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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 starting with a bachelor's degree generally reach candidacy by their third year and are advised to finish within five years. These students typically earn a master's degree en route to their Ph.D., with the thesis being optional. Students entering with a relevant master's degree usually achieve candidacy in their second year and are expected to complete the program within four years, though they typically don't receive 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 to emerging technologies. Foundational studies focus on human perception, cognition, social dynamics, and learning processes. Applications span interface design, audio/music systems, collaborative tools, and K-12 educational technology, particularly emphasizing mobile and ubiquitous computing solutions.