Section 7. Degree Requirements
7.10 General
7.20 Transfer Credits
7.30 Credit by Examination or Equivalent
7.40 Master’s Degree Requirements
7.41 General
7.42 Time Limit
7.43 Program of Study
7.44 Programs with Thesis
7.44.1 Minimum Credit Requirements
7.44.2 Written Master’s Examination (Optional)
7.44.3 Thesis Proposal (Required)
7.44.4 Thesis (Required)
7.44.5 Oral Defense of Thesis (Required)
7.45 Programs Without Thesis
7.45.1 Minimum Credit Requirements
7.45.2 Culminating Experiences that are not part of a Course
7.45.3 Written Master’s Examination (Optional)
7.50 Doctoral Degree Requirements
7.50.1 Definition of a Doctoral Degree
7.51 Time Limit
7.52 Program of Study
7.54 Minimum Credit Requirements
7.55 Qualifying Examination
7.55.1 General
7.55.2 Exemption from Qualifying Examination
7.56 Dissertation Proposal
7.57 Comprehensive Examinations
7.57.1 General
7.57.1.1 Part I – Written
7.57.1.2 Part II – Oral
7.57.1.3 Time Limit
7.58 Dissertation
7.58.1 Oral Defense of Dissertation
7.60 Scheduling of Examinations
7.70 Reporting the Results of Examinations
7.10 General
Section 7 states the minimum degree requirements acceptable to the Graduate School. All exceptions to the minimum requirements require the approval of the Dean of the Graduate School. However, individual graduate programs may include additional requirements beyond those listed here.
7.11. The successful completion of an approved Program of Study at the University is a fundamental requirement for each advanced degree. The Program of Study is developed around a specified number of graduate level courses selected according to the student’s goals and background, but also includes other scholarly activities appropriate to the individual student and their specific area of interest and discipline. The Program of Study is planned by the student in consultation with, and subject to the approval of a major professor or of a program committee according to policies developed by the Graduate School and defined in this manual.
7.12. In addition to formal courses at the graduate level, an approved Program of Study usually includes independent study or other creative activity, research, and preparation of a thesis or dissertation. For certain professional degrees, M.B.A., for example, the required program is quite specific; in other programs, the courses are selected and other requirements planned according to the needs of the individual student. Program credit will not include: preparation for language examinations, the teaching of courses, courses audited, courses failed (Sec. 10.11), courses at the 300 level or below, or courses needed to remedy deficiencies.
7.13. For information concerning the transfer of credits, time limits, and language requirements, see 7.20, 7.40, 7.50, in the following sections. It should be clearly understood and carefully noted that the requirements listed here for various advanced degrees are minimum requirements and that any department can require additional hours of work in formal courses or in other activities to remedy deficiencies or to achieve proficiency in a required area before a degree will be granted.
7.14. Each department that offers an advanced degree shall publish a policy statement covering specific departmental requirements, program requirements and departmental options in the Graduate Program Requirements section of the Catalog of the University of Rhode Island. A copy of detailed departmental procedures will be filed with the Dean of the Graduate School. Each student will be expected to comply with the procedures stated.
7.15. Although responsibility for a graduate student’s program, including filing the Program of Study (see 7.43 and 7.52, 8.30) rests with the student and the major professor or doctoral committee, this does not preclude the establishment of general core requirements by a departmental or interdepartmental faculty committee. However, such core requirements should be held to a minimum, because the strength of a graduate student’s program lies in its adaptation to the individual’s needs.
7.20 Transfer Credits
7.21. Transfer credits refer to credits earned for work taken at other accredited institutions of higher learning that the student wishes to apply toward satisfying URI degree requirements. Under usual circumstances, transfer credits may not exceed one-fifth of the total credits required in the program. The following cases apply:
- In a master’s degree program the total of transfer credits, advanced standing credits (see section 3.33), and credits by examination or equivalent (see section 7.30) may not exceed two-fifths of the program’s total credits. Under unusual circumstances, master’s degree students may exceed the one-fifth rule on transfer credits; however, the total of advanced standing, transfer and credit by examination must still not exceed this two-fifths maximum.
- Ph.D. students admitted to the program without a master’s degree in the same or a closely related area may transfer credits up to one-fifth of the total credits required in the program. As noted in section 3.33, such students may also separately include advanced standing credits and credits by examination or equivalent up to an additional one-fifth of the total program.
