Doctoral Student Retention Policies

Cohort and Continuous Enrollment Policy

Students accepted into a cohort are expected to maintain continuous enrollment during Summer, Fall, and Spring semesters each year. They are also expected to complete courses in the order outlined and at the time indicated on their degree sequence. Most courses are only offered once a year. Failure to adhere to the cohort’s course sequence may result in program delays and/or the need to reapply and receive program readmittance.

Doctoral students must take six hours of dissertation credits (9000 level course) after they have defended their comprehensive exams and been admitted into residency. Students must maintain continuous enrollment (Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters) in a three-credit hour dissertation course until the dissertation is completed or a leave of absence for extenuating circumstances is permitted by the IDT doctoral coordinator and doctoral advisor .  

Program Grade Policy

IDT doctoral students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 (“B”). Grades of “C+,” “C,” “C-,” “D,” “F,” or “U” will not apply toward the degree but will be computed in the GPA. No more than 9 hours of “B” or “B-” will be applied towards meeting degree requirements. 

Grades earned at another university will not be computed in the cumulative GPA.

The overall GPA required for graduation, computed on all graduate level courses completed (whether or not they are listed on the candidacy form), must be a minimum of 3.0.

Course Repetition Policy

IDT doctoral students may only repeat a course to earn a higher grade only if the original grade was a “U” or a “B” or below. No course may be repeated more than once to improve the grade. The grade earned in the second attempt will be included in the computation of the cumulative grade point average. A maximum of two courses may be repeated during the student’s doctoral career to improve a grade.

Course Transfer Policy

Course credits from another institution do not transfer automatically towards the doctoral degree. Doctoral course credits completed at another institution may be accepted, If 

1. Your doctoral advisor approves
2. It has comparable course content and objectives to a degree required course
3. The course completion date is no more than 3 years from your doctoral degree start date
4. A grade of a B+ or higher was earned in the course.
5. The course was not a research or analysis course (no research or analysis course will be considered for transfer).

Up to 12 credit hours may be transferred toward the completion of the doctoral degree.

Termination Policy

IDT doctoral students may be terminated from the degree program for any of the following reasons: 

• Earning two course grade of a “C+” or below (e.g., “C,” “C-,” “D,” “F,” “U,” or “I”) in any degree related course
• Having a GPA below 3.0 (“B”) for two consecutive semesters
• Plagiarizing on any assignment or professional work
• Receiving a dispositions warning for a second time.
• Failing to pass the comprehensive exam, proposal defense, or final dissertation defense on a second attempt.
• Students that take more than 3 years to complete the program may be required to submit a plan for degree completion to the doctoral advisor and doctoral program coordinator. Failure to adhere to the plan may also result in program dismissal.  

Procedures for termination (directed by the graduate school) will be followed