A change in the declared dissertation area, for any reason, requires the approval of both the initial dissertation area advisor and subsequent dissertation area advisor. Specific dissertation and support area requirements for a student who changes dissertation areas will be determined by the area to which the student transfers at the time of the transfer. Before requesting a formal transfer, it is generally a good idea to talk to faculty in the area you wish to transfer to.
The formal procedures for changing dissertation areas are as follows:
(1) The student’s request is submitted on a form available on the Ph.D. Program website to the area advisor in the area the student is leaving. That advisor may approve or not approve the request.
(2) If approved, the request is then submitted to the area advisor in the area into which the student would like to transfer. The advisor in that area will review the request, as well as the student’s original application materials and academic record, consult with other faculty in the area, and decide to approve or not approve the transfer. (3) Final approval of the request is made by the Director of the Ph.D. Program. Leave of Absence
See Chapter 14.
Withdrawal from the Ph.D. Program
Withdrawal from the Program means terminating one’s status as a University of Chicago student. All responsibilities and privileges of being a student cease.
Withdrawal may take place voluntarily by a student who finds it no longer possible to continue in the Program for any reason. Furthermore, the Director of the Ph.D. Program may decide to terminate a student’s status in the Program by withdrawing him or her if the Director feels that the student’s academic progress is unsatisfactory, the student has surpassed the time limits for completion, or the student is unable to find faculty support for and work on a dissertation that meets Booth’s standards.
Students who do not return from a leave of absence after the maximum time allowed will be considered withdrawn from the Program.
Accounting students who withdraw from the Program before receiving their Ph.D. must return their Booth-issued laptop or personal computer.
Re-admittance into the Ph.D. Program
Students who withdraw from the Program in good academic standing (making satisfactory academic progress) or take a leave of absence from the Program and do not return at the end of the leave, may apply for re-admittance into the Program in the following manner. Re- admitted students generally do not receive financial aid, tuition grant or stipend from the Ph.D. Program.
A student who has not reached candidacy must submit a letter to the Director of the Ph.D. Program outlining the following information:
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• Reasons the student is applying for re-admission including discussion of: educational goals, professional objectives, research interests, well-formulated plans for dissertation-level research.
• A schedule for completing the Ph.D. Program based on either the degree requirements when the student began the Ph.D. Program, or the current program degree requirements (this is determined in conjunction with the area advisor), which include the following: (1) Schedule and dates for completing courses, (2) Schedule and dates for completing General Examinations, (3) Schedule for writing Curriculum Paper (4) Date for reaching candidacy, (5) Schedule for Dissertation Proposal including seminar, and (6) Schedule for Dissertation Defense including seminar.
• Agreement to pay any University-imposed fees required to re-enter.
• Agreement to re-enter as a full-time student until successful dissertation proposal.
A student who has not reached candidacy and withdrew after completing two years in the Ph.D. Program must submit a preliminary draft of his/her curriculum paper along with the information requested above.
A student who has reached candidacy must submit a preliminary draft of his/her dissertation proposal and letter to the Director of the Ph.D. Program outlining the following information:
• Reasons the student is applying for re-admission including: educational goals, professional objectives, and research interests.
• A schedule for completing the Ph.D. Program based on either the degree requirements when the student began the Ph.D. Program, or the current program degree requirements, which include the following: (1) Schedule for Dissertation Proposal including seminar and (2) Schedule for Dissertation Defense including seminar.
• Agreement to pay any University-imposed fees required to re-enter.
• Agreement to re-enter as a full-time student until successful proposal of the dissertation.
If the Director of the Ph.D. Program decides that the student is eligible to petition to be re- admitted to the Program and approves the proposed course of study, the Director contacts the Ph.D. Area Advisor in the student’s dissertation area and presents the student’s request. If the faculty in the student’s dissertation area approves the request for re-admission, the student is so informed and the conditions for re-admission are explained in a letter from the Director of the Ph.D. Program.
The Associate Director will meet with the student to discuss the process of re-admittance to the Program, including the quarter of re-entry and the amount of fees and tuition owed.
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