The number of credits required by a doctoral degree program may be reduced by a maximum of 30 credits if a master's degree or other appropriate credits have been earned before admission. These credits should be noted on the program of study. All doctoral students are required to spend a minimum of two consecutive semesters, not including the Summer Term, in continuous registration. The doctoral program of study must include a minimum of 36 graduate credits taken at George Mason University after admission to degree status. Time Limit Doctoral students have six years from the time of admission to become advanced to candidacy.
Students have five years from the time of advancement to complete their dissertation.
The committee consists of a professor from the department of the student's major and at least two other members of the faculty, one of whom must be from outside the student's department. Additional members may be appointed who are not members of the graduate faculty or who are from outside the university. For a dissertation to be approved, all committee members are expected to sign the dissertation. If a committee member refuses to sign the dissertation, the student or any member of the committee may petition the unit dean or institute director for a review and ruling to resolve the stalemate. The final decision is that of the unit dean or institute director.