- Ph.D. students with a master’s or qualifying graduate degree in the same or a closely related area from another accredited institution may request that up to 30 credits from this degree be applied to their doctoral program. With special permission of the Dean of the Graduate School, up to 6 additional credits in any combination of advanced standing and/or transfer credits may be applied to the doctoral program. Examples of qualifying graduate degrees are Doctor of Physical Therapy, Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Nursing Practice, and terminal degrees, such as Master’s of Fine Arts. Doctor of Pharmacy or similar professional degrees do not qualify.
- Ph.D. students with a master’s or qualifying graduate degree in the same or a closely related area from the University of Rhode Island may apply up to 30 credits from the degree toward the Ph.D. program. In addition, a total of up to 9 credits combining transfer and advanced standing are allowed.In all cases, transfer credit is granted only when the request is recommended by the student’s major professor and the Graduate Program Director and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. Examples of qualifying graduate degrees are Doctor of Physical Therapy, Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Nursing Practice, and terminal degrees, such as Master’s of Fine Arts. (Amended April 4, 2024)
7.22. Only graduate-level courses that have not been used as part of a conferred degree are eligible for transfer credit. Transfer of credits that have been used as part of a conferred degree is strictly limited to the 30 or fewer credits from a previously-earned master’s or qualifying graduate degree —as approved by the admitting program and the Graduate School— that can be applied to a doctoral degree. All transfer courses must have been taken from accredited schools and the student must have earned a grade in those courses that meet the requirements specified in Section 10.11 of this Manual. Transfer from all international institutions, other than those specifically authorized by the Graduate Council, is limited to earned degrees equivalent to US master’s degrees or better. (Updated by Graduate Council 20 April 2015)
7.23. For credits to be transferred toward master’s or doctoral degree requirements, the work must have been taken not more than seven years prior to the date of first registration in the student’s current graduate degree program at the University of Rhode Island. In special circumstances, a waiver of this time limit may be approved by the Dean of the Graduate School if recommended by the student’s major professor, Graduate Program Director, and University of Rhode Island faculty with expertise in the area.
7.24. The work must have clear and unquestioned relevance to the student’s Program of Study as judged by the student’s major professor, the Graduate Program Director, and the Dean of the Graduate School.
7.25. For students already enrolled at the University of Rhode Island, transfer credits may be received for work subsequently taken at another institution. However, to earn credit for such a course approval must be obtained in writing from the Dean of the Graduate School before the student enrolls in the course. A form titled Prior Approval for Off-Campus Graduate Study must be submitted to make such a request and can be found at https://web.uri.edu/graduate-school/forms/.
7.26. Any credit transferred from another institution of higher learning will be so indicated on the student’s University of Rhode Island transcript. However, the grade earned at that institution will not be recorded or used in computing the student’s scholastic average.
7.27. See also the section on credits earned by Non-Matriculating students (3.33) and the section on Credit By Examination or Equivalent (7.30) relating to this matter. 7.28. A student who is simultaneously enrolled in two different master’s programs may request that credit for some graduate work in one program be counted toward degree requirements in the other program. The number of credits from one program that may be counted toward a second may not exceed one-fifth of the credits required in the second program. For example, consider simultaneous enrollment in two programs of 30 and 45 credits, respectively. The 30-credit program could include 6 credits from the second program; the 45-credit program could include 9 credits from the first. The total savings for the student would thus be 15 credits.
A student who is simultaneously enrolled in two different programs, one a master’s program and one a Ph.D. program, may petition that up to one-fifth of the master’s program credits be counted toward degree requirements in the Ph.D. program.
Transfer credit, advanced standing, and credits by examination (for a master’s degree program) may be counted toward both programs as long as they satisfy the one-fifth rule above and meet all of the requirements of sections 7.20-7.27 and 3.33. Credit is granted to both programs only when the request is recommended by the student’s major professor and the Graduate Program Directors for each program and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School.
