Ph.D. with a Major in Special Studies

The University of Kansas

Graduate Studies

Ph.D. with a Major in Special Studies 2006

The student seeking to enter the special studies program must have an outstanding academic record (a grade-point average of 3.75 or higher on a 4.0 scale for graduate courses or a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale for undergraduate courses if no graduate courses have been taken) and must be admitted to and enrolled in a graduate program at KU at the time of application. A graduate student who has failed to maintain the required grade-point average is not eligible for the special studies program. A student is not eligible for this program if he or she has tried and failed to achieve candidacy in a regular graduate department or program at KU.

The student is expected to assume the initiative in determining his or her potential eligibility through consultation with graduate advisers and, if deemed eligible, in forming an advisory committee and preparing documentation to support the application.

Preadmission Procedures
To enter the program, a student should:

1. Determine that KU offers courses and research in the areas appropriate to the student's interest.
2. Prepare a tentative study plan based on those offerings to serve as a basis for initial discussion.
3. Approach a professor whose interests are comparable to those of the student and request that he or she act as adviser. Normally this professor is a faculty member of the program of principle interest to the student. It is essential that this program be one that grants doctorates and that the selected professor be authorized to chair doctoral dissertation committees.
4. Upon agreement by the professor to serve as adviser, the student should assemble an advisory committee of at least three additional professors representing the disciplines covered in the special program. At least two disciplines or departments must be represented.
5. In conjunction with the adviser and the committee, the student prepares a proposal for study, including:
   1. A statement, with supporting documentation, that the proposed special studies PhD cannot be accomplished through established programs.
   2. A definition of the field of study incorporating in a consistent way a description of the contribution of each included discipline to a broader field.
   3. An outline of the course of study, indicating substantive work in fields represented. Readings courses and independent study do not substitute for regular courses.
   4. A description of the method for satisfying research skills requirements.
   5. A description of the comprehensive examination procedures (nature of the examinations and possible examining committee).
   6. A description, to the extent possible, of the nature of the field in which a dissertation might be written indicating the respective contributions of the selected disciplines to the final product.
   7. Attach the following: (i) complete transcripts of all previous work, (ii) a cover sheet, signed by committee members, indicating their support of the proposal, (iii) letters of recommendation and other appropriate supporting documents.
      Note: Diplomas and transcripts indicate the degree awarded as “Ph.D. in Special Studies” and do not specify the area of specialization.

Admission and Review Procedure
Upon completion of the above, the student must present to Graduate Studies the application for admission to the special studies program. At that time, a review committee is appointed by Graduate Studies, chaired by the Dean of Graduate Studies (or the Dean's designate) and consisting of (a) Dean(s) or Director(s) of Graduate Studies (or their designates) for the school(s) involved in the interdisciplinary undertaking and (b) two or more doctoral chairing faculty members (from unrelated fields) who are members of the Graduate Council, at least one of whom must represent a discipline not involved in the special studies program under consideration.

The Graduate Studies committee reviews the documents and may, if necessary, interview the student and the adviser for clarification and additional information or to discuss suggested revisions to the proposal.

Approved Program Implementation
Upon acceptance of the proposal and admission to the special program, the student is admitted to the school of the major adviser to facilitate record keeping and to provide a central administrative office. The director of graduate studies of that school must enroll the student and monitor the program and, along with the major adviser, must make periodic reports to Graduate Studies on the student's progress. These reports are distributed to the directors of other involved programs along with a request to supply any additional information regarding the student's performance. Proposals for major deviations from the approved course of study must be submitted to Graduate Studies for review by that office and by the graduate studies office(s) of the involved school(s). It is understood that no additional requirements unique to traditional graduate program of the involved school(s) or departments may be imposed unless stated explicitly in the approved study plan.

All basic Graduate Studies rules and requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy degree apply to special time constraints, residence requirement, post-comprehensive enrollment, final oral examination, dissertation submission and publication, grade-point average, etc.