This page contains information related to Registration, Satisfactory Academic Progress (including Benchmarks and Extensions), Academic Probation, Leave, and Reinstatement.
Registration
Students are ultimately responsible for their own quarterly registration. Students can register for most English graduate seminars online through MyUW on a first-come, first-served basis. For English courses with restricted registration, contact the English Graduate Advising Office at englgrad@uw.edu for assistance. A list of courses, including course descriptions, is available on the Department of English website: https://english.washington.edu/courses/grad.
Restricted courses that are not open to online (MyUW) registration are as follows:
- English 590 - Master's Essay (signed registration form required)
- English 597 - PhD directed reading (signed registration form required)
- English 600 - Independent Study (signed registration form required)
- English 601 - Internship
- English 800 - Dissertation (signed registration form required every quarter)
If a student intends to take a course outside the department, they must contact the DGS for approval before the course will be applied toward their PhD coursework.
Satisfactory Academic Progress
In order to maintain good standing in the program, all students must make satisfactory academic progress. The Department of English MA/PhD program defines satisfactory academic progress as having no more than one incomplete and meeting program benchmarks on time.
Benchmarks
1. MA Degree
Students entering without an MA must fulfill the requirements for that degree by the time they complete 60 credits of coursework.
Students who entered the program autumn 2018 or earlier: The MA degree must be completed by the end of the sixth quarter of full-time residence.
2. Request to Proceed to Doctoral Study (formerly known as the PhD Letter)
Students must request formal admission to doctoral study by submitting the Request to Proceed to Doctoral Study form by the time they complete 60 credits of coursework.
Students who entered the program autumn 2018 or earlier:
- Students with Master’s degrees from other institutions should apply for admission to the PhD program in their third quarter and must apply in their fourth.
- Students with the MA degree in English from the University of Washington should apply for admission to the PhD program by the fourth week following completion of the MA degree. They should apply by the end of the sixth quarter but must apply in the seventh.
3. PhD General Exams
Students must take their exams within one year of completing coursework.
Students who entered the program autumn 2018 or earlier: Students should complete the PhD exams in the fourth year of graduate study (third year for those entering with a master’s degree from elsewhere) but must complete the PhD exams by the end of the fourth year (third year for those entering with a master’s degree) in order to make satisfactory progress.
4. Dissertation Prospectus
Students must complete their dissertation prospectus the quarter after they pass their general exams.
5. Ten-Year Limit
In accordance with the Graduate School's doctoral degree requirements, all work for the doctoral degree (including the dissertation defense) must be completed within ten years. This includes quarters spent on-leave or out of status as well as applicable work from the master’s degree from the UW. If a student wishes to remain in student status beyond the 10-year limit, then they must follow the procedures listed below for requesting an extension for a benchmark.
Extensions
When requesting an extension for a benchmark, the student must submit a written statement to the DGS that explains why additional time is needed and provides a detailed timeline for completing the benchmark. If the student has a supervisory committee chair, the DGS will communicate with the chair about the request and respond to the student in a timely manner.
Academic Probation
According to UW Graduate School Policy 3.7: Academic Performance and Progress: "A student admitted to the Graduate School may continue graduate study and research at the University of Washington as long as they maintain satisfactory performance and progress toward completion of their graduate degree." The probation process, used for addressing unsatisfactory performance and progress, is detailed in UW Graduate School Policy 3.7: Academic Performance and Progress.
The Department of English MA/PhD program defines satisfactory academic progress as having no more than one incomplete and meeting program benchmarks on time. If a student is at risk for not meeting a benchmark, the Graduate Studies Committee will vote on whether the probation process should be initiated. If the Graduate Studies Committee votes to start the probation process, then the DGS will first reach out to the student’s chair to discuss next steps and to make a plan for communicating with the student.
Leave
According to UW Graduate School Policy 3.5: On-Leave Policy to Maintain Graduate Student Status: "To maintain graduate status, a student must be enrolled on a full-time, part-time, or official On-Leave basis from the time of first enrollment in the Graduate School until completion of all requirements for the graduate degree. (Summer quarter On-Leave enrollment is automatic for all graduate students who were either registered or officially On-Leave during the prior Spring Quarter.)"
In addition the UW Graduate School’s leave policy, the Department of English has established its own internal policy:
- A student may go on leave for up to three consecutive quarters (one academic year) without completing a Petition for On-Leave Status form.
- If a student has already completed three consecutive quarters of leave, then they must submit a Petition for On-Leave Status form to the DGS before any additional consecutive quarters of leave will be approved. If the student has a supervisory committee chair, the DGS will communicate with the chair about the request and respond to the student in a timely manner. The student may submit an appeal to the GSC if the DGS refuses the petition.
Reinstatement
According to the UW Graduate School's policy on Reinstatement: "A matriculated student previously registered in the Graduate School who has failed to maintain graduate student status (on-leave status or registration) but who wishes to resume studies in their previous graduate program must submit a reinstatement request to the Graduate School. Students approved to reinstatement must pay a $250 Reinstatement Fee to process their reinstatement and return to active student status."
In addition the UW Graduate School’s reinstatement policy, the Department of English has established its own internal policy:
When requesting reinstatement, the student must submit a written request to the DGS that explains how the student fell out of status and provides a detailed timeline for completing the next benchmark. If the student has a supervisory committee chair, the DGS will communicate with the chair about the request and respond to the student in a timely manner.