7.30 Credit by Examination or Equivalent
7.31. In master’s and Ph.D. programs in which the student does not have a master’s degree, a maximum of six credits may be allowed for competency based on experience outside the traditional academic setting and demonstrated by examination or equivalent. This maximum of six credits must fit within an overall maximum allowed for advanced standing and transfer credit. (See sections 3.33 and 7.21-7.28 of this Manual). The competency for which credit is allowed must be demonstrated by: (1) passing with a grade of B (3.00) or better, a written proficiency examination (which may be the final examination of an existing course) prepared by the instructor of an existing course most analogous or relevant to the experience, as determined by the program director in which it is offered in consultation with the instructor. This course must be at the 500 or 600 level, or (2) where no graduate level course offered by URI is analogous to the experience, submitting a scholarly paper, project or other evidence (but not just an oral examination, though an oral examination may form part of the procedure) which is certified by the program director most closely related to the subject matter as representing the equivalent of a grade of B (3.00) or better in a 500- or 600-level course. The advanced approval of the Dean of the Graduate School is required for such arrangements, and should be sought with a brief memorandum from the program director outlining the proposed credit by examination procedure. While these arrangements should be initiated by the student, they must be approved by the program director during the first semester after the student has been admitted to graduate study. Further, credits by examination or equivalent must be awarded during the first two semesters after the student has been admitted to graduate study. Program directors may ask any member(s) of their faculty to assist them in this certification process where they consider it necessary. (Amended March 4, 2024)
7.32. If a credit by examination proposal is approved, the student will pay the required special examination fee to Enrollment Services and obtain a receipt which will be submitted to the Dean of the Graduate School along with a written report of the results from the program director. If the student has succeeded, the Dean of the Graduate School will request that Enrollment Services enter the appropriate number of credits on the student’s transcript under the Department’s Special Problems course number with a brief indication of the subject matter and the designation “credit by examination or equivalent”. (Amended March 4, 2024)
7.40 Master’s Degree Requirements
7.41. The University offers programs for the master’s degree with and without a thesis. For specific requirements and options, a student should consult the current University of Rhode Island Catalog, the program director, and the major professor. (Amended March 4, 2024)
7.42 Time Limit. The requirements listed here shall be met within five calendar years after the date when the student is first enrolled as a graduate student at the University. With the submission of a written request for an extension and a schedule for completion, endorsed by the major professor and the Graduate Program Director, a specific, time-limited extension may be approved by the Dean of the Graduate School.
7.43 Program of Study. It is in the best interests of graduate students to be guided in their work by a well-designed Program of Study. Each student enrolled in a master’s degree program shall submit a Program of Study to the Dean of the Graduate School for approval. Students must submit a Program of Study as soon as is practicable, but not later than the end of the third semester of their enrollment as full time students, or by the end of the fourth semester of enrollment as a part-time student. Failure to submit a Program of Study during this period may result in enrollment blocks or suspension of graduate study until such a program is submitted (see Section 9.10 for course distribution requirements). For thesis-based master’s degrees, signatures required include those of the student, major professor, Graduate Program Director or department Chair. For non-thesis master’s degrees, signatures required include those of the student, advisor, and Graduate Program Director or department Chair. The Program of Study includes courses that are to be taken for program credit, and those that are to be taken without program credit to remedy deficiencies, or for the student’s personal satisfaction. After a program has been approved, changes can be made by submitting a new Program of Study for approval to the Dean of the Graduate School, signed by the student, major professor, and Graduate Program Director or department Chair. Forms to be used for submitting the Program of Study are available at the Graduate School website (https://web.uri.edu/graduate-school/forms/).
7.44.1 Minimum Credit Requirements: A student pursuing a thesis-based Master’s degree should acquire knowledge through content-rich courses and through mentored research. Accepted Programs of Study for master’s degrees vary. The number of credits required for any individual student depends on previous training and the objectives of the program. Each student shall successfully complete an approved Program of Study with a minimum of 30 credits. At least 18 of these credits will be from didactic, content-based courses, and at least six additional credits must be thesis. The remaining credits to meet program requirements may vary by program; students should consult with their major professor or program director to determine which additional courses should be taken to complete their program of study. The 18 credits of didactic, content-based courses do not include credits earned through research, internship, practicum, field experience, directed studies.
