Guidance (Academic Requirements) – Final Examination: Dissertation Defense

A Final Examination may be scheduled if: (a) a student passed a General Examination in a previous quarter; (b) a reading committee is officially established with the Graduate School; (c) the reading committee has read an entire draft of the dissertation and; (d) the entire supervisory committee has agreed that the student is prepared and has approved the student to schedule a Final Examination. At least four members of a supervisory committee (including the Chair, Graduate School Representative, and one additional Graduate Faculty member) must be present at the examination.

If the Final Examination is satisfactory, the supervisory committee members who participate at the examination sign the committee signature form and return it to the student’s graduate program by the last day of the quarter (last day of finals week). Any members of a supervisory committee who participate at an examination but do not agree with the majority opinion are encouraged to submit a minority report to the Dean of the Graduate School. If an examination is unsatisfactory, a supervisory committee may recommend that the Dean of the Graduate School permit a second examination after a period of additional study.

Registration as a graduate student is required the quarter that a Final Examination is taken AND the quarter the dissertation is submitted. The degree is conferred the quarter in which the student’s dissertation is accepted by the Graduate School.

A candidate certificate and the doctoral degree may not be awarded the same quarter.

Guidance (Academic Requirements) – If a Committee Member is Missing

A quorum of four members from the supervisory committee (including the Chair(s), GSR, and one additional Graduate Faculty member) must be present at a General and Final Exam (see Graduate School Policy 1.1 for details). In the event that a member of the committee should unexpectedly not attend an exam, the following procedures should be followed.

If the Chair or a Co-Chair is not present, wait 15 minutes (or longer if appropriate) then adjourn the exam and reschedule to a later time/date.
If the GSR is not present, wait 15 minutes then notify your department’s GPA. The student’s department may ask a member of the graduate faculty outside its department and the Chair’s department to serve as a replacement. The GPA must ensure that the proposed candidate is eligible to serve as a GSR. Once the replacement GSR is present, the exam may proceed. Before conveying the exam outcome, the GPA must update the student’s GSR in MyGrad Program.
If a general member is not present and the quorum (as stated above) is not intact, the exam should be adjourned and rescheduled to a later time/date, OR, the exam may adjourn momentarily until another field-specific faculty member can be found as a replacement.
If a general member is not present but the quorum (as stated above) is intact, the exam may proceed.

In all cases, an attempt must be made to contact the absent member before taking any action.

Updated: May 2026

Guidance (Academic Requirements) – Instructions for Virtual Doctoral Examinations

Departments may hold General and Final Examinations virtually, either as an option for all students, or by exception at the discretion of the program’s GPC.

Below are the minimum Graduate School requirements regarding virtual doctoral examinations. Individual departments may have stricter requirements and participants should contact the departments prior to organizing virtual examinations.

Graduate School Requirements

As stated in Graduate School Policy 1.1., General and Final Examinations must have four committee members present – the Chair, GSR and at least one additional Graduate Faculty member. If any member(s) and/or the student needs to participate at an exam but cannot be physically present, the Graduate School allows for virtual examinations if the following requirements are met:

The minimum number of required committee members (four, as specified above) must attend the examination in person or virtually. If communication is broken during the examination and cannot be retrieved, thereby not fulfilling the minimum number of exam participants, the examination must be terminated and rescheduled to a later time/date. [See Also: Guidance (Academic Requirements) – If a Committee Member is Missing]
Units may create their own additional guidelines for in person, virtual, or hybrid examinations.

If the above stated requirements are not met, the examination may be invalid and the Graduate School may require another examination.

Additional Recommendations:

For exams scheduled across time zones, the examined student’s time zone should be prioritized in a compromise time that is reasonable to examiners.

Programs that require “public” final examinations should use their discretion in determining how widely links to the video service are shared. The use of waiting rooms and/or passwords is strongly encouraged.

For information on videoconferencing services, contact Learning & Scholarly Technologies and Classroom Support Services.

Revised: August 2022, April 2025

Guidance (Academic Requirements) – Graduate School Representative (GSR) Eligibility

In order to serve as a Graduate School Representative (GSR), the proposed candidate:

Must be a Graduate Faculty member with an endorsement to chair (check Graduate Faculty Locator).
Must be clear of any conflicts of interest (see below). The GSR is responsible for ensuring that no such conflicts of interest, or appearance of conflicts of interest, exist, and must attest to this upon request.

