OXFORD GRADUATE SCHOOL 2008 ACADEMIC SCHEDULE

This calendar is for advance planning only. Do not make travel arrangements until you have confirmed the dates and that there is available space in the core session.

The Academic Calendar is divided into terms of semester length (sixteen weeks) with three entry dates, fall, spring, summer. Program credits are divided into four categories: core credits, cognate credits, load credits, and research credits. Residency requirements for the Course of Study and academic work are completed and 72 credits earned proportionately over a ten-term period. During the Course of Study the student must also accumulate 72 Competency Assessment Points through Gamma subject evaluations. There is a clear demarcation between the Course of Study and the dissertation research process. Competency assessments are made by the Academic Affairs Council and related to Matriculation and Candidacy. The Student Affairs Council supervises and monitors student participation in the Course of Study from Admissions to Candidacy. The Graduate Research Council directs the research proposal and dissertation process from Candidacy until Degree Validation.

Defense for research proposals and dissertations are scheduled on Monday morning and Friday afternoon of Core sessions III and IV each Term. This schedule provides the Candidate six (6) defense dates. Candidates are encouraged to defend at the earliest date to assure time to fulfill the Defense Contract executed by the Council. Candidates should be aware of final deadlines that determine Degree Day participation and degree validation. Draft manuscripts to be defended must be in the hands of the Graduate Research Council ten (10) days in advance of the scheduled defense. All schedules are made through the Chair of the Council.

POW = Program Orientation Workshop