7.44.15 Establishment of a Master’s Program Committee. The composition of a master’s program committee, also termed thesis committee, is described in Section 8.42.2. The members of the master’s program committee are chosen by the student in consultation with the major professor. Recommendations for members of the program committee should be submitted to the Graduate School with, or before, the submission of the student’s Program of Study. The form requesting establishment of a student’s master’s program committee can be found at https://web.uri.edu/graduate-school/forms/. A master’s program committee is established when approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. (Amended April 29, 2019)
7.44.2 Written Master’s Examination (Optional): In those departments that require it, each student in a master’s degree program shall pass a written examination when the formal coursework is nearly completed. The preparation and administration of the examination are the responsibilities of the department Chair in conjunction with a departmental committee designated for this purpose, or with the major professor. In either case members of a student’s thesis committee from other departments should be consulted concerning preparation and grading of the examination. The time required for the examination will depend on the subject matter and the kind of examination chosen, but it should be scheduled for a minimum of four hours. The examination will explore the student’s knowledge and analysis of their subject matter and the ability to use this information. Both the student and the Dean of the Graduate School will be notified promptly of the results of the examination in accordance with the procedure described in 7.70. The form for reporting the results of the examination can be found at https://web.uri.edu/graduate-school/forms/ . A student who fails the examination may be permitted one re-examination in the part or parts failed if re-examination is recommended by the examining committee and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. The second examination may be taken only after an interval of two weeks has passed, but before one year has elapsed. Students failing a re-examination in a master’s degree program will not have the opportunity to complete a thesis-based or non-thesis-based master’s degree in that program
7.44.3 Thesis Proposal (Required): A thesis proposal is required of all master’s degree students and is intended to describe a problem to be investigated and provide details regarding how the research will be performed and reported. Approval signifies that it meets the standards of the University of Rhode Island for the master’s degree. The proposal should present the required information as concisely and clearly as possible. The ability to describe concisely a research problem and methodology is one of the skills that the thesis proposal process is designed to develop. Therefore, thesis proposals are limited in length to the signature cover-sheet plus 15 or fewer double-spaced, single-sided, numbered pages in a font size no smaller than 12 point. Proposals longer than this will not be accepted; however, appendices and references are not included in the 15-page limit. Proposals should be submitted before substantial research has been completed, typically during the first or second semester in which the student registers for research credits. In all cases, however, the proposal must be submitted at least one semester before the semester in which the thesis itself is to be submitted and defended. Complete details for the appropriate development, preparation, and submission of a thesis proposal can be found on the Graduate School website (https://web.uri.edu/graduate-school/academics/thesis-dissertation/). Proposals will be returned for revision if they do not contain the appropriate sections described in the Proposal Instructions. If the research involves human subjects, the policy and procedures of the Institutional Review Board must be followed – see Appendix D. If the research involves live animals, the policy and procedures of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee must be followed – see Appendix E.
7.44.35 Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Training (Required): The University is committed to abide by, and comply with, requirements for responsible conduct of research (RCR) training stipulated by federal funding agencies (e.g., NIH, NSF, USDA) that provide the bulk of support for academic research. It is the policy of the University that all graduate students conducting research (i.e., master’s programs with thesis and doctoral programs with dissertations) receive training in RCR topics such as mentor/mentee responsibilities and relationships, data ownership, research misconduct, and responsible authorship and publication. It is the purpose of this policy to ensure that students are appropriately trained in RCR topics, thus preparing them for current and future research endeavors.
The required RCR training can be accomplished by: 1) Completing the online CITI training, 2) completing an approved course that covers research ethics, or 3) attending and participating in three RCR seminars sponsored by the Office of Research Integrity. Completion of the RCR training requirement will be verified by the Office of Research Integrity. Instructions for options to fulfill the RCR requirement can be found at https://web.uri.edu/research-admin/office-of-research-integrity/responsible-conduct-research/responsible-conduct-of-research-rcr-training-requirements/. The RCR requirement must be completed by the time the thesis proposal is submitted because the Thesis Proposal Approval Form that will accompany the proposal requires that the student indicate how the requirement was met. Even though the RCR training must be completed by the time the thesis proposal is submitted to the Graduate School, the expectation is that it will be completed as early in the student’s program as possible.
7.44.4 Thesis (Required): Each student shall prepare a thesis that will demonstrate ability to perform and report independent research in an acceptable scholarly fashion. See Section 11 for preparation of a thesis.
7.44.5 Oral Defense of Thesis (Required): The student shall successfully defend the thesis before a thesis defense committee in an oral examination, the duration of which is usually two hours. The thesis defense committee is selected and the examination is conducted according to procedures outlined in 8.40. The full oral defense committee must be present for the duration of the oral defense of the thesis, including the discussion of the results and final vote. The student and/or any members of the committee may be present physically or virtually via video conference. The virtual or physical location of the defense must be agreed upon by unanimous consent at the time when the defense is scheduled (Section 11.23). In general, the oral defense of the thesis is open to the university community and other interested observers. Observers may ask questions if recognized by the Chair of the examining committee. At the discretion of this Chair, some or all of the observers may be asked to leave the examination room if in the opinion of the Chair, the presence of the observers is detracting from the ability of the student to answer questions from the examination committee. Passing the oral defense of the thesis does not automatically imply that the thesis is acceptable as defended. The thesis will be approved only after all the corrections stipulated by the thesis defense committee are incorporated in the thesis in final form. For theses judged to be acceptable except for typing errors and/or minor changes in style or content, the major professor or Chair of the thesis examining committee is responsible for certifying that all corrections have been made. For theses judged to be acceptable only after significant changes in content are made, the major professor and any defense committee members so designated at the defense will be responsible for certifying that all corrections have been made. The form necessary to submit to the Graduate School certifying that the appropriate corrections were made can be found on the Gradaute School’s forms page: https://web.uri.edu/graduate-school/forms/. A student who fails the oral examination may be permitted one re-examination in the part or parts failed if recommended by the committee and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. The second examination may be taken only after an interval of ten weeks has passed, but before one year has elapsed (See 7.74). Students failing a re-examination in a master’s degree program will not have the opportunity to complete a thesis-based or non-thesis-based master’s degree in that program.
