Advancement to Candidacy is a process in which students meet certain requirements that are an indication of their level of skill in academic writing, critical thinking, and independent conduct of doctoral-level research. To complete the Advancement to Candidacy process, students must do the following:Have an approved and signed-off dissertation proposalSuccessfully complete all Year 1, Year 2, and Year 3 courses It is expected that candidacy will occur by the end of the third year. A failure to complete any step of the Advancement to Candidacy process may result in the student being put on probation or asked to exit the doctoral program. Students are expected to make continuous academic progress throughout their enrollment at the University, including their work while completing the dissertation.