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New doctoral students begin as precandidates. The Ph.D. qualifying process usually occurs within the initial two years of enrollment. Once all requirements except the dissertation are fulfilled, students advance to candidate status. Those entering a CSE doctoral program with a bachelor's degree typically achieve candidacy by their third year and are advised to finish within five years. These students often earn a master's degree en route to their Ph.D., though a thesis is optional. Students entering with a relevant master's degree usually reach candidacy in their second year and are encouraged to complete the program within four years, though they typically don't qualify for an additional CSE master's degree. The University of Michigan's Interactive Systems group explores Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Educational Technology, Multimedia, and Social Computing. HCI encompasses diverse research areas, with faculty expertise ranging from core principles like human perception and cognition to emerging technologies. Applications include interface design, audio computing, collaborative systems, and K-12 educational technology, particularly focusing on mobile and ubiquitous computing.