80 semester hours of graduate credit, including at least 30 semester hours of dissertation research
Six semesters of residence, three of which must be consecutive and full-time
Proficiency in an approved research skill or a foreign language, an international student whose native language is not English may be exempted from the foreign language requirement by passing an examination, students entering the program with an approved M.S. degree will have satisfied this requirement
Successful completion of a preliminary examination consisting of written and oral portions that represent the student's major area of interest
Non-native speakers of English are required to demonstrate English proficiency. This requirement can be met in one of the following ways:

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL, including the special home edition) with a total score of 80 or above.
International Language Testing System (IELTS) with a score of 6.5 per category and 6.5 overall.
Completion of a University System of Georgia approved ESL program (case-by-case basis).
Documentation that the baccalaureate or a prior graduate degree was obtained in an institution where the primary language of instruction is English and is located in one of the following English-speaking countries:
Successful completion of an oral defense of the dissertation and submission of an approved (signed) dissertation
Cumulative GPA 3.0
Non-native speakers of English are required to demonstrate English proficiency. This requirement can be met in one of the following ways:

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL, including the special home edition) with a total score of 80 or above.
International Language Testing System (IELTS) with a score of 6.5 per category and 6.5 overall.
Completion of a University System of Georgia approved ESL program (case-by-case basis).
Documentation that the baccalaureate or a prior graduate degree was obtained in an institution where the primary language of instruction is English and is located in one of the following English-speaking countries: