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New doctoral students begin as precandidates. The Ph.D. qualifying process, usually finished within the initial two years, must be completed. Students advance to candidate status after fulfilling all requirements except the dissertation. 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 during their studies, receiving it alongside their Ph.D., though a master's thesis is optional. Students entering with a relevant master's degree usually achieve candidacy in their second year and are encouraged to graduate within four years, though they typically cannot earn 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 is a broad discipline, with faculty expertise spanning core principles and emerging technologies. Foundational research includes human perception, cognition, social dynamics, and learning. Applications range from interface design methodologies to audio systems, collaborative platforms, K-12 educational technology, with a focus on mobile and ubiquitous computing.