Graduation

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When a student satisfactorily completes all academic requirements for a degree, fulfills all financial and legal obligations to the University, and meets all relevant processing deadlines, the student is eligible for graduation and to receive the appropriate degree. An eligible student may graduate at the end of a semester or a session (in December, April, June, or August); however, a Commencement Ceremony is held only following Fall, Spring and Summer I.

The graduation process requires students to

1. Apply for graduation by submitting an Application for Graduation Audit. A $55 fee will be applied to the student account. The application form may be obtained from the Registrar’s Office website http://www.wmich.edu/registrar/graduation-graduate. Doctoral students should apply at least two semesters prior to intended graduation date.
    
   • Graduation Fee and Application Deadline
   • Graduation Fee: $55
   • Application Deadlines:
     • Fall Semester Graduation (December) August 1
     • Spring Semester Graduation (April) December 1
     • Summer I Session Graduation (June) February 1
     • Summer II Session Graduation* (August) February 1
       *No Commencement Exercises in August
        
2. Fulfill all degree and University requirements and obligations.
3. If required for the degree, successfully complete, defend, and have approved by the graduate dean the master’s thesis, specialist project, or doctoral dissertation.
4. Meet all department, Graduate College, and University deadlines for the completion of all work required for the program or degree and the submission of all materials required for graduation.

All work taken either on or off the campus must be completed by graduation day.

The graduation audit, initiated by the submission of the Application for Graduation, is a process by which a student’s academic record is examined to make sure all the requirements for the degree have been met. A graduation auditor in the Registrar’s Office conducts the audit, and its outcome depends greatly on the completeness and appropriateness of the materials contained in the student’s academic record. Students should ensure that the following requirements are met and the following documents are contained in their academic record before applying for graduation:

1. A Graduate Student Permanent Program of Study is completed, approved by the advisor and graduate dean, and filed in the Registrar’s Office with the appropriate graduation auditor. The Graduate Student Permanent Program of Study should be filed as soon as practicable after the student begins enrollment following admission to the degree program.
   • Master’s degree students will file their Permanent Program of Study prior to completion of 12 credit hours of study.
   • Specialist degree students will file their Permanent Program of Study after completion of 12 credit hours of study or by the end of their first academic year of enrollment.
   • Doctoral degree students will file their Permanent Program of Study after completion of 18 credit hours of study or by the end of the second semester of enrollment.
2. All transfer credit, if applicable, is approved, and the Graduate Transfer Credit form is appropriately signed by the advisor and the graduation auditor.
3. All completed course work (and other program requirements, where applicable) coincides with the Graduate Student Permanent Program of Study.
4. Where applicable, all relevant documents are filed attesting to the approval of committee appointments, passing of comprehensive examinations, completion of research tools, successful defense of thesis or specialist project or dissertation, fulfillment of any residency requirement, and compliance with the continuous enrollment requirement within the time limit allowed for the completion of degree requirements. 

Students who do not meet all degree and University requirements will be removed from the graduation class automatically. Such students must change their graduation date. Under no circumstances will any student be graduated with a class if the student’s academic record does not show complete fulfillment of all requirements within thirty days after the established commencement date.

Students who wish to change from one graduation class to another need to complete a change of graduation date form. The graduation auditor will not automatically move the student to another graduation class. No fee is charged for submitting a change of graduation date form.

Students completing the requirements for a Graduate Certificate Program, whether together with a degree or independent of a degree, may apply for a certificate of completion. The process, fee, and requirements for obtaining a graduate certificate are similar to that described above for obtaining a degree. The essential differences are that the student applying for a graduate certificate will have been officially admitted to the certificate program, will have completed the application form entitled Application to Receive Graduate Certificate, and will have completed satisfactorily the certificate program requirements recorded on the student’s advisor-approved Graduate Certificate Program, Program Outline.

Departmental Program Policies

Each department requiring master’s theses, specialist projects, or doctoral dissertations shall clearly describe its policies to the students, their advisors/chairpersons, committee members, and The Graduate College in formal written statements.