	Primary Appt.	Joint Appt.	Affiliate Appt.	Adjunct Appt.
Proposed GSR has appt in student’s/committee chair’s dept	No	No	No	Yes
Proposed GSR does not have appt in student’s/committee chair’s dept	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Proposed GSR has conflict of interest*	No	No	No	No

Yes = eligible to serve
No = not eligible to serve

Budgetary relationships, personal relationships, or research and/or publication relationships between the GSR and either the student or the committee chair are examples of possible conflicts of interest.

Policy 4.2: Supervisory Committee for Graduate Students

The Graduate School, per EO VII, has jurisdiction over the membership of committees charged with supervising advanced course programs and dissertations of students in the various fields of graduate study.

The supervisory committee serves important evaluative and mentoring functions for the student throughout the student’s graduate career. Programs may specify additional requirements of the supervisory committee as described in their program handbook.

Each committee must have a Committee Chair (or Co-Chairs) who is able and willing to assume principal responsibility for advising the student and should have adequate time available for this work and be accessible to the student.

[Note: Questions about the timeline and process for appointing a supervisory committee for master’s or doctoral students should be directed to the Graduate School’s Graduate Enrollment Management Services (GEMS) office. All other questions about supervisory committee appointment or function, as well as concerns about the proceedings of an exam, should be directed to the Graduate School’s Office of Academic Affairs.]

4.2.1 The Master’s Supervisory Committee

Appointment of a supervisory committee for students pursuing the master’s degree is made by the Graduate Program Coordinator (GPC), acting on behalf of the Graduate Faculty of the degree‑offering unit. The GPC approves and appoints the committee in consultation with the student and appropriate Graduate Faculty members.

4.2.1.1 Committee Composition

A master’s supervisory committee must:

include at least two members.
have at least one‑half of its members drawn from the Graduate Faculty.
have a Committee Chair who is a member of the Graduate Faculty.
- A program can petition to the Office of Academic Affairs to have a non-Graduate Faculty member serve as Committee Chair if: 1) the student’s area of specialization is uniquely supported by the proposed Committee Chair, and 2) one-half of the total committee members are Graduate Faculty.

4.2.2 The Doctoral Supervisory Committee other than Practice Doctorates

The appointment of a doctoral supervisory committee indicates that the Graduate Faculty in the student’s field find the student has developed the skills and knowledge necessary to prepare for their general examination and doctoral research. It is approved according to the rules and published norms of the program by the Graduate Program Coordinator (GPC) after consultation with appropriate Graduate Faculty members in the student’s field and with the student.

4.2.2.1 Doctoral Committee Responsibilities

Doctoral supervisory committee member responsibilities include the approval of a course of study which will fulfill the general course requirements of the student’s major and supporting fields, conducting the student’s General Examination and, when appropriate, recommending advancement to candidacy.

The doctoral supervisory committee approves the candidate’s dissertation proposal and provides intellectual mentorship supporting the development of the dissertation. The Graduate School does not stipulate the content of the dissertation; guidance on the dissertation is the responsibility of the supervisory committee.

[For doctoral committee responsibilities for the General Exam and Final Exam, see Policy 1.1.4. See also: Guidance (Academic Requirements) – Final Examination: Dissertation Defense, Guidance (Academic Requirements) – Instructions for Virtual Doctoral Examinations, and Guidance (Academic Requirements) – If a Committee Member is Missing]

4.2.2.2 Committee Composition

The doctoral supervisory committee must:

include a minimum of four members.
include at least three Graduate Faculty members with Doctoral Endorsement, including the Committee Chair and the Graduate School Representative (GSR).
have a majority of members who are Graduate Faculty.
include members—except the GSR—who are identified by the student’s appointing department or program as productive scholars in the student’s major field and/or subfields

4.2.2.3 The Committee Chair

A program can petition to the Office of Academic Affairs to have Graduate Faculty member without Doctoral Endorsement serve as chair if: 1) the student’s area of specialization is uniquely supported by the proposed chair, and 2) one-half of the total committee members have a Doctoral Endorsement.
Emeritus and affiliate faculty may serve as Chair(s) if the above conditions are met.
If a committee has Co-Chairs, both serve with equal importance on a student’s supervisory committee and equally share the responsibility for the student’s progress. In the case of Co-Chairs, one Co-Chair must have a Graduate Faculty appointment with a Doctoral Endorsement. The other Co-Chair may be appointed without Graduate Faculty status if the individual has a qualified UW faculty appointment. Qualified faculty appointments in this context are those titles eligible for continuous or five-year Graduate Faculty roles (see this document for the list of eligible titles). A Co-Chair without qualified UW faculty appointment may be appointed only by petition through the Office of Academic Affairs to the Dean of the Graduate School or the Dean’s designee.

