Policies

A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above is required for all courses. An overall grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 must be maintained.

All students in the PhD program are required to register autumn, winter, spring and summer quarters. All students must register for exactly 10 units in autumn, winter and spring quarters and exactly 3 units in summer quarter until they advance to Terminal Graduate Registration (TGR opens in a new tab) status (135 units), unless otherwise instructed by the department; for instance, those with specific fellowships, will need to be enrolled in 10 units all four quarters. Completing each year’s general requirements listed below is required for satisfactory progress toward the degree. Students not making satisfactory degree progress are subject to departmental academic review and/or dismissal.

The university requires all PhD students to complete at least three units of work with each of four Stanford faculty. These units of work can include lectures, labs, seminars, teaching, research, directed readings and independent study. In order to advance to candidacy, coursework must be completed by the end of the second year of graduate study.

The Oceans Department Graduate Handbook opens in a new tabcontains further information on PhD requirements and policies.