Degree Requirements
In addition to the following regulations, requirements are specified by individual graduate programs in the School of Medicine.
Master of Science
The minimum Graduate School requirement for the master's degree is thirty credits, at least twenty-four of which must be taken at the University. In some master's degree programs where the department requires more than the Graduate School minimum, the department's requirement takes precedence. The Graduate School recognizes three general master's degree plans, though not all plans are offered in each department (for exact information, see individual listings under Academic Programs.
Plan A requires a total of thirty credits, including a total of eight credits for a thesis.
Plan B requires a total of thirty credits, including a minimum of two credits for an essay.
Plan C requires a total of thirty credits. The essay or thesis is not required.
Candidacy: Admission as an applicant does not assure acceptance as a candidate for a degree. Candidacy is a necessary but not sufficient requirement for graduation.
Generally, students enrolled in master's degree programs are expected to file a Plan of Work by the time eight to twelve graduate credits have been earned. The applicant shall be advanced to the rank of "candidate" upon approval of the Plan of Work by the College Graduate Office. In some cases, candidacy must be authorized by the time twelve graduate credits have been earned or subsequent registration will be denied. In preparing the Plan, the student and adviser should evaluate with care the personal and professional objectives of the student as well as all degree and departmental requirements.
Time Limitation
Students have a six-year time limit to complete all requirements for the master's degree. The six-year period begins with the end of the semester during which the student has taken work which applies toward meeting the requirements of the degree. The school reserves the right of revalidation of over-age credits which are between six and ten years old and which represent courses completed at Wayne State University. Such authority rests with the College Graduate Officer. Students are not permitted to revalidate credits earned at other institutions. In revalidation cases the adviser and the student must set a terminal date for completion of all degree requirements, including such additional requirements as may be prescribed to revalidate the over-age credits. Time extensions beyond these conditions are authorized only for conditions clearly beyond the student's control.
A student registered in a non-degree graduate classification is cautioned that only one semester of full-time graduate study, or part-time registration not to exceed nine credits, is permitted in this classification. Not more than nine credits may be applied toward the credit requirements for the master's degree.
Doctor of Philosphy
Requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy emphasize an over-all understanding of and high competence in a field of knowledge, familiarity with cognate disciplines, facility in the use of research techniques, and responsibility for the advancement of knowledge. The meeting of the requirements for the doctorate is tested primarily by examination and the presentation of the dissertation rather than by a summation of courses, grades and credits.
The doctoral Plan of Work, initiated by the student with adviser and the Graduate Committee Chairperson's signatures, submitted before completion of forty graduate credits and before scheduling the qualifying examination.
Report of Oral Qualifying Examination: Exam must be taken within one month (30 days) after having passed the written exam.
Dissertation Outline and Prospectus: Initiated by student with signatures of adviser, dissertation committee, and Graduate Committee Chairperson, after passing written and oral qualifying exams.
Final Defense form and Manuscript approval: Initiated by student with signatures of adviser, dissertation committee, and Graduate Committee Chairperson, two weeks before dissertation defense. Students must attach to the final defense form a copy of the flyer or other notice advertising the dissertation defense to the University community. A Final Defense Graduate Examiner is appointed by the Graduate School. The last day for the dissertation defense is determined each semester. Check with the department's Graduate Committee Chairperson, or visit the Ph.D. website for Commencement deadlines.
Change of Grade Memorandum for Dissertation credits: Filed by adviser immediately after the dissertation defense.
Ph.D. Coursework:
To ensure adequate preparation, the Graduate Council has adopted minimum coursework requirements for the University's highest degree. Many programs will exceed these statutory minima.
A minimum of 90 graduate credits beyond the baccalaureate degree are required for completion of the Ph.D. program. Normally, a Ph.D. program will consist of:
(1) twenty credits of coursework in the major (not including directed study or research credits).
(2) at least one minor composed of eight or more credits elected outside the major department, or an interdisciplinary minor consisting of a minimum of twelve graduate credits.
(3) thirty-two additional credits of coursework, pre-dissertation research and directed study; and
(4) thirty credits of dissertation direction.
The Ph.D. program should provide for effective concentration in a major field with supporting courses in related fields. The decision concerning whether the student's Plan of Work will include one minor or two is made by the department.
The total Ph.D. program must include thirty credits, excluding dissertation direction, in courses open only to graduate students (i.e. 7000 level or above).
Candidacy: A Ph.D. Applicant will be advanced to the rank of Ph.D. Candidate when he/she submits an approved Plan of Work, successfully completes the Qualifying Examination and submits and receives the Graduate Dean's approval on the Dissertation Outline and Prospectus.
How Much Time To Get The PhD? (TTD-Data)
Time Limitation
Students have a seven-year time limit to complete all requirements for the Ph.D. degree. The seven-year period begins with the end of the semester during which the student was admitted to doctoral study and was completing work toward meeting the requirements for the degree. In the program leading to the doctor's degree, up to forty-eight quarter or thirty-two semester credits of 'B' or better graduate credit earned prior to the student's admission as a doctoral applicant may be applied toward the degree without regard to lapse of time. Credit earned beyond thirty-two may not be over ten years old at the time of admission. Credit earned after acceptance as a Ph.D. applicant may not be over seven years old at the time the degree is conferred, except when, on the recommendation of the adviser, up to ten credits previously earned at Wayne State University may be specified for revalidation by examination. In the event that any courses have been previously revalidated in connection with the earning of the master's degree, these shall be counted as a part of the total ten. Time extensions beyond these limitations are authorized only for conditions which are clearly beyond the student's control.
Graduate Certificate
Programs leading to a graduate certificate are available through several University units and are open to students who meet the general graduate admission requirements of the University; individual programs may have additional admissions requirements.
The specific number of credits required for completion varies by program, though a graduate certificate program must consist of at least twelve graduate credits. Certificates may be free-standing or may be earned concurrently with a graduate degree. A certificate program must be completed within three years, a minimum honor point average of 3.0 in certificate courses must be maintained, and only nine semester credits of certificate course work may be applied toward a graduate degree.
Please consult the program description under the Graduate Certificate Program to determine admission requirements, credits required for completion, and the degree(s) required for receipt of the certificate.