4.2.2.4 The Graduate School Representative (GSR)

The GSR represents the broad interests of the Graduate School with respect to high standards of scholarly performance. The GSR is a voting member of the dissertation supervisory committee, and as such provides an important service function to the Graduate School and the University.

4.2.2.4.1 GSR Eligibility

The GSR:

must be a member of the Graduate Faculty with a Doctoral Endorsement.
may have a scholarly area that differs from that of the student’s dissertation project.
must not have any actual or perceived conflicts of interest with the student or graduate program. The GSR is responsible for ensuring that no such conflict exists. Budgetary relationships, personal relationships, research and/or publication relationships between the GSR and either the student or the Committee Chair are examples of possible conflicts of interest. Faculty members with a primary, joint, or affiliate appointment in the student’s degree-offering unit or the Committee Chair’s department are not eligible to serve as the GSR.

4.2.2.4.2 GSR Responsibilities

The GSR must meet the following Graduate School requirements:

attest to the validity of examinations and indicate approval of the process by which examinations are conducted;
ensure that the student is treated in an unbiased manner; and
represent the Graduate School in ensuring university-wide standards of scholarly performance.

In addition, any graduate program may choose to further define the role of the GSR to include one or both of the following:

ensure that the student’s mastery of the subject matter is broad and comprehensive.
serve as a neutral resource to support clarity and fairness as the student navigates the exam and dissertation process.

Any additional expectations for the GSR beyond the Graduate School requirements must be clearly articulated and communicated in writing by the Graduate Program Coordinator (GPC) or designee to all parties (student, chair, committee members, GSR) upon appointment of the GSR. The minimum role of the GSR must be defined consistently across all committees in the graduate program.

The GSR’s signature on the committee signature form affirming the decision of the committee communicates to the Dean of the Graduate School that the Graduate School and program-level responsibilities have been met.

4.2.2.5 The Reading Committee

After the General Examination, the GPC or their delegate informs the Dean of The Graduate School of at least three members of the supervisory committee who will serve on the reading committee. At least one of the members of the reading committee must hold a Doctoral Endorsement.

It is the responsibility of the reading committee to:

ensure that the dissertation is a significant contribution to knowledge and is an acceptable piece of scholarly writing.
determine the appropriateness of a candidate’s dissertation as a basis for issuing the Committee Signature Form for a Final Examination.

4.2.3 The Practice Doctorate Supervisory Committee

The appointment of a practice doctoral supervisory committee indicates that the Graduate Faculty in the student’s field finds the student has developed the skills and knowledge necessary to complete the requirements of the doctoral program. The GPC initiates the appointment of the committee after consultation with appropriate Graduate Faculty members in the student’s field and with the student.

4.2.3.1 Committee Responsibilities

Responsibilities of the practice doctoral supervisory committee include: approval of the student’s program of study; criteria for progression, which may include a general examination, certification, or other requirements set by the graduate program; approval and oversight of the student’s project proposal; and approval of the completed project.

4.2.3.2 Committee Composition

The practice doctoral committee must:

include a minimum of three members.
be chaired by a Graduate Faculty member with a Doctoral Endorsement (unless petitioned under the conditions described in 4.2.4.3).
include at least one‑half Graduate Faculty members with primary, joint, emeritus, or adjunct appointments in the degree program’s academic unit and holding one of the following titles at any rank: Professor, Professor (WOT), Teaching Professor, Research Professor, Professor of Clinical Practice or Clinical Professor (Salaried).
- A program can petition to the Office of Academic Affairs to have more than half of their committee be non-Graduate Faculty if 1) the student’s area of specialization is uniquely supported by the expertise of the non-graduate faculty, and 2) the committee is chaired by a Graduate Faculty member with Doctoral Endorsement.
have any non-Graduate Faculty members identified by the program as productive scholars or practitioners in the student’s major field and/or subfields.

4.2.3.3 Committee Chair

Emeritus faculty may serve as a Chair if they can meet the time and access expectations of the role.
A program can petition to the Office of Academic Affairs to have a Graduate Faculty member without Doctoral Endorsement serve as chair if: 1) the student’s area of specialization is uniquely supported by the proposed chair, and 2) at least one committee member is endorsed to chair.
Co-chairs may be appointed when both serve with equal importance on a student’s supervisory committee and equally share the responsibility for the student’s progress. One Co-Chair must have a Graduate Faculty appointment with Doctoral Endorsement. The other Co-Chair may be appointed without Graduate Faculty status if the individual has a qualified UW faculty appointment. Qualified faculty appointments in this case are those appointments eligible for continuous or five-year graduate faculty roles. A Co-Chair without qualified UW faculty appointment may be appointed only by petition through the Office of Academic Affairs to the Dean of the Graduate School or the Dean’s designee.