7.45.1 Minimum Credit Requirements: The number of credits required both with and without program credit will depend on the program and the student’s previous training. The student shall successfully complete an approved Program of Study with a minimum of 30 credits in coursework and a culminating experience that demonstrates the student’s ability to synthesize, integrate, and apply knowledge and skills acquired in the master’s program. Each Graduate Program determines the requirements for the culminating experience. Additional courses above the minimum may be required with or without program credit. The courses that are acceptable for graduate credit and the grade average that must be maintained are described in Sections 9 and 10.
7.45.2 Culminating Experiences that are not part of a Course: Graduate programs that require a written comprehensive exam, an oral comprehensive exam, or a portfolio as their culminating experience will ensure that the Graduate Program Director in conjunction with an appropriate departmental committee will oversee the design, preparation, and administration of the culminating experience. Both the student and the Dean of the Graduate School will be informed promptly of the results of the culminating experience in accordance with the procedure described in 7.70. The form for reporting the results of the culminating experience can be found https://web.uri.edu/graduate-school/forms/. If the student’s committee deems the student’s performance in the culminating experience unacceptable, the student will have one additional opportunity to complete the experience. If the committee again deems the student’s performance unacceptable, the student will not be eligible for the master’s degree. (Amended April 29, 2019)
7.45.3 Written Master’s Examination (Optional): If the culminating experience is a comprehensive examination, then the following rules apply. A student who fails the examination may be permitted one re-examination in the part or parts failed if re-examination is recommended by the committee and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. A second examination, if permitted, may be taken only after a minimum of two weeks has passed to allow for additional student preparation. In all cases, a second examination must take place before one year has elapsed. Students failing a re-examination in a master’s degree program will not have the opportunity to complete a thesis-based or non-thesis-based master’s degree in that program.
7.50 Doctoral Degree Requirements
7.50.1 Definition of a Doctoral Degree: When a doctoral degree is conferred upon a student at the University of Rhode Island, it signifies that an intensive period of study and investigation in an established field of learning has been completed with high distinction. This period of investigation has been characterized by a mastery of the materials and methods of the chosen field of advanced study that is proven through a dissertation that adds to the sum total of human knowledge. Neither the accumulation of facts, however great in amount, nor the completion of advanced courses, however numerous, can substitute for the power of independent research and the proof of its possession that culminates in the dissertation, the quintessence of the doctoral degree. Doctoral degrees that do not strictly adhere to this definition may be granted through exceptions approved by the Graduate Council.
7.51Time Limit. Doctoral students shall fulfill all requirements for the degree as described in the following sections of the manual within seven years of the date when the student is first enrolled in the doctoral program. With the submission of a written request for an extension and a schedule for completion, endorsed by the major professor and the Graduate Program Director, a specific, time-limited extension may be approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. (See Section 5 for residence requirements.) (Ammended February 12, 2024)
7.52 Program of Study. Each doctoral student shall submit a Program of Study to the Dean of the Graduate School for approval. Students must submit a Program of Study as soon as is practicable, but no later than the end of the third semester of their enrollment as full time students or by the end of the fourth semester of enrollment as a part-time student. Failure to submit a Program of Study during this period may result in enrollment blocks or suspension of graduate study until such a program is submitted. Signatures required include those of the student, major professor, and Graduate Program Director. The Program of Study includes courses that are to be taken for program credit (see Section 9.20 for course distribution requirements), and those that are to be taken without program credit to remedy deficiencies, or for the student’s personal satisfaction. After a program has been approved, changes can be made by submitting a new Program of Study for approval to the Dean of the Graduate School, signed by the student, major professor, and Graduate Program Director. Forms to be used for submitting the Program of Study are available at the Graduate School website (https://web.uri.edu/graduate-school/forms/). (Amended March 4, 2024)
7.53 Establishment of a Doctoral Program Committee. The composition of a doctoral program committee, also termed doctoral committee, is described in Section 8.43.2. The members of the doctoral program committee are chosen by the student in consultation with the major professor. Recommendations for members of the doctoral committee should be submitted to the Graduate School with, or before, the submission of the student’s Program of Study. The form requesting establishment of a student’s doctoral program committee can be found at https://web.uri.edu/graduate-school/forms/. A doctoral program committee is established when approved by the Dean of the Graduate School.