In addition, each department and its respective college, through the student’s major advisor/chairperson and committee members, shall be responsible for the content and quality of the student’s work and final project. Approval of the substance of the thesis/project/dissertation shall rest solely with the advisor/chairperson and committee members.

The Graduate College shall be responsible for approving proper format and style of the final product. The department shares preliminary responsibility for format and style through its program policies, and through faculty advising.

In addition, each academic unit in which there is a doctoral or specialist program or a master’s thesis option will declare to the Graduate College its choice of a single style manual to be followed in the preparation of the body of the manuscript for all dissertations and theses in that unit. The academic unit may choose any manual which is considered standard to the discipline. The front a matter of the dissertation, specialist project or master’s thesis will follow the format of the University Guidelines. 

Each doctoral program at Western Michigan University shall establish, and publish in the program’s student manual, the procedures that govern the preparation and oral defense of the dissertation by the doctoral candidate. A model process is posted on the Graduate College website, but each program may establish, with the approval of The Graduate College, its own appropriate guidelines. In all cases, the manuscript must conform to the style and format requirements explained in the University’s Guidelines for the Preparation of These, Specialist Projects, and Dissertations.

Graduates of specific degree programs offered by Western Michigan University are expected to meet the same academic standards and requirements. These academic standards and requirements vary, however, by discipline, by degree level, by program concentration, and often by conditions related to a student’s admission (for example, the completion of specified courses or experiential prerequisites). For more specific information about the graduation requirements for each department’s degree programs, read the program requirements section of the relevant department’s listing in this catalog or contact the degree program’s graduate advisor or the department office.

Each certificate program must have a minimum of nine (9) hours, with the number of hours required for each certificate commensurate with the breadth and depth of the program’s topic. An outline of the Graduate Certificate Program requirements for each student must be submitted by the graduate advisor or program director to the Office of Graduation Auditing. The graduate certificate program of study will then be audited in the same manner as that used to audit a degree program. For a student concurrently pursuing a degree program and a Graduate Certificate Program, the outline of the graduate certificate program would be submitted separately from the master’s, specialist, or doctoral program of study. For a student not pursuing a graduate degree, the outline of the graduate certificate program alone would be submitted to the Office of Graduation Auditing.

A student must apply, through the Office of Graduation Auditing, to graduate with a Graduate Certificate. The following general requirements must be met:

1. Completion of the requirements, as stated on the program of study, of the Graduate Certificate Program with a “B” (3.0) or better average;
2. A grade of “C” or better must be earned in every course listed on the program of study; and
3. Completion of departmental requirements, if any, of all graduate students in that department.

To signify that a student has satisfactorily completed an approved curriculum in a Graduate Certificate program, a certificate of completion is awarded. Regular admission to the program by the relevant academic unit is required.

Courses for the certificate must be completed no more than six years prior to the conferral of the certificate. Students whose certificate programs are taken primarily through part-time study have the option of requesting an extension from the graduate dean. Extensions beyond the six years may also be granted for other students by the dean of the Graduate College for such legitimate reasons as illness, injury, or hardship. In such situations, the student and department must demonstrate how the student will bring up to date the content knowledge from courses taken more than six years before the projected date of completion of the certificate program.

For more information about the completion requirements for each certificate program, read the program requirements section of the relevant program’s listing in this catalog or contact the program’s advisor or the department office.

In addition to the minimum University requirements for graduation listed below, each master’s degree program requires students to complete satisfactorily specific courses, examinations, research, and/or experiences. For more complete information about the requirements for each master’s program, read the program requirements section of the relevant program’s listing in this catalog or contact the program’s graduate advisor or the department office.