4.2.4 Program Responsibilities in Committee Formation and Maintenance

While students hold primary responsibility for forming and maintaining their supervisory committee, programs are accountable for meeting their own obligations as outlined in the sections below—including providing clear written expectations, proactive advising, and timely documentation—so that students are adequately supported in fulfilling this responsibility.

Programs should strive to admit only the number of students who can be well supported by available faculty who are qualified to serve as supervisory committee chairs and members. Programs are not required to guarantee that a student will be able to work with a specific faculty committee chair or supervisory committee member.

[Note: This policy does not address student funding. Funding offers that are contingent on a student working with specific faculty should clearly state the conditions on which the offer depends.]

4.2.4.1 Interim Faculty Point of Contact

Students must have a faculty point of contact at all times. Once a committee is established, the Committee Chair is the faculty point of contact.

If a student does not yet have a Committee Chair, or if they lose their Committee Chair, they must be assigned an Interim Faculty Point of Contact. While it is the student’s responsibility to find a Committee Chair, the Interim Faculty Point of Contact plays an essential support role during these periods.

The Graduate Program Coordinator (GPC) must either serve in this role or delegate this responsibility to another faculty member (for example, another member of the committee) who agrees to serve.

The Interim Faculty Point of Contact:

is responsible for assisting the student in registering for research, thesis, or dissertation credits.
is responsible for providing good‑faith academic guidance, as needed, to help the student determine whether and how a viable graduate committee can be formed (or re-formed), based on the student’s scholarly objectives, available faculty expertise, and applicable Graduate School and program policies; the Faculty Point of Contact is not responsible for securing a Committee Chair or resolving the absence of one.
is not a replacement for a Committee Chair and therefore cannot be required to provide the student with content-specific expertise, review of their scholarly work, or funding.
does not fulfill the expectation that students have a complete supervisory committee.

4.2.4.2 Program Responsibilities related to committee formation and maintenance.

As the representatives of their degree programs per Policy 4.3, GPCs, assisted as appropriate by GPAs and/or additional delegates, must:

ensure students and committee members receive clear communication about relevant Graduate School policies, including this policy (Policy 4.2: Supervisory Committees) and Policy 4.1 (Membership in Graduate Faculty).
provide guidance, including clear written information, about committee formation timelines and any committee composition requirements beyond those in this policy. This includes any expectations related to department membership or the disciplinary expertise of chairs and/or members.
ensure committee members, especially those outside of the program (e.g., GSRs) are aware of program-specific committee member responsibilities and expectations.
ensure students receive timely communication (e.g., required annual review, quarterly letters as needed) of expectations and available options for progress towards the degree.
monitor student progress toward committee formation or re-formation by conducting periodic check- When progress falls behind expected timelines, the program should provide written guidance to the student and identify next steps in a Notification or Academic Alert (per GSP 3.7.3).
document when students report difficulties such as patterns of miscommunication, unavailability of faculty with the appropriate scholarly expertise, or personality conflicts that may impede formation or maintenance of a viable committee.
consult with their department chair, appropriate school, college, or campus administrator and/or the Graduate School’s Associate Dean of Student Success. The Civil Rights Compliance Office should be consulted in circumstances where harassment, bullying or other types of unprofessional behavior are claimed as issues preventing the formation or maintenance of supervisory committee or appointment of the chair.

4.2.4.3 Unsatisfactory Progress in Supervisory Committee formation.

Failure to establish or maintain a supervisory committee by the program’s required deadline must be documented with clear expectations for committee composition and due dates and an opportunity for the student to resolve the issue through the processes described in Policy 3.7.3: Unsatisfactory Performance and Progress Documentation. This includes at least two quarters of documentation and communication with the student, consisting of an Academic Alert followed by a Final Academic Alert, before the Graduate School will consider an Academic Drop. Expedited procedures under GSP 3.7.5 cannot be applied when the only documented issue is the lack of a complete supervisory committee, except in the following circumstance:

Programs with lab rotations or similar models in which students are expected to find a chair or committee by an established date can issue either an Academic Notification or Academic Alert at least two quarters prior to the due date before issuing a Final Academic Alert in the quarter prior to the due date if they plan to Academically Drop students who have not identified a chair/committee. This process must be documented in student-facing materials such as the student handbook.

4.2.5 Responsibility of the supervisory committee chair in research involving human or animal subjects

For any thesis or dissertation project that may include human or animal subjects, the GPC or GPA must advise the student of the need to comply with the University of Washington Human Subjects Division and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee’s requirements, as appropriate. The program should maintain documentation that the committee chair and students have been so advised.