7.54 Minimum Credit Requirements. The number of credits required will depend on the program in which the student is enrolled, the preparation of the individual student, and the Program of Study. Each student shall complete an approved Program of Study with a minimum of 64 credit hours beyond the baccalaureate degree, and at least 34 of these credits shall be taken at the University of Rhode Island. For students with a master’s or a qualifying graduate degree (See section 7.21) in the same or closely related area, up to 30 credits may be transferred from another accredited institution. Students who have graduate level credits from another institution but who did not have a master’ s degree may be allowed to transfer 20% of the required courses if they are pertinent to the field and discipline in which the degree is to be taken. Courses taken more than seven years prior to the date of first registration in the student’s current doctoral program at the University of Rhode Island cannot be transferred. (Amended March 6, 2023)
7.55 Qualifying Examination (Ph.D. degree only)
7.55.1 General: Students without a master’s degree who are accepted into a Ph.D. program are expected to take a qualifying examination during their first two academic semesters. This examination is intended to assess a student’s potential to perform satisfactorily at the doctoral level, and shall not consist of courses taken unless specific approval has been granted by the Graduate Council. If granted, the courses shall be listed in the University of Rhode Island Catalog. The type of examination to be used, whether it is to be written or oral, or both, and the preparation and administration of the examination(s) are the responsibilities of the Graduate Program Director in consultation with 1) a departmental committee designed for this purpose or 2) with the major professor. The procedure used for giving qualifying examinations shall be incorporated into the departmental procedure given to each new student and filed with the Dean of the Graduate School. Written qualifying examinations should be, in general, scheduled for a minimum of four hours and oral examinations a minimum of two hours. Both the student and the Dean of the Graduate School will be informed promptly of the results of the examination(s) in accordance with the procedure described in 7.70. The form for reporting the results of the examination can be found at https://web.uri.edu/graduate-school/forms/. A student who fails the examination may be permitted one re-examination in the part or parts failed if re-examination is recommended by the examiners and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. The second examination may be taken only after an interval of ten weeks has passed, but before one year has elapsed.
7.55.2 Exemption from Qualifying Examination: Exemption from Qualifying Examination: A student who has earned a master’s degree in the same or a closely related field before being admitted to a doctoral program does not usually take a qualifying examination, but may be required to do so if the department recommends it. The decision whether or not to require a qualifying examination shall be made by the department at the same time that the application for admission is processed. Both recommendations shall be transmitted simultaneously to the Dean of the Graduate School by the program director. When a qualifying examination is required, it will be stipulated at the time of admission. (Amended March 4, 2024)
7.56 Dissertation Proposal. A dissertation proposal is required of all doctoral students and is intended to describe a problem to be investigated and provide details regarding how the research will be performed and reported. Approval signifies that it meets the standards of the University of Rhode Island for the doctoral degree. The proposal should present the required information as concisely and clearly as possible. The ability to describe concisely a research problem and methodology is one of the skills that the dissertation proposal process is designed to develop. Therefore, dissertation proposals are limited in length to the signature cover-sheet plus 15 or fewer double-spaced, single-sided, numbered pages in a font size no smaller than 12 point. Proposals longer than this will not be accepted; however, appendices and references are not included in the 15-page limit. Proposals should be submitted before substantial research has been completed, typically during the first or second semester in which the student registers for research credits. In all cases, however, the proposal must be submitted to the Graduate School during or before the seventh semester in which a doctoral student is enrolled in their program, and at least 6 months before the dissertation is defended. Complete details for the appropriate development, preparation, and submission of a dissertation proposal can be found on the Graduate School website (https://web.uri.edu/graduate-school/forms/). Proposals will be returned for revision if they do not contain the appropriate sections described in the Proposal Instructions. If the research involves human subjects, the policy and procedures of the Institutional Review Board must be followed – see Appendix D. If the research involves live animals, the policy and procedures of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee must be followed – see Appendix E.
