Short Version of Requirements

This is a brief version of the PhD requirements; see the GSAS bulletin for full details.

PhD Requirements:

  1. 18 courses
  2. At least 3 courses in each of at least 2 fields
  3. One core course in each of at least 3 substantive subfields.

PhD Deadlines:

1.  MA Paper:  Due the 1st day of Year 2 (i.e., day after Labor Day).

  • Read by 2 faculty members chosen by the DGS. It must be read within 2 months of submission.   
  • Graded high pass, low pass, or fail.
    • If not unanimous high-pass, the student can revise and re-submit no later than the beginning of 4th semester (i.e., January of year 2).
    • If the 2 readers are split on the revision, the DGS assigns a 3rd reader.
    • If there are still not 2 high-pass grades, then the student leave the PhD program (presumably with an MA).

2.  Qualifying Paper:  Due no later than the 5th semester in residence. [We have been interpreting this as the first day of the 6th semester.]

  • QP is a paper of publishable quality. Before writing the paper, the student submits a proposal, it has to be approved by two faculty; they become the readers.
  • Topic, but not field, must differ from the MA paper.
  • Readers can accept, suggest revisions, or revise.
    • If asked to revise, the student has 6 months to do so, if revision isn't accepted by both readers - the student fails the requirement.
  • Student must have at least 4 different readers across the MA and the QP.

3.  Syllabus:  Due by end of 5th semester [1]

  • The student prepares and defends a syllabus for a graduate `introduction to a field’. 
  • It is presented at an oral hearing to 2 faculty.
  • Graded pass or fail.
  • [1] Exception: for students who entered in Fall 2005, this should be done by end of 6th semester

4.  Dissertation Proposal:  Due before the end of the 3rd year in residence.  Or, within one year of passing QP and syllabus. So, this could be the end of the 7th semester.

  • No more than 15 pages single-spaced.
  • Must be approved by a dissertation committee (i.e., 3 faculty).
  • IF not completed within one year of QP and syllabus, the student must petition the DGS.