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Any previously taken post-masters coursework to be applied to the doctoral degree must be transferred into the doctoral program. Students starting the PhD program beginning Fall 2017 will not be allowed to transfer in credits from their masters program. For information on transfer of credit see: www.grad.usf.edu/policies_Sect7_full.php#transfer. Also see the Graduate Course Transfer form at www.grad.usf.edu/inc/linked-files/transfer_course.pdf.

The doctoral degree is earned on the basis of advancement to doctoral candidacy status and satisfactory completion of the dissertation. The minimum number of credit hours to earn the doctorate is 55 post-masters, including dissertation. The minimum number of credit hours required for each individual doctorate program is noted in the degree requirements section of the Graduate Catalog for that program listing. Programs with formally approved concentrations must have core major requirements that all students must successfully complete.

Students must comply with general enrollment requirements and also institutional residency requirements. All doctoral students must have at least one gradable (A-F) graduate course taken at USF to satisfy the GPA minimum requirements. No undergraduate course may be used to satisfy the gradable minimal course requirement for the doctoral degree. Lower level undergraduate courses may not be used to satisfy doctoral degree program requirements, but may be taken to meet specific prerequisites. All graduate courses taken as a graduate student at USF count in the overall GPA, whether or not they count toward the minimum hours for the degree.

Doctoral degrees must be completed within seven (7) years from the student's original date of admission for doctoral study. All courses applied to the doctoral degree must be completed within seven (7) years, including courses taken

1. prior to admission to the USF doctoral program,
2. taken as non-degree seeking, or
3. transferred in from other institutions

There is no time limitation for courses from a completed master's degree used toward a doctoral degree. For students who are readmitted, see Readmission Policy. Typically a student will reach candidacy within four years, but this may vary per discipline.

Time Limit Extensions
In the event that a student nears the end of the time limitation as specified above, but the student needs more time to complete the degree, the student may submit a request for an extension using the Time Limit Extension Request Form, available on the Office of Graduate Studies Forms website at www.grad.usf.edu/student-forms.php

Requests must include:

• the reasons for the delay in completion,
• the anticipated time needed for completion,
• endorsements from the graduate faculty advisor, graduate program, and College Dean or designee,
• a detailed plan of study denoting the pathway to completion and timeline for the remaining requirements for the degree

Note - for the time limit extension procedures, if the time limit extension will cause courses taken within the degree program to be older than 10 years, then a request for course concurrency may be required or the courses may be invalidated toward the degree requirements, per the time-limit policy.

If approved, the time-limit extension also applies to courses applied toward the degree, with the exception of those transferred in or from completed degree programs. However, programs may require additional or repeat coursework as part of the condition of the time-limit extension. For requests exceeding a year of additional time, the Office of Graduate Studies will audit the student’s progress each semester to ensure that the plan of study is adhered to and that progress towards degree completion is occurring.

Students who exceed the time limitations may have their registration placed on hold until a request for extension has been approved. Only one time-limit extension request is permitted. Students who are temporarily unable to continue the program should submit a Leave of Absence Request, which extends the time limit for the duration of the approved Leave for up to two years (see the section on Leave of Absence in the Enrollment Requirements section.)

Note - Time Limit Extensions are valid for a maximum period of two (2) years from the date of request. For more information and guidance, contact the Office of Graduate Studies.

Also see the PhD Guidebook Homepage for important information on this degree, and the USF Graduate Catalog, Public Health PhD section