Credits
All PhD students are required to complete 72 credits for the degree. The breakdown of credits
is as follows:
 A minimum of 48 credits must be coursework completed in the pre-candidacy stage
(Unit I)
o These 48 credits are comprised of transfer coursework and coursework taken
while enrolled in the PhD program.
 The remaining credits (12 to 24) are taken in Candidacy (Unit II) as dissertation research
o All PhD students are required to take at least 12 credits of dissertation research
(ECON 8999). You will register for dissertation research until you have completed
the required 72 total credits.
 The Dissertation Proposal Seminar (ECON 8397) counts towards the 12
credits
o If you will reach 72 total credits before you have been able to take 12 credits of
dissertation research, you must submit a petition to the Graduate Dean for
permission to take less than 12 credits.
 Having completed the required 72 credits, if you are still working on your dissertation
you will register for 1 credit of Continuing Research (CCAS 0940) every semester until
you complete your dissertation.
 The following courses DO NOT count towards the 72 credits: UNIV 0250 (the GTAP),
EAP, CCAS 0940, any deficiency coursework identified at the time of admission.
Academic Standing/Maintaining Student Status
 All students are required to register every Fall and Spring semester for the duration of
their program.
 You must register for at least 3 credits each semester, unless you have fewer than 3
credits remaining. After reaching 72 credits, you will register for Continuing Research
(CCAS 0940).
 Once you have advanced to Candidacy (Unit II), our office will certify you as a full-time
student even if you are registering for less than 9 credits (the amount normally required
for full-time student status). You must complete Full-Time Certification form for each
semester and submit it to your Director of Graduate Studies, who will approve it and
forward it to the CCAS Dean’s Office (domestic students can find the form on the
Registrar’s website, international students on the ISO website).
Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
 The MPhil degree is NOT automatically conferred upon advancing to Candidacy.
 You must contact the CCAS Dean’s Office if you wish to apply for the MPhil. CCAS will
update your record, and you must then submit a graduation application through GWeb.
Time to degree
 PhD students have 8 years to complete the degree requirements
 If after 8 years you have not completed all degree requirements, you will be required to
submit an extension request to be reviewed by the Graduate Dean. You will not be
permitted to continue in the program until the request has been approved.
Graduation
 You must apply for graduation online through GWeb.
 Application deadlines:
o Spring: February 1
o Summer: July 1
o Fall: October 1
 If apply for graduation but do not complete the degree requirements, you must register
for the next semester and re-apply for graduation.
 You MUST be registered in order to apply for graduation. If you will be completing
degree requirements in the summer, please contact the CCAS Graduate Office regarding
registration.
 Students graduating in the summer are not permitted to “walk through” the graduation
ceremonies in the preceding Spring.
Dissertation Submission
 In order to graduate in a given semester, you must submit your approved dissertation to
the ETD website by the following dates:
o Spring: April 1
o Summer: August 15
o Fall: January 15
 In addition to your dissertation, you must submit the ETD Approval Form and
confirmation of the Survey of Earned Doctorates by these deadlines.
More Information
 CCAS Graduate Student Handbook: http://columbian.gwu.edu/graduate-resources
o We encourage all students to review the information contained in the handbook.
It contains information on registration, academic standing, and degree
requirements.
 library.gwu.edu/etds
o dissertation submission information, formatting deadlines, required
supplemental forms
 registrar.gwu.edu
o registration information and dates, schedule of classes
 bulletin.gwu.edu
o University and CCAS policies, program requirements