1. Minimum Credit Hours: Completion of a minimum of thirty hours of accepted graduate credit in an approved program of study. Hours in addition to thirty may be required by a specific program; consult the program advisor for complete information.
   • At least one-half of the credits earned for the master’s degree must be in courses numbered 6000 or above.
   • A master’s level Graduate Student Permanent Program of Study may include a maximum of four hours of credit in 5980 (Readings).
2. Grade Point Average: A degree program grade point average of at least 3.0 is required for all work taken for the master’s degree at Western Michigan University.
   • Credit toward the master’s degree is granted only for graduate courses in which a grade of “C” or better is earned. Courses with lower grades will not count toward graduation.
3. Transfer Credit: Credits may be transferred from one master’s program at Western Michigan University to another as long as all requirements of the new program are met. A student enrolled in a master’s program must complete a minimum of 24 semester hours at Western Michigan University unless an agreed upon Memorandum of Understanding for a 1+1 program exists with a partner institution where specific course work and semester hours have been identified for transfer credit. Any credits transferred into a master’s program from other universities may not exceed sixteen semester credit hours. Graduate credit may be transferred from other institutions provided:
   • The credits were earned at an institution accredited for graduate study and are of “B” grade (3.0) or better. Moreover, the student’s overall grade point average for all graduate work taken at the other institution must also be “B” (3.0) or better. [Honor points and grades earned at another institution do not transfer to Western Michigan University. Transfer credit will be recorded on the Western Michigan University transcript as “Credit” (CR) only and will not be calculated into the honor points earned and the grade point average at Western Michigan University.]
   • The credit is earned within a six-year period prior to graduation from Western Michigan University, is represented on an official transcript of the other institution, and is identified on that transcript as graduate credit.
   • The student’s department verifies that the transfer credits contribute to the student’s degree program and includes them in the student’s Graduate Student Permanent Program of Study.
   • The graduate dean approves the inclusion of the transferred credits in the student’s Graduate Student Permanent Program of Study.
4. Time Limit: All work accepted for the degree program must be completed within six years preceding the date on which the master’s degree is conferred. All work must be completed satisfactorily by the day of graduation. Students whose degrees are taken primarily through part-time study have the option of requesting an extension from the graduate dean. Extensions beyond the six years may also be granted for other students by the dean of the Graduate College for such legitimate reasons as illness, injury, or hardship. In such situations, the student and department must demonstrate how the student will bring up to date the content knowledge from courses taken more than six years before the projected date of graduation.
5. Research Compliance: Students conducting research that involves human or animal subjects, biohazards, genetic materials, or nuclear materials/radiation must have prior approval of the research proposal by the appropriate University board/committee/official, thus assuring compliance with the regulations for the protection of such subjects or for the use of such materials. There are no exceptions to this requirement. For more information, call the Office of the Vice President for Research, (269) 387-8298.
6. Enrollment in Master’s Thesis (7000): A student who intends to register for the Master’s Thesis (7000) for the first time is required to file a completed Permission to Elect form (available at wmich.edu/grad/forms/) with the Graduate College before registering to ensure that the student is informed about the regulations pertaining to the preparation and submission of the manuscript and the requirements for research involving regulated subjects and hazardous materials.
7. Continuous Enrollment in 7000: The course 7000: Master’s Thesis, is six credit hours and may be registered for in increments of one to six hours. Following a student’s first enrollment in 7000, the student must have continuous enrollment in 7000 until all these requirements are completed satisfactorily and approved by the appropriate bodies. Continuous enrollment is defined as enrollment in all Fall and Spring semesters from the initial enrollment in 7000 to the semester in which the student graduates (some programs may require students to be enrolled during Summer sessions as well as Fall and Spring semesters; students should refer to respective program handbooks).
   • A student unable to complete the thesis within the first six hours of registration will be required to continuously enroll in 7000; however, only six hours of 7000 will count toward meeting the program requirements for the master’s degree.
   • If the student will graduate in Summer I or Summer II, the student must be enrolled in that session.
   • For students on continuous enrollment who are not enrolled in Summer I and Summer II sessions, pre-enrollment in the subsequent Fall semester is necessary for access to library resources during Summer I and Summer II. Students who desire to have remote access to WMU’s library databases during that Summer I and Summer II sessions may do so by paying the customary computer fee for each session in which computer and remote library services are desired.
   • Students on continuous enrollment status who are not enrolled in Summer I or Summer II may not hold graduate appointments during any session in which they are not enrolled and will not qualify for resources restricted to enrolled students, such as the Graduate Student Research and Travel Fund.
8. Submission of Master’s Thesis (7000) Manuscript: The manuscript must be submitted by the deadline established by the Graduate College and must conform to the style and format requirements explained in the University’s Guidelines for the Preparation of Theses, Specialist Projects, and Dissertations (deadlines and the guidelines available on the Graduate College website). Also, the manuscript may be submitted for review only after it has been approved by the student’s thesis committee and only with the signed committee approval forms certifying departmental approval of the manuscript and of the student’s successful defense of it. Students must submit these approval forms as well as any other documents containing signatures, such as research protocol approval letters, to the Graduate College.

