Ph.D. Program Guidebook - The University of Chicago Booth School ...

Ph.D. Program Guidebook 2007-2008
Students must make satisfactory academic progress to remain in the Ph.D. Program. The
criteria used to evaluate academic progress are described below.
SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS REQUIREMENTS – TIMELINE
Students must meet the following timeline of academic accomplishments to maintain
satisfactory academic progress in the Ph.D. Program (year and quarter in the timeline indicate
time since the student matriculated in the Ph.D. Program).
(1) By the end of the summer quarter of the second year: pass one general examination.
(2) By the end of the autumn quarter of the third year: submit curriculum paper.
(3) By the end of the spring quarter of the third year: satisfactory presentation of the
curriculum paper in a curriculum paper workshop.
(4) By the end of the summer quarter of the third year: pass two general examinations.
(5) By the end of the fourth year: complete all requirements for candidacy.
(6) By the end of the fifth year: satisfactory presentation of the dissertation proposal.
(Fifth year funding is generally contingent on presenting the proposal earlier.)
(7) By the end of the seventh year: satisfactory dissertation defense.
It is a University rule that at least eight months must elapse between the date of admission to
candidacy and the date of conferral of the Ph.D. degree.
Failure to pass a general examination in the student’s dissertation area automatically results
in unsatisfactory academic performance. If a student fails the general examination or other
area requirements, the Director of the Ph.D. Program will consult with the faculty in the area
and decide if the student can continue the program in that area, whether the student should
apply to change dissertation areas, or should be withdrawn from the program. If a student is
allowed to continue after initially failing the General Examination or other area requirements,
s/he gets one more attempt to pass all components of the examination. Failure to pass all
components on the second attempt will result in withdrawal from the program.
If a student is not on a leave of absence, he/she must be engaged in taking courses, preparing
for exams, or actively conducting research.
ANNUAL ACADEMIC PROGRESS REVIEW
Annually, the academic progress of Ph.D. students in the program is evaluated. To evaluate
the progress, the Director of the Ph.D. Program requires Ph.D. students to complete and
submit an academic progress report every year. Only students who are on a leave of absence
are exempt from this requirement.
The Director of the Ph.D. Program reviews each student’s academic record, progress report
submitted in the previous year, and progress report submitted for the current year. All
students must be assessed as either:
(1) on leave of absence;
(2) making satisfactory progress;
(3) not making satisfactory progress and put on probation;
(4) not making satisfactory progress and terminated from the Program.
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