How long does it usually take to complete the PhD degree?
The PhD degree requires 48 credit hours beyond the MA degree, in addition to the five substantive core courses. The core classes can be waived if equivalent courses have been taken during MA work. Without these waivers, the total PhD credit hours beyond the MA would be 63 (48+15). Up to 18 credit hours can be for dissertation work, so this leaves 30-45 credit hours of seminars, depending on whether any of the substantive core classes are waived. GPIS seminars are each three credit hours, so 30-45 credit hours translates into ten to fifteen seminars. At the normal full-time load of three classes per semester, this means four to five semesters of course work, plus the PhD comprehensive examination and the dissertation. Obviously, part-time work will extend this further. At two seminars per semester, it would take six to eight semesters to complete the PhD coursework.