7.56.1 Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Training (Required): The University is committed to abide by, and comply with, requirements for responsible conduct of research (RCR) training stipulated by federal funding agencies (e.g., NIH, NSF, USDA) that provide the bulk of support for academic research. It is the policy of the University that all graduate students conducting research (i.e., master’s programs with thesis and doctoral programs with dissertations) receive training in RCR topics such as mentor/mentee responsibilities and relationships, data ownership, research misconduct, and responsible authorship and publication. It is the purpose of this policy to ensure that students are appropriately trained in RCR topics, thus preparing them for current and future research endeavors.
The required RCR training can be accomplished by: 1) Completing the online CITI training, 2) completing an approved course that covers research ethics, or 3) attending and participating in three RCR seminars sponsored by the Office of Research Integrity. Completion of the RCR training requirement will be verified by the Office of Research Integrity. Instructions for options to fulfill the RCR requirement can be found at https://web.uri.edu/research-admin/office-of-research-integrity/responsible-conduct-research/responsible-conduct-of-research-rcr-training-requirements/. The RCR requirement must be completed by the time the dissertation proposal is submitted because the Dissertation Proposal Approval Form that will accompany the proposal requires that the student indicate how the requirement was met. Even though the RCR training must be completed by the time the dissertation proposal is submitted to the Graduate School, the expectation is that it will be completed as early in the student’s program as possible.
7.57 Comprehensive Examinations
7.57.1 General: Each doctoral student shall take comprehensive examinations at or near, but no later than twelve months after, completion of the formal courses stipulated in the Program of Study. Comprehensive examinations should be designed to assess a student’s intellectual capacity and the adequacy of training or scholarly research. The comprehensive examinations that each student must pass shall consist of two parts as follows:
7.57.1.1 Part I – Written: This is a written examination of at least eight hours duration. When the student has met all prior requirements, the student’s major professor in consultation with members of the doctoral committee including those from other departments, is authorized to prepare, administer, and evaluate the examination. The major professor, graduate program director/department chairperson, or Dean of the Graduate School will arrange the time and the place the examination is to be given in consultation with the student. The doctoral program shall review the results and shall make the final decision as to whether or not the student has passed. Unanimous approval by all members of the doctoral committee is required for passing. Both the student and the Dean of the Graduate School will be informed promptly of the results of the examination(s) in accordance with the procedure described in 7.70. The form for reporting the results of the examination can be found at https://web.uri.edu/graduate-school/forms/. After the examination has been graded, the results will be accepted in partial fulfillment for the degree for which the student is registered for up to five years from the time the examination is taken. A student who fails this examination may be allowed one re-examination in the part or parts failed if recommended by the doctoral committee and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. A second examination, if permitted, may be taken only after a minimum of two weeks has passed to allow for additional student preparation. In all cases, a second examination must take place before one year has elapsed.
7.57.1.2 Part II – Oral: The oral comprehensive examination shall be given only after passing and normally within four weeks following successful completion of the full written examination. An oral examination, of no more than two hours exclusive of committee deliberations, is conducted by the oral comprehensive examination committee, which consists of the doctoral program committee and one additional Graduate Faculty member nominated by the student in consultation with the major professor. The additional member will be from an outside area. The major professor shall act as chairperson for the oral comprehensive examination. The major professor, program director/department chairperson, or Dean of the Graduate School will be responsible for scheduling the oral comprehensive examination in consultation with the student and all potential members of the oral comprehensive examination committee. Following the given program’s guidelines, the Major Professor must communicate the expected format for the oral exam to the student and the committee members in written form upon scheduling the exam. The customary format of the oral exam is for physical attendance of all oral comprehensive examination committee members and the student; however modifications of this format can be considered prior to the beginning of the exam. The location of the oral comprehensive examination must be agreed upon by unanimous consent at the time when the oral exam is scheduled, whether that location be virtual, physical, or hybrid in form. The full oral examination committee must be present for the duration of the oral exam, including the discussion of the results and final vote. (Amended November 21, 2022)
At the discretion of the major professor and the chair of the examination committee, an oral exam may be open to other faculty members as non-voting observers. Faculty observers can ask questions if recognized by the major professor. At any time during the exam, however, the major professor can clear the room of all faculty observers. Non-faculty may not attend an oral exam without unanimous consent of the student and doctoral program committee. The student will be notified orally of the results of the examination as soon as the committee has completed its deliberations. The exam chair is responsible for notifying the Dean of the Graduate School of the results of the examination promptly on the form provided for this purpose, digitally signed by all members of the oral examination committee and acknowledged by the Graduate Program Director. Unanimous approval by all members of the oral examination committee is required for passing. A student who fails the examination may be permitted one re-examination if re-examination is recommended by the committee and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. A second examination, if permitted, may be taken only after a minimum of two weeks has passed to allow for additional student preparation. In all cases, a second examination must take place before one year has elapsed. (See 7.74) (Amended March 4, 2024)
7.57.1.3 Time Limit: The results of the written and oral comprehensive examinations will remain valid for five years from the time the examinations are taken.
