The regulations of the Graduate School pertaining to the granting of higher degrees are contained in the current University of Oregon Catalog. Among the more important regulations are the following:

1. The seven-year time limit on completing a doctoral degree begins with the first term of admissions as a conditional or regular doctoral student at the University of Oregon. The required year of residency spent on the Eugene campus, the passing of the comprehensive examinations required for the advancement to candidacy, and the completion of the doctoral dissertation must all be accomplished within this seven-year period.

2. Candidates for the Ph.D. must successfully complete at least three consecutive terms of full-time graduate-level work in residence at the University of Oregon. Full-time work is defined as at least nine hours of completed work per term. Independent studies courses typically will not count towards this.

3. Students studying for higher degrees must maintain continuous enrollment (except for summers) until all program requirements have been completed, unless an “on-leave” status has been approved by the Graduate School. “On-leave” status is granted for a maximum period of three academic terms prior to advancement to candidacy. Students may apply for In Absentia for a maximum of three academic terms after advancement to candidacy. However, no matter how many leave terms are granted, the seven year completion noted above still applies.

4. In order to obtain credit for a graduate course which was graded “Incomplete,” a student must convert the incomplete into a passing grade within one calendar year of its assignment. This restriction does not apply to incompletes assigned to research projects (Soc 601) or Dissertation (Soc 603). Incomplete grades can still be made up after this, but this will have to be petitioned with the Graduate School.

5. Students must complete 18 hours of Soc 603 (Dissertation) before completing the program for the Ph.D. Dissertation hours may not be taken until after the student has been advanced to candidacy.

6. A grade point average of less than 3.00 at any time during a graduate student’s studies or the accumulation of more than 5 hours of N or F grades–regardless of the GPA–is considered unsatisfactory.

7. Although it is the responsibility of each student to be familiar with the various rules pertaining to the graduate program, the Graduate Program Coordinator will remind individual students about impending deadlines and will notify them about other matters concerning their status in the program in accordance with departmental and Graduate School policies.