The duration of the graduate program varies from person-to-person, and may depend on factors such as whether or not the student already has a Masters degree, whether or not the student is also planning to complete a Clinical Fellowship during the course of the program, the number of years of full-time enrollment, and how long completion of the dissertation takes.

Full-time

It is generally recommended that students plan to complete the PhD full-time. Students with a Masters degree who are enrolled full-time and who do not also need to complete their Clinical Fellowship may complete the PhD in approximately 4 to 5 years. This typically includes 2-3 years of coursework and 2-3 years of dissertation work.

Part-time

Part-time enrollment is possible for a portion of the program, although less financial assistance is available to part-time students and the program will also take longer to complete. Additionally, it is required that all PhD students spend at least two semesters enrolled as a full-time student. PhD students who complete their Clinical Fellowship or who retain employment elsewhere will take longer than the 4-5 years anticipated for students who are enrolled full-time.

See the Advancement to Candidacy/Time to Degree section of the Academic Rules for current timelines and requirements. Candidates must reach candidacy (complete all required course work and pass the qualifying examination) within 7 years from the date of matriculation into the doctoral program. In addition, the doctoral degree must be completed within 5 years from the end of the semester in which candidacy was granted.