise their progress through the Program. The student's committee should contain two faculty members from the specialization department, in addition to the major professor. If the student chooses Minor Option A, one committee member must be from the minor department and is designated a Minor Professor. All five doctoral committee members are to be selected by the student and their major major professor. The fifth doctoral committee member must be someone (1) who is outside of the student's specialization area and minor, and (2) who has expertise in the subject area and/or methodology of the dissertation. Ordinarily, members of the student's committee must be members of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Graduate Faculty. Upon petition to the Program Director it is possible to have one person who is not a member of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Graduate Faculty approved as a member of the committee.

Program of Studies

The purpose of the program of studies is to assist you in carefully planning and executing a coherent program of coursework. At least three members of the student's committee are selected by the student when filing a program of studies, no later than the fourth semester after admission. Full time students are advised to file by the end of their first year. At the time the program of studies is filed, some prior coursework may be accepted in lieu of program requirements.

Time

All degree requirements must be completed within 7 years of date of admission.