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

Ph.D. Program Guidebook 2007-2008
CHAPTER 7 – CHANGES IN STATUS
CHANGING DISSERTATION AREAS
A change in the declared dissertation area, for any reason, requires the approval of both the
initial dissertation area faculty and subsequent dissertation area faculty. Specific dissertation
and support area requirements for a student who changes dissertation areas will be
determined by the area to which the student transfers at the time of the transfer. Before
requesting a formal transfer, it is generally a good idea to talk to faculty in the area you
wish to transfer to.
The formal procedures for changing dissertation areas are as follows:
(1) The student’s request is submitted on a form available on the Ph.D. Program website
to the area advisor in the area the student is leaving. That advisor may approve or
not approve the request.
(2) If approved, the request is then submitted to the area advisor in the area into which
the student would like to transfer. The advisor in that area will review the request, as
well as the student’s original application materials and academic record, consult with
other faculty in the area, and decide to approve or not approve the transfer.
(3) Final approval of the request is made by the Director of the Ph.D. Program.
LEAVE OF ABSENCE
See Chapter 15.
WITHDRAWAL FROM THE PH.D. PROGRAM
Withdrawal from the Program means terminating one’s status as a University of Chicago
student. All responsibilities and privileges of being a student cease.
Withdrawal may take place voluntarily by a student who finds it no longer possible to
continue in the Program for any reason. Furthermore, the Director of the Ph.D. Program may
decide to terminate a student’s status in the Program by withdrawing him or her if the
Director feels that the student’s academic progress is unsatisfactory, the student has surpassed
the time limits for completion, or the student is unable to find faculty support for and work on
a dissertation that meets the GSB’s standards.
Students who do not return from a leave of absence after the maximum allowed will be
considered withdrawn from the Program.
RE-ADMITTANCE INTO THE PH.D. PROGRAM
Students who withdraw from the Program in good academic standing (making satisfactory
academic progress) or take a leave of absence from the Program and do not return at the end
of the leave, may apply for re-admittance into the Program in the following manner. Readmitted
students generally do not receive financial aid, tuition grant or stipend from the
Ph.D. Program.
A student who has not reached candidacy must submit a letter to the Director of the
Ph.D. Program outlining the following information:
• Reasons the student is applying for re-admission including discussion of:
educational goals, professional objectives, research interests, well-formulated
plans for dissertation-level research.
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