Completion of FOR 500 Science of Creative Intelligence, plus an additional Forest Academy for each semester, regardless of the number of credits taken in the semester. Students are allowed to withdraw from one Forest Academy during their doctoral program.
Forest Academies
A Forest Academy is a two-week period of study of particular themes of Vedic Science, where students will explore, through direct experience and understanding, the most vital element in creation — the field of pure consciousness that is the inner intelligence at the basis of every individual and the entire universe. Students are enrolled for one Forest Academy each semester, if they are enrolled for at least 4 blocks of classes. Students enrolled one year or less may not miss any Forest Academies. Students enrolled 1 1/2 years or longer may miss one Forest Academy. Forest Academy course descriptions
Development of Consciousness (DC) Courses
Completion of each semester’s Development of Consciousness course with a grade of P or H. Students are automatically enrolled in DC 520 or DC 535 for each semester they are enrolled.
Instructional Grade Point Average (GPA)
A grade of “B” or higher in all instructional courses.
Core Curriculum
Completion of core curriculum for a specific program of study, listed in graduate programs.
Comprehensive Exam (if applicable to the program)
This examination is taken after completion of the core curriculum in each program. Based on the results of this exam, the student may be awarded a master’s degree. The student must be registered during the block in which this examination is taken.
Qualifying Exam
This examination assesses the ability of the student to pursue doctoral research. This examination should also cover any core curriculum beyond the master’s level for doctoral programs requiring a master’s degree for admission. On the basis of successful completion of this examination, the student is advanced to candidacy for the doctoral degree.
Advisory Committee
This committee, formed by each doctoral student, should have at least four members including: the thesis advisor, a faculty member from the student’s department, a faculty member from UMLAC but another department, and one faculty member from another university or research institution. The membership of the advisory committee must be approved by the director of the doctoral program and the Dean of the Graduate School.
Dissertation Proposal
The dissertation proposal is approved by the student’s advisory committee and the Dean of the Graduate School.
Teaching and Research Experience
All doctoral students who have passed their oral qualifying exams are asked to help teach courses and/or help as research assistants. These activities give the student necessary experience in teaching academic courses and in conducting research — two necessary skills in the career path of Ph.D. graduates. Students who have reached the candidate stage are awarded Ph.D. assistantships, which entail this teaching or research.
Advanced Course Work
Advanced courses will be prescribed by the thesis advisor and advisory committee to ensure that the student will have comprehensive knowledge of a major field and related subjects. The courses the student is required to take will depend upon prior academic background in relation to the selected graduate program and area of research interest.
Original Research for a Dissertation
Each student working toward a doctor of philosophy degree must conduct original research as the basis for a dissertation that makes a significant contribution to knowledge. The research is to be under the guidance of the thesis advisor and the advisory committee, and requires their approval. All doctoral students must be registered during each block in which they are working on their doctoral dissertation, whether or not they are in residence on campus. It is the policy of the University to permit and facilitate dissertation research by international students in their home countries, whenever feasible.
Written Dissertation and Abstract
The dissertation must be organized, typed, duplicated, and bound according to regulations prescribed by the Graduate School. An abstract of the dissertation, not exceeding 350 words, must also be prepared. The student must submit to the major professor copies of the dissertation and abstract for approval before submitting the document to other committee members. The dissertation must be in completed form, typed with finished diagrams, etc. However, it will not be bound. The committee members should review the document and give their comments in a timely fashion — within two weeks. After incorporating all comments, the student will send updated copies of the manuscript to all committee members two weeks before the oral examination is scheduled. When the dissertation committee has reviewed and approved the dissertation and the student has passed an oral examination in its defense, the student shall incorporate in the dissertation any recommended changes and corrections before submitting it to the Library. The student must submit to the Library a final unbound copy of the dissertation and abstract, an additional copy of the abstract, the microfilming and binding contract, the microfilming and binding payment receipt, and the required forms by the date established by the Graduate School — two weeks before graduation.
Oral Defense of the Dissertation
The oral examination in defense of the dissertation will be conducted and evaluated by the dissertation committee supplemented, at the discretion of the Dean of the Graduate School, by additional appointed faculty members. The examination will be scheduled for a date not earlier than two weeks after the dissertation and abstract have been submitted to the major professor and dissertation committee. The student must be registered during the block in which the final oral examination is taken.
Microfilm and Publication of the Dissertation
All doctoral dissertations submitted to the Graduate School must be microfilmed. The University subscribes to the service offered by ProQuest. Two copies of the dissertation will be put in the UMLAC Library and will be available for inter-library loan. The abstract will be published in Dissertation Abstracts, which will announce the availability of the dissertation in film form.
The microfilming and binding fee required of all doctoral students submitting dissertations will cover the cost and the publication and distribution of the abstract. The student may order additional bound copies through ProQuest. An extra fee is charged if the dissertation is to be copyrighted. Information about the amount of this fee and method of payment may be obtained from the Graduate School.
The University considers microfilming a form of publication; this does not, however, preclude publication of the dissertation in a journal or monograph, either in whole or in part. The above information is subject to change any time. Students already enrolled at the University should contact the graduation director for their degree requirements.