See the Graduate Studies section of this catalog, under GRAD 7000, for additional information regarding the Master’s Thesis.

A student enrolled for a second master’s degree from Western Michigan University may transfer internally up to 12 semester hours from the first master’s degree from Western Michigan University and must fulfill all requirements of the second master’s degree. Any credits transferred internally into the second master’s program must have been completed within 6 years of the conferral of the second master’s degree. The second degree program must fulfill all of the other usual requirements for a master’s degree.

Students who enter a doctoral program with a bachelor’s degree may, upon recommendation of their department, acquire the master’s degree by the following means:

1. The student requests the departmental graduate advisor to review the student’s program of study to ascertain that it meets the requirements for the master’s degree.
2. The graduate advisor or chair submits a program of study demonstrating that the student has met all requirements for the master’s degree as defined by the Graduate College and the student’s academic unit/department and submits a letter indicating that the department recommends that the student be awarded the master’s degree.
3. The student files an application for graduation with a master’s degree, initiating the graduation audit which determines the student’s eligibility for graduation.
4. A student who receives a master’s degree en route to the doctoral degree must complete the minimum number of semester hours of graduate course work beyond the master’s degree specified by the doctoral program in which the student is enrolled and must meet the additional competencies that distinguish the doctoral degree from the master’s degree.
5. A separate application for graduation with a doctoral degree must be filed.

Students who enter a doctoral program holding a master’s degree may, upon recommendation of their department, acquire a second master’s degree en route to the doctoral degree by the following means:

1. Six hours from the first master’s program may be applied to the second degree if evaluated and approved by the advisor and the graduation auditor as meeting the general and program requirements for transfer credit to a graduate program.
2. The student requests the departmental graduate advisor to review the student’s program of study to ascertain that it meets the requirements for the master’s degree.
3. The graduate advisor or chair submits a signed program of study for the master’s degree demonstrating that the student has met all requirements for the master’s degree as defined by the Graduate College and the student’s academic unit/department and appends a letter indicating that the department recommends that the student be awarded a master’s degree.
4. The student files an application for graduation with a master’s degree, initiating the graduation audit which determines the student’s eligibility for graduation.
5. With the approval of the advisor, the semester hours of course work earned and applied to the second master’s degree may be applied to the doctoral degree. The student must complete the minimum number of semester hours specified by the doctoral program and must demonstrate that he or she has met the additional competencies that distinguish the doctoral degree from the master’s degree.
6. A separate application for graduation with a doctoral degree must be filed.

In addition to the minimum University requirements for graduation listed below, each specialist degree program requires students to complete specific courses, examinations, research, and/or experiences. For more complete information about the requirements for a specialist program, read the program requirements section of the relevant program’s listing in this catalog or contact the program’s graduate advisor or the department office.