Policy 4.2 revised: October 2021, March 2022; May 2022; December 2022, October 2023, January 2025, May 2026

Policy 4.2.3.1 revised February 2025

Policy 4.2.1 and 4.2.3 revised March 2023

Policy 4.2.3.6 and 4.2.4 revised March 2023

Policy 4.2.3.7 and 4.2.3.9 were deleted March 2023, with content moved to Policy 1.1

Policy 4.2.4 added May 2026

Policy 1.1: Graduate Degree Requirements

The Graduate School defines minimum degree requirements for all University of Washington graduate programs.

Individual graduate programs may have degree requirements that exceed the Graduate School minimum requirements. The Graduate Faculty with oversight of a graduate program have primary responsibility for assuring that students recommended for graduation have satisfactorily fulfilled the degree requirements for the program in which they are enrolled.

A student must meet the degree requirements in effect in the term they graduate. When proposing changes to degree requirements, programs can work with the Graduate School to establish a transitional exception plan for students enrolled before the change.

1.1.1 Requirements Applying to All Graduate Degree Programs

A graduate degree program consists of a coherent body of study beyond the baccalaureate degree that includes a meaningful progression of coursework and includes a final culminating experience or an integrated experience across the curriculum. [Note: Examples of culminating experiences include a thesis, dissertation, other creative work, capstone project, comprehensive examination, or supervised field experience. Integrated learning experiences are those that intentionally link courses, concepts, and practical activities across a program so students see how different parts of the curriculum work together.]

1.1.1.1 Minimum coursework requirements

Credits applied towards graduate degree requirements must include University of Washington coursework of (1) at least 18 credits at the 500 level and above; and (2) at least 18 numerically graded credits of 400- and 500-level coursework, excluding 499 and transfer credit (credit earned at a different institution).
Graduate degree requirements consist primarily of graduate-level coursework at the 500-level and above. Courses at the 300 level and 400 level may be part of a student’s course of study and applied toward graduate degree requirements when confirmed by the Graduate Faculty with oversight of a graduate program to have a level of rigor and depth appropriate to the graduate program and to have a subject matter closely aligned with the degree program’s outcomes.
Coursework at the 300 level may not be applied towards the minimum 18 graded credits and may not be applied towards more than one-third of total degree requirements, except by petition to the Graduate School from the graduate program.
A minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 is required to earn a graduate degree, and a minimum of 2.7 is required in each course that is counted toward graduate degree requirements. [Note: per Scholastic Regulations 110, The GPA for graduate students is calculated entirely on the basis of numeric grades in 400- and 500-level courses]

1.1.1.2 Credits taken prior to program enrollment.

With program approval and confirmation of policy compliance by the Graduate School:

- Up to 6 credits of 400-level or 500-level coursework, completed as a senior while an undergraduate at the University of Washington, may be applied towards graduate degree requirements [Note: See Policy 1.6 for information on exceptions to this policy for Combined Undergraduate – Graduate (CUG) programs].
- A restricted amount of Graduate Non-Matriculated (GNM) credit may be applied towards degree requirements, as described in Policy 3.3.
Credit taken while enrolled as a non-matriculated (NM) student or while matriculated as a post-baccalaureate student at the University of Washington may not be applied towards graduate degree requirements.
Credit by independent study or advanced credit examination from UW undergraduate or other institutions cannot be applied to graduate degree requirements.
The number of credits from other institutions (transfer credits) that can be counted toward UW graduate degrees depends on the degree type as described in sections 1.1.2-1.1.5.

1.1.1.3 Culminating Experience

If included as part of the degree requirements, a program may offer multiple culminating experience options, provided that the overall level of achievement for the degree remains the same.
A student must be registered for credit the quarter in which any required exam or presentation occurs.
A student must maintain registration as a full-time or part-time graduate student for the quarter during which the degree is conferred.
The Graduate School does not require that student presentations (such as Final Examinations/Defenses, thesis presentations, or capstone presentations) be public. Programs may elect to require public presentations, but must clearly state their expectations and requirements for presentations in their program handbooks, including:
- Whether presentations are expected to be open to the public (i.e., not limited to departmental faculty or invited guests).
- How presentations are typically advertised.
- A process by which students may petition for a more limited audience. This process and the criteria used to evaluate petitions will be determined at the program-level.
- [Note: This requirement was enacted in February 2026, programs should update their handbooks by Autumn 2026]
[Note: Advertising a presentation (e.g., via email, website, or posters) is distinct from the requirement that a presentation be public. Advertising must comply with FERPA. It is a FERPA violation to publish presentation information to audiences beyond departmental faculty for students who have opted out of UW Directory Information without receiving their written (on paper or digital) permission. It is best practice to obtain documented permission (written or through forms) from all students prior to advertising their presentation.]

