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Degree Timetable
The Department emphasizes timely progress towards degree. We offer here a degree timetable for completing the PhD within the five years of funding that is offered to incoming students. The timeline below is most relevant to a student who can complete their coursework in 4 semesters (which is typical for students who have a 2-year Master’s degree in Communication or a related field). Other students should add a semester (or more) to each milestone.
|
Semester |
Degree Milestones |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
|
Fall |
Coursework |
|
|
Spring |
Coursework and plan of study |
Students form a Plan-of-study committee, composed of 3 faculty from the Dept of Communication. |
|
Semester |
Degree Milestones |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
|
Fall |
Coursework |
|
|
Spring |
Coursework and comps committee |
Students compose their comprehensive exams committee, which can differ from the plan-of- study committee. After meeting with the committee to plan the exams, students submit the Comprehensive Exams Planning document at least 3 months before the exams. |
|
Semester |
Degree Milestones |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
|
Fall |
Comprehensive exams |
Students write exams and submit all the elements, followed by an oral defense with their committee. |
|
Spring |
Prospectus defense |
Following a successful exams defense, students compose a Dissertation committee, composed of at least 2 faculty members from Communication and at least 1 outside member. Students can work with different faculty than their comps committee. The complete prospectus is submitted to the dissertation committee and there is an oral defense. |
|
Semester |
Degree Milestones |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
|
Fall |
|
After a successful prospectus defense, the title page of the prospectus is filed with the Graduate School. Students should maintain communication with at least their advisor on their progress in dissertation research and writing. |
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Spring |
|
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|
Semester |
Degree Milestones |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
|
Fall |
|
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|
Spring |
Dissertation defense |
Students submit their dissertation to their committee and there is an oral defense. Students must schedule their defense more than a month ahead of time as the Graduate School has a notification requirement. Students should consult closely with the department about the various paperwork required for filing the dissertation and graduation. |
The department recognizes that there is some variability in how long it takes to complete the PhD. Things that may slow progress include a new child, health challenges, research opportunities, unexpected obstacles to research, changes in research focus, or other factors.
It’s important for students to remain in communication with the department and their advisor if factors arise that cause significant diversion from the recommended timeline. The department will communicate whether slowdowns are reasonable and within the expected range, and when they exceed an acceptable timeframe. If the latter, we will advise students on how they might adjust research plans in order to resume timely progress.
All graduate students must enroll every semester with the Graduate School until their degrees have been awarded. Enrollment is maintained by registering for courses, thesis/dissertation credits, or by paying the Program Fee, aka “Continuous Enrollment”. The Graduate School defines full-time graduate status as enrolling for 9 or more credits per semester. A student may register for as many as 15 credits per semester, although 9 credits is the normal course load. Students completing their coursework are advised to take three courses per semester. Most courses in the Department of Communication carry 3 credits.
Statute of Limitations
The department is constrained by Graduate School rules about limits on time to degree, called Statute of Limitations. The Graduate School sets the Statute of Limitations (SOL) at six (6) years prior to achieving candidacy (i.e., passing comprehensive exams) and five (5) years once candidacy is achieved. In other words, if a student entered the program in Fall 2020, their initial SOL would be August 2026. Let’s say this student passed their comprehensive exams in Spring 2023. Their new SOL would be 5 years from that date, in 2028. Extensions to SOL dates must be petitioned to the Graduate School and supported by the Graduate Program Director.
Candidacy
Ph.D. students who successfully defend their comprehensive exams become, at that time, “Ph.D. Candidates.” The Graduate School will print this designation on the student’s transcripts. Achievement of candidacy sets in motion the five-year Statute of Limitation requirement.
A.B.D. Status
When Ph.D. Candidates successfully defend a prospectus and turn that prospectus in to the Graduate School, they are considered A.B.D (all but dissertation).
Transferring Credits as a Non-Degree Student
Occasionally non-degree students take graduate courses at UMass and wish to transfer them into the PhD. Students can ask to have no more than 6 of these credits applied to the PhD, and the specific courses must be approved by the Graduate Program Director and Plan of Study Committee.