1. Minimum Credit Hours: Completion of a minimum of sixty hours of accepted graduate credit in an approved program of study. Hours in addition to sixty may be required by a specific program; consult the program advisor for complete information.
   • At least one-half of the credits earned for the specialist degree must be in courses numbered 6000 or above.
   • A specialist level Graduate Student Permanent Program of Study may include a maximum of four hours of credit in 5980 (Readings).
2. Residency Requirement: A residency requirement is established by each specialist program and approved by the University’s curriculum review process and must be met prior to graduation. Unless otherwise approved by the University for an individual academic unit, the general residency requirement for specialist students is one academic semester of full-time study on campus or enrollment in two sessions in consecutive years and the intervening semesters.  Consult the program advisor for complete information.
3. Grade Point Average: A degree program grade point average of at least 3.0 is required for all work taken for the specialist degree at Western Michigan University.
   • Credit toward the specialist degree is granted only for graduate courses in which a grade of “C” or better is earned. Courses with lower grades will not count toward graduation.
4. Transfer Credit:  A student with a master’s degree from another institution who completes the remaining credits for a specialist degree at Western Michigan University may transfer up to thirty-six semester hours of approved graduate credit. A student without a master’s degree who completes a specialist degree at Western Michigan University may transfer up to twelve semester hours of approved graduate credit. Graduate credit earned at another institution is eligible for transfer to a Western Michigan University specialist program provided:
   • The credit is earned at an institution accredited for graduate study and is of “B” grade (3.0) or better. Moreover, the student’s overall grade point average for all graduate work taken at the other institution must also be “B” (3.0) or better. [Honor points and grades earned at another institution do not transfer to Western Michigan University. Transfer credit will be recorded on the Western Michigan University transcript as “Credit” (CR) only and will not be calculated into the honor points earned and the grade point average at Western Michigan University.]
   • The credit is earned within a six-year period prior to graduation from Western Michigan University, is represented on an official transcript of the other institution, and is identified on that transcript as graduate credit.
   • The student’s program advisor verifies that the transfer credits contribute to the student’s degree program and includes them in the student’s Graduate Student Permanent Program of Study.
   • The graduate dean approves the inclusion of the transferred credits in the student’s Graduate Student Permanent Program of Study.
5. Time Limit: A student admitted to the specialist program with a master’s degree is required to complete the specialist program within five years; a student admitted without a master’s degree is required to complete the specialist program within six years. Students entering with a master’s degree will be permitted five years instead of six. All work must be completed satisfactorily by the day of graduation. Students whose degrees are taken primarily through part-time study have the option of requesting an extension from the graduate dean. Extensions beyond the six years may also be granted for other students by the dean of the Graduate College for such legitimate reasons as illness, injury, or hardship. In such situations, the student and department must demonstrate how the student will bring up to date the content knowledge from courses taken more than six years before the projected date of graduation.
6. Research Compliance: Students conducting research that involves human or animal subjects, biohazards, genetic materials, or nuclear materials/radiation must have prior approval of the research proposal by the appropriate University board/committee/official, thus assuring compliance with the regulations for the protection of such subjects or for the use of such materials. There are no exceptions to this requirement. For more information, call the Office of the Vice President for Research, (269) 387-8298.
7. Enrollment in Specialist Project (7200): A student who intends to register for the course Specialist Project (7200) for the first time is required to file a completed Permission to Elect form with the Graduate College before registering to ensure that the student is informed about the regulations pertaining to the preparation and submission of the manuscript and to the requirements for research involving regulated subjects and hazardous materials.
8. Continuous Enrollment in 7200: The course 7200: Specialist Project, is six credit hours and may be registered for in increments of one to six hours. Following a student’s first enrollment in 7200, the student must have continuous enrollment in 7200 until all these requirements are completed satisfactorily and approved by the appropriate bodies. Continuous enrollment is defined as enrollment in all Fall and Spring semesters from the initial enrollment in 7200 to the semester in which the student graduates (some programs may require students to be enrolled during Summer sessions as well as Fall and Spring semesters; students should refer to respective program handbooks).  
   • A student unable to complete the project within the first six hours of registration will be required to continuously enroll in 7200; however, only six hours of 7200 will count toward meeting the program requirements for the specialist’s degree.
   • If the student will graduate in Summer I or Summer II, the student must be enrolled in that session.
   • For students on continuous enrollment who are not enrolled in Summer I and Summer II sessions, pre-enrollment in the subsequent Fall semester is necessary for access to library resources during Summer I and Summer II. Students who desire to have remote access to WMU’s library databases during that Summer I and Summer II sessions may do so by paying the customary computer fee for each session in which computer and remote library services are desired.
   • Students on continuous enrollment status who are not enrolled in Summer I or Summer II may not hold graduate appointments during any session in which they are not enrolled and may not qualify for resources restricted to enrolled students, such as the Graduate Student Research and Travel Fund.
9. Submission of Specialist Project (7200) Manuscript: The manuscript must be submitted by the deadline established by the Graduate College and must conform to the style and format requirements explained in the University’s Guidelines for the Preparation of Theses, Specialist Projects, and Dissertations (deadlines and guidelines available on the Graduate College website). Also, the manuscript may be submitted for review only after it has been approved by the student’s project committee and only with the signed committee approval forms certifying departmental approval of the manuscript and of the student’s successful defense of it. Students must submit these approval forms as well as any other documents containing signatures, such as research protocol approval letters, to the Graduate College.

