A fter admission to the doctoral program, students must enroll full-time at Arizona State University for a minimum of two consecutive semesters, not including summer sessions. This residency requirement provides the student with opportunities to interact fully with faculty and other graduate students and to become familiar with university resources. O nce admitted, the student is expected to be enrolled continuously, excluding summer sessions. If a program of study must be interrupted, the student may apply for leave status not to exceed one calendar year. S tudents take the comprehensive examination after they have completed all or nearly all of the courses in their approved program of study.
Students confer with their advisor for guidelines, reading lists, and scheduling the comps exam.
T he student will be admitted to candidacy when all requirements for the degree except the dissertation have been met. Candidacy status is granted after successful completion of the comps and approval of the dissertation prospectus. T he student may begin work on the dissertation after completing all other requirements for the degree, including passing the comprehensive examination and receiving approval of the dissertation proposal by the dissertation committee. The student's proposed dissertation research must be in an area that is familiar and acceptable to his or her dissertation chair and committee members. Procedures for preparing the final copy for the dissertation are available from the Graduate College.