Doctor of Philosophy, Page 2
The Leonard Davis School of Gerontology
Transfer Credits
Students with master's degrees or prior graduate course work in gerontology can petition to apply the credit toward Required courses. Petition for credit will be based on the Graduate School's policies and requirements for "transfer of credit" and on approval by the doctoral advisory committee. Transfer credits toward the Ph.D. requirements will be limited to 20 units and must be credits taken within 10 years of entering the program.
Time Limit
The normal time for completing the Ph.D. is four to five years (without a prior master's degree). The first two years will consist of required and elective courses. The third year will consist of electives, the Ph.D. qualifying exams and completion of the dissertation proposal. The final year(s) will involve the completion of the dissertation. The maximum time to complete all requirements for the Ph.D. degree is eight years from the first course at USC applied toward the degree. Students who have completed an applicable master's degree at USC or elsewhere within five years of the proposed enrollment in the Ph.D. program must complete the Ph.D. in six years.
Screening Procedures
When students have completed a minimum of 16 but not more than 24 units of doctoral course work, the doctoral advisory committee assesses their performance through a screening process and makes a decision regarding their ability to continue in the program. If the student is granted permission to continue, a guidance committee is established.
Guidance Committee
The guidance committee is composed of five faculty members, three of whom are from the School of Gerontology, one of whom is either gerontology based or outside, and one from another academic unit of the university. The function of the guidance committee is to oversee the development of the student's academic progress through the qualifying examinations, including the preliminary dissertation proposal.
Qualifying Examination
As a prerequisite for candidacy for the Ph.D., students must pass a qualifying examination in their specialized field of study that is comprehensive in nature and that necessitates independent study beyond course requirements. Students must have completed at least 28 units of course work in the doctoral program with a GPA of at least 3.25 before attempting the qualifying exam. The exam is designed to test mastery of knowledge and scholarly skills and to test readiness to undertake independent research. If the student fails this exam, it may be repeated one time. When the exam is successfully completed, the student then must develop and have a dissertation proposal approved before the student is officially admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree.
Doctoral Dissertation
Upon admission to candidacy, a dissertation committee is established which consists of three members of the faculty, some of whom may be from the guidance committee, one of whom must hold his or her primary appointment outside the School of Gerontology.
The dissertation committee has responsibility for providing guidance and consultation during the research process, approving the dissertation, conducting the final oral examination, and recommending the candidate for the Ph.D. degree. The doctoral dissertation should make original contribution to the development of knowledge and theory in gerontology and public policy.
Final Oral Examination
Upon approval of the final draft of the dissertation by all members of the dissertation committee, the candidate must pass a final oral examination. Upon successful completion of this final examination, the committee recommends the candidate to the Graduate School for award of the Ph.D. degree.
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Produced by the USC Division of Student Affairs, Office of University Publications, May 1, 1995
Joye Day
day@mizar.usc.edu