1.1.2 The Master’s Degree

In addition to the requirements listed under Policy 1.1.1 :

Master’s degree requirements must include a minimum of 36 credits.
Time to master’s degree limits should be established at the program level and clearly communicated to all newly enrolled students. In the absence of program-level limits, the Graduate School’s default policy is that all work applied to the master’s must be completed within six years from the time of first enrollment. Periods spent on leave or out of status count toward this time. Students nearing or past the program’s limit should be placed on Academic Alert (potentially leading to Final Academic Alert and Academic Drop; Policy 3.7.3). Extensions of time to degree limits can be made at the program level.
A master’s program must require a final culminating (such as a thesis or capstone course), or integrated experience across the curriculum except for applied professional programs when justified in the program proposal and where a coursework-only program is the standard in the field.

1.1.2.1 Coursework that may be applied towards master’s degree requirements.

With program approval and policy compliance confirmation by the Graduate School:
- A maximum of 6 quarter credits of graduate-level (500-level or equivalent) coursework taken at another recognized academic institution may be transferred and apply to UW master’s degree requirements.
- Up to 12 credits from a previously enrolled UW graduate or professional degree program may be applied toward current degree requirements. These credits may not be used to satisfy the thesis or culminating experience requirement. If a degree was completed, then credits:
  - Cannot count toward the minimum 36 total credits required for master’s degrees.
  - Cannot count toward the 18 numerically graded credits required for graduate degrees.
- Any number of credits applied to a UW graduate certificate in the same program may be counted towards master’s degree requirements. These credits may not be applied towards the degree’s thesis or culminating experience requirement.
No more than 12 credits derived from any combination of GNM credits, previous UW credits and transfer credits may be applied towards the total degree requirements. These credits may not be applied towards the thesis or culminating experience requirement.

1.1.2.2 Thesis Programs

The master’s thesis provides evidence of the graduate student’s ability to conduct independent investigation and to present the results in clear and systemic form. [Note: See Policy 4.2.1for any thesis that will include human or animal subjects.]
- The thesis must be written in the English language. If there are circumstances that warrant a thesis in another language, the program may petition the Graduate School.
- A thesis program must include a minimum of 9 thesis credits (700, per Policy 4.2).
- Thesis credits cannot be applied to requirements for a non-thesis master’s degree.

1.1.2.3 Final Examination

If a master’s program requires a final examination, it may be either oral or written. A majority of the supervisory committee (see Policy 4.2.1) must approve for satisfactory completion, and all members of the supervisory committee must certify examination results (either through a Committee Signature Form or through a department or school-level process).
If an examination is unsatisfactory, and if permitted by the graduate program, a supervisory committee may, with notification to the Graduate School, allow the student to take another examination after a period of further study. A maximum of two re-examinations is permitted.

1.1.3 The Educational Specialist Degree

In addition to the requirements listed under Policy 1.1.1 :

Educational specialist degree requirements must include a minimum of 54 credits. An educational specialist program may require more than this minimum.
Degree requirements must include at least 6 credits of capstone experience (750 – Educational Specialist Capstone, per Policy 2.1)
Time to educational specialist degree limits should be established at the program level and clearly communicated to all newly enrolled students. In the absence of program-level limits, the Graduate School’s default policy is that all work applied to the degree must be completed within six years from the time of first enrollment. Periods spent on leave or out of status count toward this time. Students nearing or past the program’s limit should be placed on Academic Alert (potentially leading to Final Academic Alert and Academic Drop; Policy 3.7.3). Extensions of time to degree limits can be made at the program level.”

1.1.3.1 Coursework that may be applied towards educational specialist degree requirements.

With program approval and confirmation of policy compliance by the Graduate School,
- Up to 12 credits from a previously enrolled UW graduate or professional degree program may be applied toward current degree requirements. These credits may not be used to satisfy the thesis or culminating experience requirement. If the previous degree was completed:
  - Credits cannot count toward the minimum 54 total credits required for educational specialist degrees.
  - Credits cannot count toward the 18 numerically graded credits required for graduate degrees.
- A maximum of 12 quarter credits of graduate-level (500-level or equivalent) coursework taken at another recognized academic institution may be transferred and apply to UW educational specialist degree requirements.
- Any number of credits applied to a UW graduate certificate in the same program may be counted towards educational specialist degree requirements. These credits may not be applied towards the degree’s capstone requirement.
No more than 12 credits derived from any combination of GNM credits, previous UW graduate credits and transfer credits may be applied towards the total degree requirements. These credits may not be applied towards the capstone requirement.

