Advancement to Candidacy
Students who are admitted to the University’s Graduate Division (regular and conditional) are admitted as potential or prospective candidates for an advanced degree. Students who are conditionally admitted must complete 12 credits of 3.0 GPA before being considered as regular graduate students.
The first step toward an MA or PhD in SLS is to be officially advanced to candidacy. Students are formally advanced to candidacy upon recommendation of the Graduate Faculty.
For MA students in Plans A and B, the basic requirements for advancement to candidacy are:
- Completion of at least two SLS program courses.
- Cumulative grade point ratio of 3.00 in SLS courses.
- Completion of any foreign language deficiency.
Students in Plan C are advanced to candidacy upon passing the qualifying examination. PhD in SLS students are advanced to candidacy following points 1 and 2 above, as well as after completing their first foreign language requirement.
Students who have been denied advancement to candidacy may petition for an extension of time so that they may be reconsidered. The petition should contain a proposal for improving performance in the program. Students will not be considered for candidacy again should they be denied a second time. Forms are available from the Graduate Division.
After advancement to candidacy, students must be enrolled each semester (excluding summer session) for course work or thesis research credit at regular fees (see Continuing Enrollment Policy). Those in residence on campus shall register each semester for at least one hour of credit; students not on campus shall register, as a minimum, for one credit of SLS 500—Directed Studies, SLS 700—Thesis, or SLS 800—Dissertation. (See SLS 500 – Directed Studies for details) Students who are not enrolled nor on approved leaves of absence will be regarded as being withdrawn from their degree programs. They will be required to apply for re-admission in accordance with the established regulations if they wish to resume their studies. (See the current University of Hawai‘i Catalog for details.)
For doctoral students, successful completion of coursework, passing written and oral comprehensive examinations, and oral defense of the written dissertation proposal leads to advancement to “A(ll) B(ut) Dissertation” stage, at which point SLS 800 can be enrolled in.
Time allowed. Candidates for the MA, AGCSLS or PhD degrees must complete all requirements within seven years after admission to the program, excluding approved periods of leave of absence. See the Catalog for details.
The Graduate Division keeps track of each student as the student goes through the various aspects of his/her graduate program. Three forms used for MA Plan A (thesis) and doctoral student are detailed below. For MA Plans B and C and AGCSLS students, the department notifies the Graduate Division of the student’s progress and any changes in program.
Form I
Results of preliminary conference; results of general examination or qualifying exam; selection of a specialization (if any), proficiency in first foreign language, admission to candidacy, and any transfer of credits.
Form II
Appointment of thesis or dissertation committee, approval of topic, and results of comprehensive examination.
Form III
Results of final oral examination and judgment of thesis or dissertation.
