Credit Requirements and Time Limits

Credit Requirements

Students entering the program with a BS degree are required to have 96 credit hours of graduate-level coursework, and students entering the program with a prior MS degree are required to have 64 hours of graduate level couserwork. Additionally, students must successfully pass the qualifying, preliminary and final exams; and complete a Ph.D. dissertation to earn a Ph.D.

The 96 credit hours may be divided into three stages, consisting of at least 32 hours leading to an optional M.S. degree, 12 hours of graded graduate-level coursework in addition to the M.S. degree requirements, and at least 52 hours of thesis research credit (BIOE 599).

Time Limits

A candidate for the Ph.D. degree must complete all requirements for that degree within seven calendar years after first registration in the Graduate College. However, students who received a qualifying M.S. degree from elsewhere must complete all requirements for the Ph.D. within six calendar years from first registration with the Graduate College.

Students who receive the M.S. degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and whose studies are interrupted immediately thereafter for a substantial period of time also must complete all requirements for the Ph.D. degree within six calendar years after they resume their studies toward the Ph.D. Students completing both the M.D. and Ph.D. degrees (Medical Scholars) must satisfy all requirements for the two degrees within 10 calendar years after first registration with the Graduate College.