1.1.4 Doctoral Degrees other than Practice Doctorates

In addition to the requirements listed under Policy 1.1.1, the following requirements apply to all doctoral degrees other than practice doctorates:

Doctoral degree requirements must include a minimum of 90 credits beyond the baccalaureate. A doctoral degree program may require more than this minimum.
Doctoral programs require a culminating experience, with PhD programs requiring original research reflected in the dissertation. [See Policy 4.2.2for any dissertation that will include human or animal subjects.]
Time to doctoral degree limits should be established at the program level and clearly communicated to all newly enrolled students. In the absence of program-level limits, the Graduate School’s default policy is that all work applied to the doctoral degree must be completed within ten years of enrollment in the PhD program or master’s program in the same unit. Periods spent on leave or out of status count toward this time. Students nearing or past the program’s limit should be placed on Academic Alert (potentially leading to Final Academic Alert and Academic Drop; Policy 3.7.3). Extensions to time to degree limits can be made at the program level.

1.1.4.1 General Examination

The student must successfully pass a general examination.

Prior to the General Examination:

At least 18 credits of coursework at the 500 level and above must be completed prior to scheduling the general examination.
At least 18 graded credits of 400- and 500-level coursework, excluding 499, must be completed prior to scheduling the general examination.
At least 60 credits must be completed before taking the general exam. Some of these credits may be taken the same quarter of the exam.
All members of the supervisory committee (Policy 4.2.2) must approve that the student’s background of study and preparation is sufficient to schedule the General Examination.

The General Examination:

Registration as a graduate student is required the quarter that the General Examination is taken.
At least four members of the committee (including the Chair(s), GSR, and one additional Graduate Faculty member) must be physically or virtually present at the General Examination.
If the General Examination is satisfactory, the supervisory committee members who participate in the examination sign the Committee Signature Form.
If an examination is unsatisfactory, and if permitted by the graduate program, a supervisory committee may, with notification to the Graduate School, allow the student to take another examination after a period of further study. A maximum of two re-examinations is permitted.
If members of the doctoral supervisory committee do not agree with the majority recommendation concerning the examination, the minority report portion of the Committee Signature Form must be used.

1.1.4.2 Advancement to Candidacy

Advancement to Candidacy indicates successful completion of the general examination and all other requirements for the doctoral degree except satisfactory completion of the dissertation and the final examination. This is recognized for the Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Musical Arts, and Doctor of Education degrees that are not practice doctorates [See also Scholastic Regulations Chapter 114.7].

1.1.4.3 Dissertation

Requirements must include preparation of and acceptance by the Dean of the Graduate School of a dissertation that is a significant contribution to knowledge and clearly demonstrates research training.
The dissertation must be written in the English language. If there are circumstances that warrant a dissertation in another language, the program may petition the Graduate School.
The student must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 27 credits of dissertation (800, per Policy 4.2) over a period of at least three quarters, with at least one quarter occurring after the general examination.
Students are limited to a maximum of 10 credits of dissertation per quarter, unless they receive program approval to register for up to 18 credits.

1.1.4.4 Final Examination

The student must pass a final examination usually focused on the dissertation and the field with which it is concerned.

Prior to the Final Examination:

When the reading committee has read a draft of the entire dissertation and the members of the doctoral supervisory committee agree that the Candidate is prepared to take the Final Examination, all members of the doctoral supervisory committee must give the student approval to schedule the Final Examination.
The General Examination and Final Examination cannot occur during the same quarter.

The Final Examination:

At least four members of the committee (including the Chair(s), GSR, and one additional Graduate Faculty member) must be physically or virtually present at the Final Examination.
At the Final Examination, the dissertation is evaluated and, if a majority of the supervisory committee members in attendance agree that the evaluation is positive, the recommendation is made to the Dean of the Graduate School (via the Committee Signature Form) that the degree be awarded.
If members of the doctoral supervisory committee do not agree with the majority recommendation concerning the examination, the minority report portion of the Committee Signature Form must be used.
If an examination is unsatisfactory, and if permitted by the graduate program, a supervisory committee may, with notification to the Graduate School, allow the student to take another examination after a period of further study. A maximum of two re-examinations is permitted.

