Admission to Candidacy

Admission to candidacy indicates that the department and the Graduate School consider the student "prepared to do original and independent research" (from Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Programs and Policies). In order to be admitted to candidacy, the student must:

1. Fulfill all course requirements
2. Pass the qualifying exam
3. Have an approved prospectus
4. Receive a positive evaluation on laboratory work from the thesis committee

When a student has met all of these requirements, the DGS will submit to the Graduate School the "Certification of Admission to Candidacy" for that student. Admission to candidacy occurs between the 2nd and 3rd years. A student failing to be admitted to candidacy by the end of the 3rd year will not be permitted by the Graduate School to register for the following term.