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More Information for ABD Students

Doctoral Students Who are ABD and Have *Not* Completed Their 24 Thesis Credits:

Many programs require ABD students to complete their 24 required thesis credits ([XXXX] 8888) in two semesters. In addition, students usually try not to go over 14 credits in any one semester, since enrolling for more than 14 credits means additional tuition.

How might students work within these constraints? Check with your DGS and advisor to be sure that this will be OK in your situation, but here are two options:

Semester A: 11 thesis credits + 3 seminar credits = 14 credits
Semester B: 13 thesis credits
=24 thesis credits in two semesters (+ 3 seminar credits)

OR

Semester A: 13 thesis credits
Semester B: 11 thesis credits + 3 seminar credits
=24 thesis credits in two semesters (+ 3 seminar credits)

Doctoral Students Who are ABD and *Have* Completed Their 24 Thesis Credits:

If you are on an assistantship or fellowship and have already completed your 24 dissertation credits, you could make a special request to your employer/funder to let you take the seminar. However, they are unlikely to want to do this because they would incur additional costs. They would have to employ you in the regular RA or TA job class and therefore pay full tuition fringe for the term. They would much rather have you employed in the advanced Ph.D. job class with its lower 1-credit fringe rate.