All requirements for the doctoral degree must be completed within five years from the end of the semester following the semester in which the student passed the preliminary oral examination. If the student is unable to complete the degree by the deadline, he or she may petition the Graduate School for an extension of the time limit. Petitions should be filed no later than early in the semester in which the time limit will expire. Extensions beyond one year are considered only in the most extraordinary circumstances. The petition must be completed by the student and signed by both the adviser and the DGS. For full details see the Graduate School Catalog < http://www1.umn.edu/commpub/gradindex.html >and information from the Graduate School.