7.58 Dissertation. The doctoral student shall submit a dissertation embodying the results of original investigation and comprehensive study of a clearly defined problem and making a contribution to the literature of the field. See Section 11 for details of the dissertation.
7.58.1 Oral Defense of Dissertation: The doctoral student shall successfully defend the dissertation in an oral examination of no more than two hours long before the dissertation defense committee, exclusive of committee deliberations. This is composed of the doctoral committee and one additional member appointed by the Dean of the Graduate School. See 8.43.4 and Section 11 on the committee and procedures. Following the given program’s guidelines or conventions, the Major Professor must communicate the expected format for the oral exam to the student and the committee members in written form, prior to submitting the request to schedule an oral defense. The customary format of the oral exam is for physical attendance of all committee members and the student; however modifications of this format can be considered pending documented approval from the committee in advance of the examination date. The virtual, physical, or hybrid location of the defense must be agreed upon by unanimous consent at the time when the defense is scheduled (Section 11.23). In general, the oral defense of the dissertation is open to the university community and other interested observers. Observers may ask questions, if recognized by the Chair of the examining committee. At the discretion of this Chair, some or all of the observers may be asked to leave the examination room, if in the opinion of the Chair, the presence of the observers is detracting from the ability of the student to answer questions from the examination committee. A student who fails the examination may be permitted one re-examination if recommended by the committee and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. A second examination, if permitted, may be taken only after a minimum of ten weeks has passed to allow for additional student preparation. In all cases, a second examination must take place before one year has elapsed. (See 7.74) Passing the oral defense of the dissertation does not automatically imply that the dissertation is acceptable as defended. The dissertation will be approved only after all the corrections stipulated by the dissertation defense committee are incorporated in the dissertation in final form. For dissertations judged to be acceptable except for typing errors and/or minor changes in style or content, the major professor or Chair of the dissertation examining committee is responsible for certifying that all corrections have been made. For dissertations judged to be acceptable only after significant changes in content are made, the major professor and any defense committee members so designated at the defense will be responsible for certifying that all corrections have been made. The form for certifying that mandatory corrections were made to a successfully defended dissertation can be found on the Graduate School’s forms page: https://web.uri.edu/graduate-school/forms/. (Amended November 21, 2022)
7.60 Scheduling of Examinations
7.61. Scheduling of oral and written examinations, including qualifying, comprehensive, and defense of theses/dissertations will be done only at the convenience of the faculty members involved, and will be scheduled depending upon the availability of the student’s program committee and additional qualified examiners. Faculty cannot be required to participate in examinations during the summer months if they are not under contract. Students should work with their committees to schedule the exams before they take place using the forms provided by the Graduate School. Students must be registered for any semester or summer term in which they defend a thesis or dissertation. (Amended October 2, 2023)
7.70 Reporting the Results of Examinations
7.71. Results of each examination (which, for the purpose of this Section shall include written and oral examinations and portfolios unless specified) shall be reported promptly to the Dean of the Graduate School on appropriate forms. Responsibility for submitting the results of a particular examination rests with the chair of the examining committee, but all reports must be acknowledged with a signature by the program director. (Amended March 4, 2024)
7.72. The student will normally be notified in writing of the results of a written examination within two weeks (exclusive of vacation periods) after completing the examination. With oral examinations or portfolios, the student shall be notified as soon as the examining committee completes deliberations.
7.73. A student who fails the examination may be permitted one re-examination if re-examination is recommended by the committee and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. If a re-examination is recommended, the examining committee must provide the student with written instructions (copied and sent to the Dean of the Graduate School) for remedying the deficiencies identified in the first examination. Any special conditions that the student will be expected to fulfill in preparation for a second examination must accompany the recommendation to allow a re-examination. No more than one re-examination will ever be allowed. If the second examination is failed, the student is no longer eligible to complete the degree program in which they are enrolled. Students failing a re-examination in a master’s degree program will not have the opportunity to complete a thesis-based or non-thesis-based master’s degree in that program.
7.74. A second examination, if permitted, may be taken only after a minimum of two weeks has passed to allow for additional student preparation. In all cases, a second examination must take place before one year has elapsed. If the second examination is not taken within a year, no additional opportunity to take it will be given.