Semester Overview and Deadlines

This outlines a 5-year path through the PhD program, giving a semester-by-semester overview of requirements and deadlines. Relevant sections of the Graduate Handbook are referenced throughout; please consult there for additional details. 

The University Requirements take precedence over the Department’s. 

You should be in regular communication with the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) about satisfying these requirements and your progress in the program in general.

Forms can be found on the Graduate School website.

Off
Off
On
All Semesters
  • Attend department colloquia and monthly all-graduate meetings
  • Maintain satisfactory academic progress (see Sections 2.5 and 3.8)
On
Summer Before Program Begins
Admissions
TA Preparation (see Section 4.3)
On
Semester One
Protoseminar and Required Coursework (see Sections 2.3/3.3 and 2.5)
  • Responsibilities: Pass Protoseminar and other seminars that count towards fulfilling course requirements, with a GPA of at least a 3.3 and a course load sufficient for status as a full-time student. 
TA or Grade
  • Grading, office hours, etc., as required by the relevant professor.
On
Semester Two
Required Coursework (see sections 2.3 / 3.3 and 2.5)
  • Responsibilities: Pass seminars that count towards fulfilling course requirements, with a GPA of at least a 3.3 and a course load sufficient for status as a full-time student. 
  • By the end of the semester, complete a total of 18 credits, including the Protoseminar with B or better
TA or Grade
  • Grading, office hours, etc., as required by the relevant professor.
Students who are Not Native Speakers of English: 
On
Semester Three
Required Coursework (see Sections 2.3 / 3.3 and 2.5)
  • Responsibilities: Pass seminars that count towards fulfilling course requirements, with a GPA of at least a 3.4 and a course load sufficient for status as a full-time student. 
Begin MA Research (see Section 2.4)
  • Responsibilities: sign up for research credits, PHIL 8090, and find faculty member(s) to advise you. 
  • If you will write a thesis (as opposed to two research papers), submit form M-2 to the DGS by December 1 (see section 2.6)
TA or Grade
  • Grading, office hours, etc., as required by the relevant professor.
Submit Form M-1 (see Section 2.6)
  • To the DGS by December 1
On
Semester Four
Required Coursework (see Sections 2.3 / 3.3 and 2.5)
  • Responsibilities: Pass seminars that count towards fulfilling course requirements, with a GPA of at least a 3.4 and a course load sufficient for status as a full-time student. 
  • By the end of the semester, complete a total of 36 credits
MA Research (see Section 2.4)
  • Responsibilities: 
    • Sign up for research credits, PHIL 8090
    • Find the appropriate readers for your research (a first and second reader for two research papers, or an advisor and committee for a thesis). Start this at the beginning of the semester, and complete by mid-semester
    • Complete either two research papers or a masters’ thesis and send it to your readers/committee. 
    • Schedule an oral examination or defense by the end of the semester.
    • Submit form M-3 and Departmental Program of Study Worksheet to the DGS immediately after the exam or defense.
TA or Grade
  • Grading, office hours, etc., as required by the relevant professor.
Meet Requirements for Admission into Doctoral Program (see Section 3.1)
  • Pass a departmental assessment based on the MA committee’s recommendation and the department’s endorsement.
  • Have a GPA of at least 3.5
  • Secure a dissertation faculty advisor to work with on a dissertation proposal, by one month after the departmental assessment results
Students who are Not Native Speakers of English
On
Semester Five
Required Coursework (see Sections 3.3 and 3.8)
  • Generally two regular courses and three credits of PHIL 9090 (for dissertation proposal)
Teaching
  • With the aid of a teaching mentor assigned by the DGS, write syllabus for course, design assignments for course, teach the course, grade the assignments, etc.
Form a Doctoral Program Committee (see Section 3.2)
  • Work with your advisor to choose and then contact members of your committee
  • Submit forms by January (see also section 3.9):
    • File form D-1 and Change of Program/Degree/Advisor 
    • Get a plan of study approved by your Doctoral Program Committee and submit form D-2
Research
  • Enroll in 3 credits of research credits with your advisor to prepare a dissertation proposal
On
Semester Six
Required Coursework (see Sections 3.3 and 3.8)
  • Generally one regular course and six credits of PHIL 9090.
  • By the end of the semester, complete a total of 55 credits, including all course requirements (other than the 72 hours requirement).
Teaching
  • With the aid of a teaching mentor assigned by the DGS, write syllabus for course, design assignments for course, teach the course, grade the assignments, etc.
Research
  • Meet with dissertation advisor and make satisfactory progress, as per PHIL 9090
Pass a Dissertation Proposal (a.k.a. Comprehensive Exam) (see Section 3.4)
  • The graduate school requires us to include a comprehensive exam. We use the dissertation proposal to satisfy that requirement.
  • Submit form D-3 and completed Departmental Program of Study Worksheet within one month of completion (see section 3.9)
On
Semester Seven
Required Coursework (see Sections 3.3 and 3.8)
  • Generally includes at least 6 credits of PHIL 9090 
Teaching
  • With the aid of a teaching mentor assigned by the DGS, write syllabus for course, design assignments for course, teach the course, grade the assignments, etc.
Research
  • Meet with dissertation advisor and make satisfactory progress, as per PHIL 9090
On
Semester Eight
Required Coursework (see Sections 3.3 and 3.8)
  • Generally includes at least 6 credits of PHIL 9090 
  • By the end of the semester, complete 67 credits and the Dissertation Seminar
Teaching
  • With the aid of a teaching mentor assigned by the DGS, write syllabus for course, design assignments for course, teach the course, grade the assignments, etc.
Research
  • Meet with dissertation advisor and make satisfactory progress, as per PHIL 9090
Job Market Preparation
  • Attend placement meeting if planning to go on the market in the Fall
  • Prepare materials and reach out to letter writers over the summer
  • Send dossier to placement director by August 1
On
Semester Nine
Required Coursework (see Sections 3.3 and 3.8)
  • Generally includes at least 6 credits of PHIL 9090 
Teaching
  • With the aid of a teaching mentor assigned by the DGS, write syllabus for course, design assignments for course, teach the course, grade the assignments, etc.
Research
  • Meet with dissertation advisor and make satisfactory progress, as per PHIL 9090
Job Market Preparation
  • Send dossier (with any revisions) to letter writers by September 1
On
Semester Ten
Required Coursework (see Sections 3.3 and 3.8)
  • Generally includes at least 6 credits of PHIL 9090 
Teaching
  • With the aid of a teaching mentor assigned by the DGS, write syllabus for course, design assignments for course, teach the course, grade the assignments, etc.
Research
  • Meet with dissertation advisor and make satisfactory progress, as per PHIL 9090
Dissertation Defense (see Section 3.7)
  • Schedule a final examination
  • Send dissertation to members of the Doctoral Program Committee at least a week before the final examination
  • Advisor submits form D-4
PDF Documents
grad program handbook