Doctoral students must maintain continuous registration once they have passed their comprehenseive exams. This means they must be registered every fall and spring semesters until they pass their final defense, deposit their thesis, and graduate. 

Registration options are as follows:
1. A minimum of 1 s.h. in a required or elective course, such as research or thesis hours to complete the plan of study,
2. Doctoral Continuous Registration (DCR). DCR requires a 1 s.h. tuition/fee payment.

If a temporary lapse in a student's academic program is required due to military service, medical leave, maternity leave, or personal/family leave, a student may petition the Graduate College to be allowed to register for Ph.D. Postcomprehensive Registration (PCR), which allows for the assessment of a special minimum fee. If a petition is granted, it is to be understood that a student will not make significant use of university resources, or engage in significant consultation with the faculty.

In the final semester, Music requires doctoral students to register for 1 s.h. of DMA Essay/Thesis. If an additional semester is needed after the defense prior to the thesis deposit students may register for Doctoral Final Registration (DFR), which requires a 1 s.h. tuition/fee payment.