Graduate Program Timeline

This is a sample program for those who are admitted at the Master's level and who plan to Pursue
the PhD. Students should anticipate a four year period of residency, followed by two years of dissertation research and writing. The department does its best to provide funding for five years, but expects that students will seek at least one year of extramural funding (usually to support dissertation research).

First Year

Students are required to take AH8001, Art History: Theory and Methods, during their first semester.
They should take two additional courses in fall semester and three courses in spring semester,
completing a total of 18 course credits during the first year. They should make plans to finish the
first of their language requirements, consider potential topics for the Plan B papers, and discuss
those plans with potential advisers.

Fall Semester (9 credits)

Spring Semester (9 credits)

ArtH8001 Art History: Theory and Methods

Apply for departmental financial aid

Fulfill language requirement and file appropriate form with the Graduate School

Complete Degree Program Form

Determine Plan B topics, select readers

Select academic adviser and committee members

Second Year

By the end of the second year, students should have completed all of the 36 course credits for
the MA. They should have completed both of their Plan B papers and should have fulfilled their
first language requirement. Early in spring semester of the second year, students apply for
admission into the PhD program the following fall. In addition, they must fill out a Change of
Status application with the Graduate School.

Fall Semester (9 credits)

Spring Semester (9 credits)

Complete at least one Plan B paper

Continue work on second Plan B paper

Apply for spring commencement

Apply for Change of Status

Apply to the department for admission to the PhD program

Apply for departmental financial aid

Complete Masters Examination and file Report of Committee on Examination form with the Graduate School

File Application for Degree form on or before first business day of the month of graduation

Request Graduation Packet

Complete second Plan B

Third Year

During the third year of the program, students complete their remaining courses. In addition,
they should finish the second of their language requirements. They work with their adviser to
plan for the preliminary doctoral examinations, which they take either in the summer or during
the fall semester of the fourth year. They develop a dissertation topic and determine the
appropriate committee members.

Fall Semester (9 credits)	Spring Semester (9 credits)
	Apply for departmental financial aid File Degree Program Form for PhD with the Graduate School Complete second language requirement and file appropriate form with the Graduate School Develop dissertation topic and appropriate committee

Fourth Year

In the fourth year, students prepare to research and write the dissertation. They take their
preliminary doctoral examinations, develop a dissertation prospectus, and apply for extramural
funding for the subsequent year. In the fall semester, students may register for thesis credits
(if they pass their prelims by the deadline for registration). If planning to take the prelims later
in the fall semester, students may register for pre-thesis credits, GRAD999, or they may register
for any remaining coursework.

Fall Semester

Spring Semester (Thesis Credits)

Finish remaining course work or additional languages

Schedule and take prelims (by September deadline if planning to register for thesis credits during fall semester)

Preliminary Written Exam Report filed two weeks prior to date of preliminary oral exam

Preliminary oral exam

File Preliminary Oral Examination Report

Develop dissertation prospectus

Apply for external funding

File Thesis Proposal Form

Prepare for field research

Fifth Year

In the fifth year, students are supported by external funding and are away conducting dissertation
research. They are required to take a total of 24 thesis credits while working on the dissertation.
If students complete those credits before finishing the degree, they may register for GRAD999,
which is free and allows them to maintain full-time status. If they are ineligible for GRAD999,
they may continue to take thesis credits (so long as they accumulate at least 24 credits toward
the degree).

Sixth Year

In the final year, students return to the department where they receive their fifth year of financial
support. During this year, they complete the dissertation and defend it.

Fall Semester

Spring Semester

Apply for spring commencement

File Application for Degree form on the first business day of the month to graduate in that month

Distribute dissertation/thesis to committee at least two weeks in advance of final oral examination.

The Thesis Reviewer's form is filed with the Graduate School one week prior to the final oral examination

Final Oral Examination is scheduled with the Graduate School one week in advance of the exam date

Announcements of public presentation of thesis topic are posted at least one week in advance of the exam date

Final Examination Report, one copy of the unbound Ph.D. thesis, and the Microfilm Agreement Form are submitted to the Graduate School within 24 hours of the Thesis Defense. Thesis Abstract are submitted to the Graduate School on the last working day of the month to graduate in that month

Site last modified on July 19, 2007

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