Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy degree are listed and explained. The intent is to present the prospective Ph.D. student with a reasonably clear picture of the tasks to be completed, the level of performance to be achieved, and the expected schedule for completion of the degree. University faculty and academic administrative officers may compare doctoral requirements in their institutions with these standards, while the public may get some idea of the impressive credentials doctoral students carry. Typical requirements include: satisfactory performance on comprehensive examinations, foreign language and/or research tool competency examinations, a period of residency, completion of a dissertation and a time limit for the validity of work done and the completion of all work requirements. Within a rigorous course of doctoral study, the prospective Ph.D. student is also expected to be well informed of administrative organization, academic programs, prerequisites for admission, mastery-of-fields examinations, research qualifications, residency rules, training experience, and registration deadlines connected with completion of a doctoral degree. The culmination of doctoral study, the dissertation, should be a distinct contribution to knowledge and of sufficient value to warrant its publication in a reputable journal, or as a book or monograph. The following aspects of preparing the dissertation are discussed: nature and purpose, scope, selection of topic, advisory committee approval, off-campus research, format, joint authorship, classified research and final oral and/or written defense and review. (DC)