Student Progress

Once admitted to the program, a candidate has ten years to complete all coursework, including the dissertation. After admission to candidacy, a student must remain continually enrolled each academic term until all graduation requirements are completed.

• In the case of emergencies, a student may request a leave of absence from the program for up to two years by submitting a letter to the program coordinator explaining the reasons for the request and outlining a plan for when the student will resume active work. Time spent on an approved leave of absence will not be counted as part of the ten years allowed for completion of the program. During a leave of absence, the student does not receive services from the university (advising, library privileges, etc.).
• A student admitted to the doctoral program is required to achieve a semester grade point average (semester GPA) of 3.0 or better each and every semester or summer session in which he or she is enrolled through program completion.
  • If a student fails to meet the semester GPA requirement and the failure is the first occurrence since admission to the program, the student will be placed on academic notice by the Graduate College but will be allowed to continue in the program.
  • If a student fails to meet the semester GPA requirement and the failure is the second occurrence since admission to the program, the student will be administratively withdrawn from the program by the Graduate College (see the Graduate Catalog for more details).
• In addition, no more than two grades of “C” may be earned in required course-work, exclusive of cognate studies.
  • A required course in which a “C or “D” is earned may be repeated once. If a retake fails to result in a grade of “A” or “B” the student is subject to dismissal.
• If a student takes an incomplete, he or she has one year to complete the requirements.
  • An incomplete form is filled out with the course instructor and the student prior to the end of the semester in which the course is taken.
  • If the incomplete is not satisfactorily completed by the deadline, the student will receive a final grade of “F.”
• If a student receives a final grade of “F” in a 600-level course that is required for the doctoral degree, he or she may not retake the course. The student will be withdrawn from the doctoral program and academically disqualified from any further doctoral level work at Boise State University.

Each semester, students will be required to submit an updated Program Planning Form showing their progress in the program. This allows the Ed.D. program to track students and help at varying points in the program.