Readmission

Readmission policies apply in two situations:

(1) A doctoral candidate who has requested and been granted a formal leave of absence (LOA). LOAs are only approved for candidates who have completed required coursework will not exceed six terms or the equivalent of two calendar years in total during the student’s tenure in the degree program. A candidate whose approved LOA expires without the candidate’s re-registering according to plan, and without the student’s re-negotiating the terms of the LOA, risks termination from the program. Candidates seeking to re-enroll after a LOA must contact the Doctoral Program Director for re-entry into the program. Such students must submit to the Doctoral Office (1) if applicable, transcripts showing courses taken since leaving the program; (2) a letter detailing how/why the candidate is now ready and able to resume the program; (3) an updated resume. Such students may then register and resume studies with the Director’s approval. Candidates should note that approved LOAs do not extend the time from initial matriculation to ultimate degree completion (8 years).

(2) A doctoral student (or candidate) in good standing who has voluntarily withdrawn from the program and seeks readmission within two years of their withdrawal.

(a) Candidates seeking readmission within two years of a withdrawal must contact the Doctoral Program Director for re-entry into the program. Such students must submit to the Doctoral Office:

(1) if applicable, transcripts showing courses taken since leaving the program;

(2) a letter detailing how/why the candidate is now ready and able to resume the program;

(3) an updated resume;

(4) a “Request for Re-admission” form;

(5) a new School of Social Work Ph.D. application;

(6) the application fee;

(7) a reference letter from the candidate’s dissertation chairperson.

An interview with the Director, the dissertation chairperson, and dissertation committee members may be required, after which the aforementioned faculty members will render a decision about readmission, and presuming a favorable decision, the candidate may resume work on the dissertation. Candidates should note that time spent between withdrawal and re-entry to the program does not extend the time from initial matriculation to ultimate degree completion (8 years).

(b) Students seeking readmission within two years of a withdrawal must contact the Doctoral Program Director for re-entry into the program. Such students must submit to the Doctoral Office (1) if applicable, transcripts showing courses taken since leaving the program; (2) a letter detailing how/why the student is now ready and able to re-enter the program; (3) an updated resume; (4) a “Request for Re-admission” form; (5) a new School of Social Work Ph.D. application; (6) the application fee; (7) a reference letter from the student’s advisor. An interview with the Director and the advisor may be required, after which the aforementioned faculty members will render a decision about readmission, and presuming a favorable decision, the advisor and the student will formulate a plan for the student’s re-entry into the cycle of courses where they left off. Students are cautioned that withdrawal from the program may mean that needed courses will not be available for several terms; additionally, students should note that time spent between withdrawal and re-entry to the program does not extend the time from initial matriculation to ultimate degree completion (8 years).

APPLICANTS FOR READMISSION FOLLOWING A WITHDRAWAL SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT READMISSION TO THE PROGRAM IS NOT ASSURED.

Candidates or students seeking to resume the program over two years past a withdrawal will be asked to complete a new application process and will not be considered readmissions. Depending upon the time that has elapsed since the withdrawal, some elements of the original application (e.g., GRE scores) may be accepted and some previously taken course work may be recognized, particularly if original performance was strong and the time since the courses were taken hasn’t exceed five years.

Additionally, a doctoral student (or candidate) who was involuntarily terminated from the program and seeks readmission will be asked to complete a new application process with an additional element: a detailed narrative discussing the circumstances of their termination and offering a detailed rationale and justification to the School for considering their acceptance a second time.