A graduate student does not become a candidate for the Ph. D. degree until granted formal admission to candidacy. Such admission requires the approval of the student's Supervisory Committee, the department chairperson, the college dean, and the Dean of the Graduate School. The approval must be based on

1. the academic record of the student,
2. the opinion of the supervisory committee concerning overall fitness for candidacy,
3. an approved dissertation topic, and
4. a qualifying examination as described above.

Application for admission to candidacy should be made as soon as the qualifying examination has been passed and the student’s supervisory committee has approved a dissertation topic.