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In compliance with federal regulations for financial aid, the University defines a period of time in which a student is expected to complete a graduate program. This expiration date appears as the student’s anticipated graduation date on enrollment verifications. When that period of time expires, a student is prevented from registering for additional semesters until a request is made to, and approved by, the student’s faculty advisor and department.
The established time limit for completion of a master’s degree is five years from the date of initial enrollment. Six years are permitted for the MBA and the EMBA. For doctoral programs, the anticipated time commitment is seven years. These limits may vary based upon the program, approved leaves of absence, and any transfer credit that may be accepted. Transfer credit affects the time limit for doctoral students only (see the section on doctoral degrees ).
Students who find it necessary to exceed these time limits must request an extension of time to continue in their degree programs. Students must complete the Extension of Time to Degree Request form (available from the Registrar’s Form Index webpage) and attach a timeline or plan for completing the degree. Approval of the faculty advisor and department are required. Approved extensions must be submitted by the department to the registrar.
The first extension is granted for a period of up to one year for students enrolled in a master’s program and up to two years for students enrolled in a doctoral program (except for psychology students). Subsequent extensions are granted for a period of one year.
Students who have requested three or more extensions are subject to an intensive reevaluation of their transcript and progress to degree. At the discretion of the program, additional coursework and/or degree requirements, may be assigned to ensure the relevancy of the degree when it is earned. The approval of the dean is required after the third extension. Students who incur an excessive number of extensions and who do not make progress toward their degrees are subject to dismissal or other academic action.
Extensions of time to degree have implications for financial aid and may be restricted for international students due to federal immigration requirements. As applicable, students requiring additional time to degree should consult a financial aid representative or the international student coordinator.
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