Program Fees

The cost of the program is geared to the number of semesters required to complete the degree requirements. The cost of each semester is $4,200.00 US (subject to minor increases over a three year period).

This program fee is not charged by the university. In some cases, there are additional fees charged by the matriculating university. The fee paid to the Taos Institute is for the supportive and consultative services offered in the form of advising, seminars, conferences, an online social media site where ideas can be exchanged, and participation in the Taos community of scholar/practitioners.

The fee is paid directly to the Taos Institute at the start of each semester (The Fall semester fee is due by Sept. 1st and Spring semester fee is due by Mar. 1st). There are additional processing fees if, for example, the student pays by check, credit card, bank wire, or monthly payments. These fees will be outlined when the student receives his/her bill one month before the start of each semester. There is also a $100 late fee applied to any fee that is paid after the first of September for the Fall, or after the first of March for the Spring semester.

IMPORTANT: 

It is important to note that once admitted to the Taos PhD program, students must use the first year to work with both their Taos Advisor and University Promoter to develop a full prospectus. This prospectus must be approved by the doctorate board of the matriculating university at the end of the first year. If it is approved, the student may continue in the PhD program. If it is not approved, continuation is not possible.

The Final Dissertation Process

When ready, the student secures the approval from his/her advisor and university promoter regarding the written draft of the dissertation. Generally there are revisions requested at this stage. Once the advisor and promoter approve the draft manuscript, it is sent to potential committee members for review. This process may take several months. Readers may request revisions prior to moving on to securing a defense date. In some cases, a meeting (generally via skype or another web-based platform) will be scheduled so that readers, advisors, and student may discuss questions and requested revisions. After the reviewers have offered feedback, additional revisions (as required) are made to the final manuscript. Once the dissertation has been vetted and final revisions have been made, the university promoter submits the dissertation to the Doctorate Board of the University. The Doctorate Board must approve the manuscript and, once approved, the process of formally appointing a defense committee and determining the defense date is initiated. At this point, there are no further program fees to be paid to the Taos Institute. (Note, Taos payments are not pro-rated. The full semester fee is paid during the semester in which the final, approved dissertation is submitted.) In some cases, a defense date can not be scheduled any earlier than six months from this final submission date.

Travel to University for the Defense

When the candidate has completed all requirements and the dissertation has been approved he/she must travel to the degree granting University to complete the process. Travel, hotel, and all additional expenses are the responsibility of the student.

Program Fee Assistance

The Taos Institute does not offer scholarships for this program, nor assistance in locating other forms of financial support. The student is required to pay the program fees to the Taos Institute directly or find other sources for assistance (employer, grants, loans, etc.).

Seminars

Several seminars are offered each year to students in the program. There are two 2.5-day seminars especially recommended - one on Social Construction and Relational Theory and another one on Social Constructionist Inquiry/Research. The registration fee for these seminars is included in the Ph.D. program fee for eligible students. Travel and lodging is not included. Consult the Taos Institute website for Upcoming Seminars, Workshops and Conferences for specific dates.

Additional seminars and workshops are offered throughout the year. During the six semesters while in the program, students may attend up to four (4) Taos seminars. See the Taos Institute seminar and workshop series. These four seminars are covered by the program fee for eligible students. Additional seminars and workshops are at the student’s expense.

Leave of Absence

Due to individual circumstance, students may apply to take up to two semesters "leave of absence" from the program at any time. A "leave of absence" from the program is permitted for an entire semester at time. Students should first discuss their desire for a leave of absence with their advisor. Permission is granted by the student's advisor and directors of the program, Professor McNamee and Professor Gergen. Once plans are in place for the student to take a LOA, the student should inform both the PhD program administrator, Sheila McNamee and Ken Gergen, program co-directors. During such LOA periods the student may continue his/her research or writing in absentia. Leaves of absence may not be taken for partial semesters. The Taos advisor will most likely not be available to students during a student's leave of absence. Any student taking more than two leave of absence will be considered as “administratively withdrawn” from the program. If such circumstances arise, and the student wishes to continue in the program, a new application (application fee waived) will be required.

Progress Reports

At the end of each semester, Academic Advisors will complete an evaluation of the student's progress. Taos Advisor and in some cases, University Promoter, will complete a report indicating the student’s progress. This form will indicate whether a student is operating at the expected level, above the expected level, or below the expected level. More than two semester rankings below expected level will result in dismissal from the program. The criteria for each level are as follows:

At expected level: Student is working at a reasonable pace on the dissertation research, reading relevant literature, maintaining consistent contact with advisor and promoter, and submitting (where appropriate) sufficient written samples.

Above expected level: Student is working at an impressive pace on the dissertation research, integrating broad ranging literature, maintaining active contact with advisor and promoter, and demonstrating excellence in writing.

Below expected level: Student is making minimal or no progress on the research and/or theoretical orientation of the dissertation, shows little evidence in integrating relevant literature, maintains minimal contact with the advisor and promoter, and either fails to submit writing that is adequate in volume, content, or style

All work for the Ph.D. must be completed in no more than five consecutive calendar years, after the date of first enrollment (regardless of Leaves of Absence). After five years, the student will be given an administrative withdrawal from the program.