1.1.4.5 Coursework that may be applied towards doctoral degree requirements.

With the approval of the graduate program and confirmation of policy-compliance by the Graduate School:

A master’s degree in a relevant field of study from an accredited institution, including UW, may substitute for up to 30 of the required 90 credits. No other transfer credits are allowed for doctoral programs. Transfer credits may not be applied towards the dissertation or culminating experience requirement.
Any number of credits applied to a UW master’s degree in the same program may be counted towards doctoral degree requirements. These credits may not be applied towards the dissertation or culminating experience requirement.
Up to 12 GNM credits or graduate-level credits from an incomplete degree in a different UW graduate program may count towards doctoral degree requirements as outlined in Policy 1.1.1and Policy 3.3.3.

1.1.5 The Practice Doctoral Degree

A practice doctorate is intended as preparation for professional practice at the frontiers of existing knowledge (see Policy 1.7.3). A practice doctorate involves extensive coursework and a culminating project/capstone that is in lieu of a traditional PhD dissertation. The nature of this project/capstone may be specific to each program [Note: The project/capstone is not filed with the Graduate School].

In addition to the requirements listed under Policy 1.1.1 :

Practice doctoral degree requirements must include a minimum of 90 credits beyond the baccalaureate.
The practice doctorate requires successful completion of 12 credits of project or capstone credit (801 Practice Doctorate Project/Capstone).
Time to practice doctorate limits should be established at the program level and clearly communicated to all newly enrolled students. In the absence of program-level limits, the Graduate School’s default policy is that all work applied to the practice doctorate must be completed within ten years from the time of first enrollment. Periods spent on leave or out of status count toward this time. Students nearing or past the program’s limit should be placed on Academic Alert (potentially leading to Final Academic Alert and Academic Drop; Policy 3.7.3). Extensions of time to degree limits can be made at the program level.

1.1.5.1 Practice Doctorate Milestones

It is the responsibility of the program to establish appropriate milestones towards the degree. Requiring a general exam or other milestones is at the discretion of the program and is not reported to the Graduate School.
Two milestones are formally recognized by the Graduate School:
- admission to the program
- approval of the final project/capstone (through the Committee Signature Form)
After the practice doctoral supervisory committee has evaluated the final project/capstone, if a majority of the supervisory committee members agree that the evaluation is positive, the recommendation is made to the Dean of The Graduate School (via the Committee Signature Form) that the degree be awarded.
If members of the practice doctoral supervisory committee do not agree with the majority recommendation, the minority report portion of the Committee Signature Form must be used. (see: Committee Signature Form – GPA/GPC Resources)

1.1.5.2 Coursework that may be applied towards practice doctoral degree requirements.

With program approval and confirmation of policy compliance by the Graduate School:
- A Ph.D. or a master’s degree in a relevant field of study from an accredited institution, including UW, may substitute for up to 30 of the required 90 credits (hereafter, substituted credits).
- Any number of credits applied to a UW master’s degree in the same program may be counted towards practice doctoral degree requirements.
- A maximum of 10 quarter credits of graduate-level coursework taken at another recognized academic institution may be transferred and apply to UW practice doctorate degree requirements.
- Up to 12 GNM credits or graduate-level credits from an incomplete degree in a different UW graduate program may count towards doctoral degree requirements as outlined in Policy 1.1.1and Policy 3.3.3.
No more than 12 credits derived from any combination of GNM credits, previous UW graduate credits, and transfer credits may be applied towards the total degree requirements.
No more than 30 credits derived from any combination of GNM, previous UW graduate credits, transfer, and substituted credits may be applied towards the total degree requirements.
No GNM, transfer, previous UW graduate credits, or substituted credits may be applied towards the capstone requirement.
When a Ph.D. and practice doctorate are earned concurrently, departments may petition the Graduate School to count 30 specified credits toward the total minimum credit count of each degree, for a total minimum of 150 credits. Core credits for either degree, as (defined as part of the core curriculum by the graduate program) may not be included in these 30 credits applied to both degrees, and this option may not be used on top of previously waived credits for either degree. It is the responsibility of each unit to assure that the credits applied toward its degree are relevant to that degree. The student must meet Graduate School minimum requirements (18 credits 500 level and above, 18 numerically graded 400/500 level credits) for each degree.

Policy 1.1 revised: October 2021; October 2022; November 2022; February 2026.

Policy 1.1.2.2 and 1.1.4.3 revised March 2023

Policy 1.1.4, 1.1.4.1, and 1.1.4.4 revised March 2023

Policy 1.1.1 revised April 2023

Policy 1.1.1 revised July 2023

Policy 1.1.5 revised October 2023

Policy 1.1.1 revised November 2023

Policy 1.1.4.5 revised March 2024

Policy 1.1.2.2 revised March 2024

Policy 1.1.4.3 revised April 2025