Ohio Administrative Code › Title 3341 - Bowling Green State University › Chapter 3341-3 - Graduate and Under-Graduate Policies › Section 3341-3-06 - Doctoral requirements - graduate

Current through all
			 regulations passed and filed through July 1, 2024
(A)
								Policy statement
			 and purpose
This policy describes requirements for
				the Ph.D., Ed.D., DMA, and DODC doctoral degrees.
This policy does not pertain to the
				doctor of physical therapy (DPT) program. Refer to the DPT program handbook for
				policies specific to that program.
(B)
								Policy
(1)
									Credit
			 hours
A doctoral program must consist of at
				least sixty credit hours of graduate coursework beyond the master's degree or
				ninety credit hours beyond the bachelor's degree. These hours must include at
				least sixteen hours of dissertation research. No more than thirty hours of
				dissertation research credit hours are applicable to the degree.
Transfer of credit from other
				institutions into graduate degree programs is described in the "Credit
				Transfer-Graduate" policy, rule 3341-3-05 of the Administrative
				Code.
(2)
									Level of work
The number of 5000-level credit hours
				that may be counted toward the minimum required credit hours will not exceed
				ten.
(3)
									Qualifying examinations
Programs may require students to take
				qualifying examinations. Refer to individual program requirements for
				details.
If a student fails a qualifying
				examination, they may choose to take a second examination. Dismissal from the
				doctoral program will result if the second qualifying examination is
				failed.
(4)
									Preliminary examination or project
Students must successfully complete a
				preliminary examination or project administered by a preliminary examination or
				project committee. The preliminary examination or project is both written and
				oral.
(a)
										Preliminary examination or project committee
Including the committee chair, a
				preliminary examination or project committee must have at least four members.
				In most cases the chair and two committee members come from the student's
				program of study; however, committee composition is left to the discretion of
				the program. The committee must include the graduate faculty representative
				(see paragraph (B)(5) of this rule). All committee members typically assist in
				the preparation of the preliminary examination or project. Preliminary
				examinations or projects must be conducted with the participation of all
				committee members. All committee members are expected to participate actively
				in the evaluation of the written and oral components of the exam.
The preliminary examination or project
				committee chair must have regular level I graduate faculty status. All other
				committee members must have regular level I or II, or provisional level II
				status. Those with adjunct and ad hoc appointments to the graduate faculty may
				serve on preliminary examination or project committees as appropriate to their
				appointment. Criteria and application process for the various graduate faculty
				appointments are described in the "Graduate Faculty Status" policy, rule
				3341-3-11
				of the Administrative Code.
(b)
										Preliminary
			 examination or project eligibility criteria
A student may apply to complete the
				preliminary examination or project after having:
(i)
											Removed any
			 conditions of admission;
(ii)
											Completed or approached completion of at least sixty
			 hours in the approved course of study beyond the bachelor's degree;
			 and
(iii)
											Achieved a cumulative graduate grade point average of
			 at least 3.0.
(c)
										Preliminary examination or project application
A preliminary examination or project
				application must be submitted by the student to the graduate college at least
				eight weeks prior to the due date of the examination or project. The
				application must include the signature of the committee chair and committee
				members. Upon receipt of the application, the graduate college will appoint a
				graduate faculty representative to participate in the preliminary examination
				or project (see paragraph (B)(5) of this rule). The graduate faculty
				representative will verify their agreement to serve on the student's committee
				by signing the preliminary examination or project application.
(d)
										Preliminary examination or project results
Preliminary examination or project
				results are based on the preliminary examination or project committee's review
				of both the written portion and the oral defense. A student successfully
				completes a preliminary examination or project if they have no more than one
				vote for failure. If the committee stipulates conditions required for
				successful completion, the conditions must be met before the examination or
				project is recorded as satisfactory. The results are reported to the graduate
				college by submitting the preliminary examination or project report
				form.
(e)
										Second attempt
If the student does not pass the
				preliminary examination or project, they may complete a second examination or
				project at least four months later. If the student fails the second attempt of
				the preliminary examination or project, they will be dismissed from the
				doctoral program.
(5)
									Graduate faculty
			 representative (GFR)
(a)
										Appointment
When a student submits the preliminary
				examination or project application form (see paragraph (B)(4)(c) of this rule),
				the graduate college appoints a graduate faculty representative (GFR) to the
				student's committee. The appointment of the GFR must be made before the
				preliminary examination or project is undertaken. The GFR may assist in the
				preparation of the examination or project.
Unless a change is requested and
				approved by the graduate college, the GFR continues with the student through
				the preliminary examination or project and dissertation process.
(b)
										Expectations and responsibilities
The GFR has two primary
				responsibilities. First, to assure that all minimum standards of the graduate
				college have been met in all aspects of the preliminary examination or project
				and in the writing and final oral defense of the dissertation. Second, to
				ensure that the student is treated fairly and equitably in all aspects of the
				preliminary examination or project and dissertation process.
