DEPARTMENT OF CINEMA & MEDIA STUDIES
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
GRADUATE PROGRAM
GUIDELINES FOR SATISFACTORY PROGRESS
ALL OFFERS OF CONTINUED SUPPORT ARE CONTINGENT UPON SATISFACTORY PROGRESS AS DEFINED IN THIS DOCUMENT.
Progress towards the degree
Students admitted to the MA program have 6 quarters in which to finish the M.A. degree.
Students admitted to the Ph.D. program have 6 quarters to complete coursework requirements. The Ph.D. General Examination is taken in the Autumn quarter of the third year. An approved dissertation prospectus mus be filed with the office by the end of the Spring quarter of the third year.
Part-time students and those with study-abroad credit should consult regularly with the graduate advisor to determine their individual status with regard to satisfactory progress.
Study abroad
Time abroad will count as time spent towards fulfilling degree requirements to the extent that transfer credits are earned to be used towards satisfying those requirements.
Incomplete grades
Students are not allowed to have more than one outstanding "I" (incomplete) or "X" grade on their transcript at the time of TA assignments in order to be considered for a TA appointment or renewal. However, extra course work can substitute for incompletes at the discretion of the Director of Graduate Studies. According to Graduate School policy, an Incomplete grade must be converted into a numerical grade within 2 years.
Language requirements
Language requirements for Ph.D. students must be completed within six quarters after enrollment.
Leaves of absence
One year of leave (or equivalent combined quarters) will be normally approved by the department to graduate students; subsequent quarters or years of leave may be granted by petition to students who demonstrate proof of continued satisfactory progress.
Fellowship support. Continuation of fellowship support is contingent upon satisfactory progress as described in these guidelines. Satisfactory progress is normally audited following winter quarter, and T.A. assignments made at that time are subject to reassessment following the end of spring quarter. Students whose progress is not satisfactory forfeit their promise of continuing support, though they may still be offered term T.A. assignments. Students may petition the Graduate Studies Committee for an extension of the deadlines only for reasons of personal hardship.
Ph.D. Completion
The Graduate School allows 6 years for completion of the M.A. degree and 10 years for completion of the Ph.D. degree. The Department will enforce these limits by monitoring the progress of each student. Students who are approaching the time limit may petition the department for an extension for one additional year, prior to the expiration date. This applies to both enrolled and on-leave students. Students should consult with their advisors to prepare petitions and must designate their date of expected completion in the petition. As a general rule, an eleventh year will be approved if supported by a letter from the dissertation supervisor describing the progress made during the previous year. A twelfth year will be approved only if a defense date has been scheduled. Students who do not meet these terms will not be continued in the program but can normally expect to be readmitted to defend a completed dissertation. The ten-year rule and the extension policy apply to part-time students as well as full-time students and are not affected by study abroad or other leave.