In addition to the policies noted in this publication and on the University's web pages, the following policies are enforced for students enrolled in a doctoral program.

Advanced Standing

Students admitted to a doctoral program who have completed graduate courses elsewhere may apply to be admitted with advanced standing. The maximum number of advanced standing credits awarded will vary from program to program; however, with the exception of the DNP program, at least 45 credits of a student's doctoral program must be completed at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Up to twelve of the Minnesota State Mankato credits may be credits associated with the capstone project. Individual doctoral programs may have different credit limits.

Courses accepted as advanced standing do not affect the Minnesota State Mankato graduate grade point average. Please consult the appropriate departmental web pages to determine the doctoral program's additional policies concerning advanced standing.

Advisory Committee

During the first semester in the program each doctoral student will be assigned an advisor by the program coordinator. Students may change their advisor by completing the required forms.

The advisory committee consists of at least three members of the faculty, with the chair being a member of the research faculty of the College of Graduate Studies and Research. At least two members of the committee must be from the major area of study. Please consult the program's web pages for additional information about the composition of doctoral student advisory committees.

Qualifying Examination

Prior to beginning a doctoral dissertation or other capstone project, and at or near the time of completion of all required course work, doctoral students must pass a qualifying examination or, with the approval of the advisory committee and program, an alternate qualifying activity. This examination process is intended to determine if a student is prepared and qualified to begin work on the dissertation or other capstone project.

Qualifying examinations may contain written and oral components; in the case of oral examinations, a written evaluation will serve as documentation of the student's performance. Students who fail some or all portions of the qualifying examinations may be allowed to retake these portions. This decision is made by the student's advisory committee and the department chair, and is based on the student's overall program performance and the extent of the deficits on the qualifying examinations. No more than two attempts to pass the qualifying examination will be permitted. Second examinations should be scheduled so that sufficient time is provided to address weaknesses identified during the initial examination.

In order to be eligible to take the qualifying examination, a student must have an appointed doctoral advisory committee and have completed sufficient doctoral course work as specified by the program. No more than six credit hours may be graded as incomplete. Individual doctoral programs will have additional policies concerning qualifying examinations.

Admission to Candidacy

Admission to doctoral candidacy confirms that the student possesses sufficient knowledge of the academic specialty and has demonstrated potential to engage in, and to complete, the capstone project. After successfully completing coursework specified by the doctoral program, passing the necessary exams, and satisfying all other program requirements, the student is prepared to apply for Doctoral Candidacy. Please consult the appropriate departmental web pages to determine the doctoral program's policies concerning admission to candidacy.

A doctoral student is admitted to candidacy only with the approval of the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies and Research, acting upon the recommendation of the members of the student's advisory committee, and if applicable, the Dean of the college of the student's content area.

Continuous Registration

Students enrolled in a doctoral program must register for at least three academic credits for each fall and spring semester until all courses and examinations are completed, and the student is admitted to candidacy. Thereafter, doctoral students are required to register for at least one credit every semester until they receive their degree. Registration for summer sessions will not substitute for the mandatory registration during both semesters of the academic year.

Students who fail to register each semester after passing qualifying examinations must arrange to register for the missing semester credit hours, or the student will not graduate.

Dissertation

Doctoral programs often require a dissertation as the program's capstone project. At the very least, the dissertation must make a unique contribution to what has previously been written and known. The dissertation must be approved by the majority of the members of the student's advisory committee and ust be presented in a standard scholarly format as established by the program and the College of Graduate Studies and Research.

Approved dissertations must be submitted to the College of Graduate Studies and Research by the deadlines established by the College. Students should consult the graduate program's policies concerning the dissertation and other capstone projects.

Doctoral Student Time Limit

Students must complete all doctoral program requirements, including the dissertation or other capstone project, within seven years of being admitted into the doctoral program. After seven years, doctoral candidacy is terminated for students who have not completed the dissertation or other capstone project. Students may apply for readmission by submitting a letter requesting readmission to the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies and Research. If readmitted, such students must again pass a qualifying examination and fulfill other conditions imposed by the department in order to establish currency. If the qualifying examinations are passed and the other conditions are met, students are readmitted to candidacy. They then have three years from this date to complete a dissertation (or other applicable) capstone project. The Psy.D. program imposes a different time limit for students completing the Psy.D. progrm, and students should review that program's specific doctoral policies.