Can a student sign up for TE 999 credit before taking comps?
Yes, and this often makes sense. for example, there are times when a students assistantship or fellowship will pay for more credits than he or she is either willing or able to take during a semester. In that case it is worthwhile to use that support for dissertation credits rather than losing it, since students will need to buy a minimum of 24 credits at some point in order to graduate. It is not a good idea to accumulate a large number of 999 credits before taking comprehensive exams. A student can gain approval for a dissertation proposal only after passing comps. If a student fails to pass comps and therefore is prevented from continuing in the program, accumulated dissertation credits would be wasted.
