Academic Performance
All graduate work in which letter grades are given will be counted in computing the GPA. Each student is required to maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 and is expected to pass each course with a grade of “C” or better. A student who receives a grade of “F” will immediately be placed on academic probation.
A student will automatically be placed on academic probation if they fall below these standards. A student on academic probation must raise their GPA to at least 3.0 by the end of the next semester or the student may be asked to withdraw from the university.
Course of Study
The Graduate School does not specify course requirements for the PhD. However, the Graduate School will not, ordinarily, approve the taking of the qualifying examination until the student has had a minimum of one continuous academic year of graduate work in courses, seminars, and directed or tutorial study. Sixty credits beyond the baccalaureate degree are the minimum requirement for the PhD and not less than half of the total credits must be in work open only to graduate students. At least 24 must have been taken in residence at the University of Miami. A minimum of 12 dissertation credits must be taken. Graduate students studying for the PhD who have received their master degree in the same field must take at least twenty-four (24) hours in residence at the University of Miami in doctoral status.
The specific course requirements for the PhD are established by each program and available in the Student Handbooks.
Time to Completion
Time to completion starts when a student begins any program in the Graduate School, whether it be a master or doctoral program. All work must be completed within six years of the time of admission to graduate work, for those studying for the various master degrees; and within eight years for those studying for doctoral degrees. For those admitted directly into a PhD program without a master degree in field, work must be completed within eight years. Individual programs may set a shorter time period. Exceptions may be granted by the Dean of the Graduate School at the request of the graduate program director.
Recency and Validation for Over-Aged Credits
Graduate credits transferred from another university may not be applied toward a graduate degree at the University of Miami if their age at the time of acceptance into the University of Miami program exceeds six years. On an individual basis, students may be permitted to validate over-aged credits by examination, with program approval.