F2.9 Normative Time and Calculation of Normative Time in Candidacy
Updated: May 11th, 2012
Normative time. The term “normative time” refers to the elapsed time (calculated to the nearest semester) that students would need to complete all requirements for the doctorate and making satisfactory progress toward their degrees. Normative times for doctoral programs have been recommended by program faculty and approved by the Graduate Council. The usual total normative time for doctoral programs is 12 semesters.
Calculation of normative time. There are two components of normative time: Normative Time to Advancement (NTA) and Normative Time in Candidacy (NTIC).
The Graduate Division computes a student’s time to advancement (NTA) from the time a student first enrolled as a graduate student at Berkeley until advancement to doctoral candidacy. For students in a qualified major, delays in applying for advancement to candidacy may jeopardize eligibility for the Dean’s Normative Time Fellowship or Dissertation Completion Fellowship (whichever is applicable, given semester of entry).
Normative time in candidacy (NTIC) is counted from the semester following the one in which the student had formally been advanced to candidacy, not simply the semester following the Qualifying Examination.
Policies that modify calculation of normative time. Students in certain circumstances may request and be granted modifications in the calculation of normative time. These circumstances include:
Students who are parents: The Graduate Council allows certain modifications; for full details, see section F5.1 Graduate Council Student Parent Policies. The modifications for parents are also referred to in sections F3 “Dean’s Normative Time Fellowship (DNTF)” and F3.1 “Dissertation Completion Fellowship (DCF)”.
Students with disabilities: Modifications in normative time are provided to students who have received appropriate letters of accommodation from the Disabled Students Program (DSP). Information about DSP services can be found at http://dsp.berkeley.edu/docs/handbook.pdf. Students facing challenges from vision and hearing impairment, AD/HD, psychological, mobility impairment, speech impairment, acquired brain injury, chronic illness, or other disabilities should consult with a DSP specialist about how to verify their disability and request possible accommodations. Accommodation for students with disabilities is also discussed in section A1.5 “Special Resources for Students with Difficulties”.
Students previously enrolled in master’s programs at Berkeley: Requests for consideration for a “reset” of the normative time clock may be made by:
- A student who was enrolled at Berkeley for a master’s degree and later pursues a doctoral degree in a distinctly different field.
- A student who had completed a master’s degree at Berkeley, did not pursue further study immediately thereafter, and returns to Berkeley for doctoral study at least one year later.
In these instances, the student’s head graduate adviser should submit a memo of request to the Graduate Services: Degrees Office (318 Sproul Hall, #5900).
See All Topics in the Category: F. Degrees, Guide to Graduate Policy
