Ph.D. in Leadership Studies

All degree-seeking graduate students must be active and enrolled in academic endeavors every term. This begins when the student is first admitted to degree status and continues until the student has graduated.

There is one exception: If the student has completed all degree requirements prior to the beginning of a term, but did not graduate during the previous graduation cycle (for example, they failed to apply for graduation or they did not complete their thesis or dissertation by the deadline), then that student is not required to register for their final term (the term in which they will graduate).

Most students will reach candidacy status or a point in their academic careers when they have taken all of the required courses and dissertation credits, but are still working to complete degree requirements. These are examples of when continuation courses come into play. Continuation courses allow students to meet the above policy and criteria to continue deferment of loans.

In order to be reported as full-time, doctoral students must enroll in the appropriate continuation course:

• Candidacy Continuation (0 hour credit; course fee $60)
• Proposal Seminar Continuation (0 hour credit; course fee $60)
• Proposal Defense Continuation (0 hour credit; course fee $60)
• Dissertation Continuation (0 hour credit; course fee $60)
• Dissertation Defense Continuation (0 hour credit; course fee $60)

It is assumed the student enrolled in these courses will be engaged in academic work averaging 15-20 hours per week. The student’s advisor will ensure this criteria is being met.