PhD Requirements
To earn a PhD at Washington University, a student must complete all courses required by their department/program; maintain satisfactory academic progress; pass certain examinations; fulfill residence and mentored experience requirements; write, defend, and submit a dissertation; and file an Application to Graduate form via Workday.
For university-wide PhD requirements, visit the Vice Provost for Graduate Education’s PhD Education and Governance page.
Master’s Degree Requirements
- Complete the minimum units required; this will vary by program area
- Meet individual program requirements (required courses, courses from specific subject areas, and additional requirements)
- Fulfill residence requirement
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress
- Pass an examination which tests competence in the field of study for the "without thesis" option or prepare an acceptable thesis and successfully defend it before a committee of no fewer than 3 faculty members for the "with thesis" option
Any master's degree program can require a master's thesis, make the thesis optional or decline to offer a thesis option.