Doctoral education is an investment in time and money for students, for the academic departments, and for the Mailman School. This investment is based on a mutual contract between the student and the department that includes providing students with opportunities to explore research interests, opportunities to develop academic advising and mentoring relationships, and access to other academic resources to carry out their academic goals. Because of this, it is important to ensure that each student’s progress toward completion of his/her degree is being made at the appropriate pace expected of doctoral students. In support of this goal, the Mailman School has developed a policy of continuous enrollment for its Dr.P.H. students:

Dr.P.H. students admitted beginning fall 2005 are admitted under the expectation that they must be continuously enrolled at the Mailman School. This continuous enrollment requirement will be in effect for the 30 points of academic coursework. Students who register for additional classes must pay the current Mailman School tuition. To be continuously enrolled, Dr.P.H. students must register for one tuition point in all spring and fall semesters in which they are not otherwise registered for course credits. The continuous enrollment policy begins with the semester in which the student first enrolls in the Dr.P.H. program and continues through the semester the dissertation is deposited.

Waivers to the continuous registration requirement will be rare and considered on a case by case basis, through a petition to the student’s academic department with a recommendation from the department made to the Mailman School’s Office of Student Affairs. Reasons for requesting a waiver would include maternity/paternity leave, serious personal illness, or other serious life events. Such a petition should include the reason for requesting the waiver and a proposed plan for completing the remaining Dr.P.H. degree requirements. For all students, after two years’ leave of absence, the student must reapply to the Mailman School.

If any Dr.P.H. candidate fails to register for one continuous point of credit during a particular fall or spring semester without having been granted a waiver or leave, then the Office of Student Affairs will notify the student and the student’s department at the start of that semester. To remain in good standing, the student will have to take one of the following actions:

• register for one doctoral research credit immediately;
• submit a formal request for leave; or
• agree to some other arrangement with the approval of his/her advisor and department chair.

Any student who misses one or more semesters without permission will have to pay for an additional point of credit for each semester missed at the time he/she registers once again.

The above policy is similar to the policy for Ph.D. students at GSAS, who also must be continuously enrolled until graduation.

Any current Dr.P.H. student wishing to be grand-parented into this continuous registration requirement can do so by petitioning the Office of Student Affairs, outlining a proposed course plan to complete their degree.

Research proposal, comprehensive examination, and dissertation defense

Doctoral students receive advice and monitoring in the preparation and scheduling of research proposals, comprehensive examinations, and the final dissertation defense, which faculty committees review carefully.

Office of Admissions—GSAS

Columbia University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
107 Low Memorial Library,
535 West 116th Street (Mail Code 4303)
New York, NY 10027

Phone: 212-845-4737.

Web site: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/gsas