Frequently Asked Questions

 

1.   How can I check on the status of my application?

 

      You should contact the graduate school admissions office by phone or email.

      Phone: 813-974-8800 or email: status@grad.usf.edu

 

The graduate admissions office in the College of Education can be contacted at 813-974-3406 or oltz@tempest.coedu.usf.edu.

 

2.   How much time do I have to complete the degree?

 

At present, all coursework must be completed within 5 years of admission to candidacy. Students then have an additional5 years to complete the dissertation.

 

3.   Can I transfer hours into the program?

 

Students can generally transfer up to 8 hours into a graduate program from another institution. Students may need to submit       syllabi or other documentation to demonstrate equivalency. Students should consult with their advisor about the possibility of transferring hours into a doctoral program.

 

4.   What type of financial aid is available?

 

There are some university scholarships/fellowships that are available, depending on GRE scores and previous academic work. Although competitive, some are allocated to the various departments in the college. It is often possible to offer teaching assistantships to students who are prepared to aid in teaching undergraduate methods courses.

 

5.   How do I meet the residency requirement?

The purpose of the Ph.D. program in the College of Education is to prepare aspiring individuals to become producers of knowledge (researchers/university faculty members). This requires that research training and theory exploration be major components in the education of the Ph.D. student. It is during the residency that much of this training occurs, although not necessarily in formal coursework. To facilitate this focus on training, the Ph.D. student must spend at least one academic year of residence on the Tampa Campus. An academic year's residency will be defined as a minimum of 9 credit hours of graduate work per semester, 2 semesters within a 12-month period. Full-time residency requires enrollment in a minimum of nine semester hours each semester. The student should be engaged in no more than half-time employment outside the Ph.D. program during this period. Reduction of full-time job responsibilities will allow the student to take advantage of the opportunities for learning which are available in the University community during regular daytime hours, to participate in research projects with faculty, and to teach courses at the University level as appropriate for program needs.

6. If I am a graduate of a university in another country, how should my transcripts be handled?

 

  Currently, international students seeking admission into the college must present an English evaluation (not just a translation) of their credentials. An English translation differs from an English evaluation. The evaluation addresses the quality of the foreign school attended, the equivalency of the student’s coursework to U.S. undergraduate and graduate level coursework, and the equivalency of the student’s international scores to U.S. grades.

 

There are several recognized agencies that provide this service, typically at a cost of about $100. Here are the names of two who have provided such services to students in the past:

 

      Josef Silny and Associates

      P. O. Box 248233

      Coral Gables, Florida 33124

      http://www.jsilny.com/

      phone: 305-273-1616

 

      University of Miami

      Degree Validation

      School of Education

      P. O. Box 248065

      ATTN: Lily Garcia

      Coral Gables, Florida 33124-2040

      phone: 305-284-1696