See the Graduate Studies section of this catalog, under GRAD 7200, for additional information regarding the Specialist Project.

The doctoral degree is awarded by Western Michigan University on the basis of evidence that the candidate has achieved a high level of proficiency in research and scholarship, a mastery of a special field of learning, and the professional competence to work independently in that special field. The degree is not conferred merely upon fulfillment of minimum, technical requirements nor merely by accumulating course credits.

All doctoral programs at Western Michigan University have special and particular requirements for the degree, and the student will be governed by these, which are described in department handbooks and in the Graduate College Catalog.

In addition to the minimum University requirements for graduation listed below, each doctoral degree program requires students to complete specific courses, examinations, research, and/or experiences. For more complete information about the requirements for each doctoral program, read the program requirements section of the relevant program’s listing in this catalog or contact the program’s graduate advisor or the department office.

1. Minimum Credit Hours: After admission to the doctoral program, completion of a minimum of thirty hours, excluding the dissertation, at Western Michigan University in an approved program of study. Hours in addition to thirty may well be required by a specific program; consult the program advisor for complete information. The thirty hours, excluding the dissertation, may not include any credit earned at another institution. Credit earned at another institution in addition to the thirty hours and dissertation earned at WMU after admission to the doctoral program, however, may be approved by the doctoral program advisor and included in the student’s program of study.
   • Each student’s program will be planned by a committee selected in consultation between the student and the graduate advisor of the program in which the student wishes to study. The exact distribution of courses, seminars, and research will depend upon the program and may vary from one student to another. Each program, however, will contain a significant amount of research, and each student will be required to complete a dissertation [except in those programs where a dissertation is not a program requirement]. In addition to the appointment of a doctoral dissertation committee, approval of the dissertation proposal must be made by the committee.
   • At least one-half of the credits earned for the doctoral degree must be in courses numbered 6000 or above.
   • A doctoral level Graduate Student Permanent Program of Study may include a maximum of four hours of credit in 5980 (Readings).
2. Research Tools: Demonstration of proficiency in two appropriate research tools, as determined by the department and approved by the University.  Normally, the research tools are selected from among foreign language, statistics, research methodology, and computer programming; however, other tools have been approved for some programs.
3. Residency Requirement: There is no general residency requirement for doctoral students. Each doctoral program or degree-granting unit (e.g. college) may, however, with approval of the University through the curriculum review process, establish its own residency requirement. Students must meet any such residency requirement prior to approval for candidacy. (See the Graduate College website for the doctoral candidacy admission form). Students should consult with their advisor regarding the residency requirement for the specific program of interest.
4. Comprehensive Examinations: Passing the required comprehensive examination(s) that cover(s) the principal subject matter areas included in the student’s program of study.
5. Grade Point Average: A degree program grade point average of at least 3.0 (or 3.25 in some programs) is required for all work taken for the doctoral degree at Western Michigan University.
   • Credit toward the doctoral degree is granted only for graduate courses in which a grade of “C” or better is earned. Courses with lower grades will not count toward graduation.
6. Transfer Credit: Credits may be transferred from one doctoral program at Western Michigan University to another as long as all requirements of the new program are met. Often doctoral students attend Western Michigan University after earning a master’s or other graduate degree elsewhere, and their subsequent course work is then usually elected at Western Michigan University. However, graduate credit earned at another institution after admission to the doctoral program is eligible for transfer provided:
