Credit Requirements and Transfer Credit

The equivalent of at least six semesters of full-time graduate study is required for the Ph.D. A minimum of 36 units of course work in the area of the major subject, 9 units in the minor subject, and 18 units of dissertation must be completed.  Most students will take more than the minimum.

All required units of credit must be at the 500-level or above at The University of Arizona (or, in the case of transfer units, their equivalent at other institutions). Six units of 400-level credit taken at The University of Arizona may be used in the minor if not used toward an undergraduate degree, but will not receive graduate credit or be calculated in the graduate grade-point average. At least one half the units used on the Doctoral Plan of Study must be in courses in which regular grades (A, B, C) have been earned. Grades of D cannot be counted toward a graduate degree. A minimum of 12 units of regular grades taken at The University of Arizona are required to establish a University of Arizona G.P.A.

Restrictions on Transfer Credit

Graduate credit earned at other approved institutions may be counted toward the requirements of a doctoral degree, but will not be included in the calculation of the University of Arizona G.P.A Transferred units are subject to the following restrictions:
  •  The credits must be approved by the major department and the Graduate College
  • The minimum grade for transferred credits must be an A or B or equivalent at awarding institution.
  • Transferred units may not count toward more than one doctorate.
  • A student may not use more than 30 credits from an earned master’s degree from another university toward a University of Arizona doctorate.
  • If a student counts credits from a UA M.S. or M.A. towards a UA Ph.D., then additional transfer credit may be limited to ensure that some UA coursework is taken while in the doctoral program.  Thesis credits used for a master's degree cannot count toward the Ph.D. course credit requirements.
  • Credit for correspondence courses or extension work obtained at other institutions will not be accepted for graduate credit.

Students who wish transfer credit must submit a Evaluation of Transfer Credit form before the end of their first year of study.
 

Graduate Non Degree Coursework

Students who have completed graduate non-degree coursework and would like that coursework to count toward a doctoral degree should be aware that only 12 units of non-degree coursework can be used toward doctoral degrees.. (For students who are also taking 400-level courses, the total of 400-level plus non-degree coursework may be no more than 12 units.)