Distinctions Among CAS 596, 600, and 601
There are three numbers (CAS 596, CAS 600, and CAS 601) at the graduate level applying to the undertaking of independent supervised work. However, the distinctions among them are not always clear in the minds of members of the Faculty responsible for the supervision of such work and the graduate students who engage in it. The purpose of this document is to make clear what each entails.
CAS 596: Individual Studies. CAS 596 is a credit-bearing offering in the curriculum in which a graduate student with appropriate approval(s) (from his or her advisor and the person supervising the project, if different from the advisor, and the advisory committee, if applicable) initiates scholarly work that he or she could not reasonably do in conjunction with a regular course offering in the curriculum. Upon completion of the work for which the student has enrolled, which should occur during the period of enrollment, the supervisor of record will assign a letter grade. Including such work in one’s program of study must be in conformity with the applicable policies in the Department’s Graduate Handbook. Specifically, one may not include credits in CAS 596 as part of the minimum of 30 to satisfy degree requirements. (See the requirements for the M.A. degree.) In the case of Ph.D. candidates, six credits of CAS 596 are permitted, but not as part of the minimum of 21 in CAS courses required. (See the requirements for the Ph.D. degree.) The Graduate School Bulletin further stipulates that “596 courses numbers may not be used for thesis research work.”
CAS 600: Thesis Research. CAS 600 allows for one’s earning up to six credits at the M.A. and 12 credits at the Ph.D. level. For enrollment beyond these levels, one may receive only a grade of R. M.A. candidates, by policy, have six credits of CAS 600 required as part of the total minimum credits for completing the degree. At the Ph.D. level, one enrolls under this number for nine credits to retain full-time status following the completion of all regular coursework, which must occur prior to taking one’s comprehensive examination. Doctoral candidates should not be enrolling in additional regular courses during the semester in which they will be completing their comprehensive examination. Enrollment in CAS 600, however, is not intended to provide “time off to study for comps.” Rather, the student should be undertaking independent work preparatory to the dissertation and for which either a regular grade or designation of R may be awarded.
CAS 601: Thesis Preparation. CAS 601 is the number under which a Ph.D. candidate who has successfully completed his or her comprehensive examination enrolls. It is open only to Ph.D. candidates. In CAS 601, one does not enroll for a designated number of credits, as in the case of CAS 600. While enrolled, moreover, the individual is expected to be working on his or her dissertation, not enrolling in and completing other courses.