   • The credit is earned at an institution accredited for graduate study and is of “B” grade (3.0) or better. Moreover, the student’s overall grade point average for all graduate work taken at the other institution must also be “B” (3.0) or better. [Honor points and grades earned in courses at another institution do not transfer to Western Michigan University. Transfer credit will be recorded on the Western Michigan University transcript as “Credit” (CR) only and will not be calculated into the honor points earned and the grade point average at Western Michigan University. A graduate degree earned elsewhere that comprises part of the student’s doctoral program of study at Western Michigan University will be posted on the student’s transcript, but the degree’s courses, grades, and honor points will not be transferred nor posted on the transcript.]
   • The credit is earned within a seven-year period prior to graduation from Western Michigan University, is represented on an official transcript of the other institution, and is identified on that transcript as graduate credit.
   • The student’s program advisor verifies that the transfer credits contribute to the student’s degree program and includes them in the student’s Graduate Student Permanent Program of Study.
   • The graduate dean approves the inclusion of the transferred credits in the student’s Graduate Student Permanent Program of Study.
7. Time Limit: After admission, all requirements for the degree must be completed within seven years preceding the date on which the degree is conferred. Students whose degrees are taken primarily through part-time study have the option of requesting an extension from the graduate dean. Extensions beyond the seven years may also be granted for other students by the dean of the Graduate College for such legitimate reasons as illness, injury, or hardship. In such situations, the student and department must demonstrate how the student will bring up to date the content knowledge from courses taken more than seven years before the projected date of graduation.
8. Research Compliance: Students conducting research that involves human or animal subjects, biohazards, genetic materials, or nuclear materials/radiation must have prior approval of the research proposal by the appropriate University board/committee/official, thus assuring compliance with the regulations for the protection of such subjects or for the use of such materials. There are no exceptions to this requirement. For more information, call the Office of the Vice President for Research, (269) 387-8298.
9. Enrollment in Doctoral Dissertation (7300): A student who registers for the course Doctoral Dissertation (7300) for the first time is required to file a completed Permission to Elect form with the Graduate College before registering to ensure that the student is informed about the regulations pertaining to the preparation and submission of the manuscript and to the requirements for research involving regulated subjects and hazardous materials. An approved, written dissertation and the oral defense of it are required for graduation.
   • Doctoral Dissertation (7300) varies in credit from a minimum of twelve hours to a maximum of twenty-four hours. The minimum and maximum number of hours of 7300 required by each department in a student’s program of study will be determined by the department in a proposal approved by the University’s curriculum review process. A department may require all students within the program to register for a specific, common total of hours between twelve and twenty-four, or a program may require different students within the program to register for a variety of total hours between twelve and twenty-four. For more complete information about the dissertation requirements for each doctoral program, read the program requirements section of the relevant program’s listing in this catalog or contact the program’s graduate advisor or the department office.
   • See the Graduate Studies section of this catalog, under GRAD 7300, for additional information regarding the Doctoral Dissertation.
10. Continuous Enrollment in 7300: The course 7300: Doctoral Dissertation, may be registered for in increments of one or more hours. Following a student’s first enrollment in 7300, the student must have continuous enrollment in 7300 until all dissertation requirements are completed satisfactorily and approved by the appropriate bodies. Continuous enrollment is defined as enrollment in all Fall and Spring semesters from the initial enrollment in 7300 to the semester in which the student graduates (some programs may require students to be enrolled during Summer sessions as well as Fall and Spring semesters; students should refer to respective program handbooks).
    • A student unable to complete the dissertation within the number of hours specified on the program of study will be required to continuously enroll in 7300; however, only the program-stipulated hours for 7300 will count toward meeting the program requirements for the doctoral degree.
