Ph.D. Recommended Timeline

First Year  (18-21 hours)

Milestones:

• Determine options for fulfilling the Foreign Language Requirement (see the Department of Modern Languages & Cultures website)
• Identify an adviser and inform the Graduate Director by Feb. 15
• Submit Activity Report Progress (18-hour review with adviser) by May 1
• Begin to identify potential comprehensive exam fields
  • Comps readings is done mostly during the summers and through reading courses; the sooner comps decisions can be made, the sooner the lists can be compiled and reading begun

Second Year  (18-21 hours; including 6 hours of prelim reading)

Milestones:

• Identify comprehensive exam fields and examiners and inform the Graduate Program Director by February 15
• Review the Doctoral Comprehensive Exam information sheet.
• Submit Activity Report Progress (36-hour review with adviser) by May 1
• Fulfill Foreign Language Requirement
• 6 hours of HIS 6v85 are required and can be taken in the Summer and/or Fall semester of 3rd year
• Recommended that 2-3 courses (reading, outside, or regular) be taken with comps readings in mind; ideally courses that will begin comps reading lists

Third Year (dissertation hours)

Milestones:

• Successful completion of comprehensive exams & oral exam
• Prospectus completed, presented, and accepted
• Candidacy achieved

Fourth/Fifth Year (dissertation hours)

Milestones:

• File for graduation 
• Plan defense with your director (allow 2-3 weeks between submitting dissertation to committee and the defense)
• Attend dissertation/thesis workshop with the Graduate School
• Format your dissertation according to the guidelines before your preliminary review
• Schedule your preliminary review of your completed dissertation with Mrs. Sandra Harman at the Graduate School at least 2 weeks prior to your defense. Follow the Preliminary Review Instructions to schedule your review and submit the required documents. Be sure to submit your signature page, as this needs to be checked before your defense. Also, bring the following items to your review:
  • A completed copy of the Preliminary Checklist
  • A completed copy of the Doctoral Investment Form
• ​​​​Submit the Announcement of Doctoral Oral Examination to the Graduate School at least 10 days prior to your defense.
• Bring these forms to your defense:
  • Two copies of your signature page (Signature Forms can be found here).
  • Two copies of the Thesis Copyright and Availability Form
  • Result of Doctoral Oral Examination Form
• Defend your dissertation (by March for May graduation)
• Within 10 days after your defense, complete a final review. Follow the Final Review Instructions to submit the required documents, which include your Final Checklist, Approval of Final Dissertation/Thesis Copy form, signature pages, Copyright and Availability form, and your dissertation.
• You will also need to turn in these documents to the Graduate School:
  • Results of Oral Examination Form
  • Change of grade for Thesis Hours Form, for all thesis hours
  • Result of Foreign Language Examination 
• Mrs. Sandra Harman will notify you that you are clear to submit to Beardocs. Please follow these instructions.