The GFR is a full member of the
				student's preliminary examination or project and dissertation committees and
				must participate in all committee deliberations and actions. The comments and
				suggestions of the GFR carry equal weight with those of all other committee
				members.
Results of preliminary examinations or
				projects conducted without the participation of the GFR are not acceptable. The
				GFR is expected to contribute to the preliminary examination or project to
				ensure the graduate college of the satisfactory quality of the student's
				performance.
The GFR is expected to read and
				evaluate the dissertation, and participate in the final oral examination (i.e.,
				dissertation defense). The representative is not to approve the dissertation
				manuscript unless their suggestions have been considered, their questions have
				been answered, and there is evidence that the student has successfully
				completed the dissertation.
The procedures associated with the
				administration of the preliminary examination or project and the final oral
				examination (i.e., dissertation defense) are also the province of the GFR,
				including appropriate scheduling and notification of committee meetings,
				distribution of material in advance of committee meetings, and the protection
				of the student's rights.
(6)
									Dissertation
(a)
										Dissertation committee
Including the committee chair, a
				dissertation committee must have at least four members. In most cases the chair
				and two committee members come from the student's program of study; however,
				committee composition is left to the discretion of the program. The committee
				must include the graduate faculty representative (see paragraph (B) (5) of this
				rule). In some programs, the members of the student's preliminary examination
				or project committee continue to work with the student through the dissertation
				process. In other programs, some or all dissertation committee members may
				change. All committee members are expected to participate actively in the
				evaluation of the dissertation manuscript and final oral
				examination.
If a student wishes to change committee
				members after the dissertation topic has been approved, they must submit a
				dissertation committee change form, which requires approval of the committee
				chair, the graduate coordinator in the student's program, and the graduate dean
				or designate.
The dissertation committee chair must
				have regular level I graduate faculty status. All other committee members must
				have regular level I or II, or provisional level II status. Those with adjunct
				and ad hoc appointments to the graduate faculty may serve on dissertation
				committees if approved by the program, line college, and the graduate college.
				Criteria and application process for the various graduate faculty appointments
				are described in the "Graduate Faculty Status" policy, rule
				3341-3-11
				of the Administrative Code.
(b)
										Topic
			 approval
A student's dissertation topic must be
				proposed to the student's dissertation committee in writing and defended orally
				at a dissertation topic approval meeting. Students must submit a dissertation
				topic approval form to document the dissertation committee's approval of the
				topic.
If the approved topic or research
				methodology changes substantially between the time of topic approval and the
				final defense of the manuscript, students must submit a new topic approval
				form.
(c)
										Candidacy
Doctoral candidacy is conferred after
				successfully completing the preliminary examination or project and securing
				approval for the dissertation topic by the student's dissertation committee and
				the graduate college.
To be eligible for candidacy, the
				student must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
(d)
										Dissertation
			 research registration and continuous registration
Students must register for a minimum of
				sixteen credits of dissertation research (7990) as a degree requirement.
				Students are required to maintain continuous registration in dissertation
				research (7990) each fall and spring term until the dissertation is completed,
				the final oral exam (i.e., dissertation defense) has been passed, and the
				dissertation manuscript has been accepted by the graduate college. Students are
				not required to register for dissertation research during summer sessions
				unless they use university services or graduate during that term.
The minimum continuous registration for
				a student completing a dissertation is one credit hour per semester. Students
				who do not maintain continuous registration will be required to make up for all
				terms they have missed. Tuition will be assessed at the current rates when the
				registration is processed.
(e)
										Dissertation
			 manuscript and final oral examination
A degree candidate must submit a
				complete final draft of the dissertation manuscript to the dissertation
				committee sufficiently prior to the date set for the final oral
				examination.
Unless there are intellectual property
				issues involved, two weeks before the final oral examination is to be held, the
				program is required to publicize the date, time, and location of the final oral
				defense to the campus community.
The student must pass a final oral
				examination (i.e., dissertation defense) administered by the dissertation
				committee, and secure that committee's approval of the dissertation manuscript.
				For a student to pass the final oral examination and secure approval of the
				manuscript, the dissertation committee must either cast a unanimous positive
				vote or an overall affirming vote with one dissenter.
A dissertation defense and manuscript
				approval form, inclusive of all required signatures, must be received in the
				graduate college by the published deadline.
Prior to the commencement at which the
				degree is to be conferred, the final, error-free, properly-formatted
				dissertation manuscript approved by the dissertation committee must be
				submitted to OhioLink by the published deadline. Details for this process may
				be found at the graduate college's "Theses & Dissertations"
				webpage.
(f)
										Re-examination
If a student does not pass the final
				oral examination, they may take a second examination, four months or more after
				the date of the first oral examination. Dismissal from the doctoral program
				will result if the second oral examination is failed.
Equity impact statement: the policy has
				been assessed for adverse differential impact on members of one or more
				protected groups
Replaces: 3341-3-06