The degree of Doctor of Philosophy is the University’s highest degree. Study for the Ph.D. is full-time only. Every student who wishes to earn the Ph.D. degree must have earned the M.Phil. degree at Columbia and must fulfill satisfactorily the requirements of the Graduate School and of the department or Ph.D. program subcommittee under which he or she is studying. In particular students must satisfy the Seven-Year Rule stated in Satisfactory Academic Progress in section VII.A..