    • If the student will graduate in Summer I or Summer II, the student must be enrolled in that session.
    • For students on continuous enrollment who are not enrolled in Summer I and Summer II sessions, pre-enrollment in the subsequent Fall semester is necessary for access to library resources during Summer I and Summer II. Students who desire to have remote access to WMU’s library databases during that Summer I and Summer II sessions may do so by paying the customary computer fee for each session in which computer and remote library services are desired.
    • Students on continuous enrollment status who are not enrolled in Summer I or Summer II may not hold graduate appointments during any session in which they are not enrolled and will not qualify for resources restricted to enrolled students, such as the Graduate Student Research and Travel Fund.
11. Dissertation Defense Scheduling: The doctoral candidate must schedule an oral, public dissertation defense. The following procedures must be observed:
    • The doctoral candidate and the candidate’s advisor are responsible for scheduling the oral defense with all members of the doctoral committee, notifying the department office, and reserving the room. The department representative will then notify the Graduate College.
    • The doctoral candidate must have applied for graduation, be currently listed in an active graduation class, and the candidate’s graduation audit must show that all requirements except the defense and submission of dissertation have been met. The oral defense may not be scheduled without a graduation audit and clearance from the Office of Graduation Auditing that completion of all program requirements except the dissertation has taken place.
    • The candidate must complete the dissertation defense scheduling form found on the Graduate College website and email the abstract to the Coordinator of Theses and Dissertations.
    • The dissertation defense scheduling form must be submitted to the Graduate College at least ten (10) working days (2 weeks) prior to the proposed defense in conjunction with the Graduate College calendar of deadlines, and
    • A two-hour block of time must be reserved for the defense. At least three members of the student’s committee must be present at the defense.
12. Submission of Doctoral Dissertation (7300) Manuscript: The manuscript must be submitted by the deadline established by the Graduate College and must conform to the style and format requirements explained in the University’s Guidelines for the Preparation of Theses, Specialist Projects, and Dissertations (deadlines and guidelines available on the Graduate College website). Also, the manuscript may be submitted for review only after it has been approved by the student’s dissertation committee and only with the signed committee approval forms certifying departmental approval of the manuscript and of the student’s successful defense of it. Students must submit these approval forms as well as any other documents containing signatures, such as research protocol approval letters, to the Graduate College.
13. Publication of the Dissertation Manuscript: All doctoral dissertations will be published by ProQuest/UMI and an abstract of the dissertation will be prepared by the student for publication in their online database. A check made payable to WMU, as well as other items specified on the dissertation check-in form on the Graduate College website, must accompany the manuscript when it is submitted to the Graduate College.
14. Doctoral students must complete all requirements for graduation by the established commencement date. 

A candidate for a doctoral degree, prior to the session or semester in which the dissertation is defended, is required to have earned or completed satisfactorily the following and to have received approval by the academic program unit to continue study toward a doctoral degree:

1. A degree program grade point average of 3.0 or better (3.25 in some programs)
2. Appointment of a doctoral dissertation committee and approval of the dissertation proposal by the committee
3. All courses (excluding dissertation credit) and program requirements
4. All research tool requirements
5. Comprehensive examinations
6. Fulfillment of the residency requirement, if required by the program
7. Graduate dean’s approval of an advisor-approved Doctoral Student Permanent Program; and
8. Graduate dean’s approval of the Doctoral Candidacy form.

Individual programs may have additional requirements for candidacy. See wmich.edu/grad/forms for the doctoral candidacy admission form.

Any program change occurring after the last day of the drop/add period will be effective for the following semester or session.