Prospectus - Each student will prepare a written prospectus of his or her dissertation and present the prospectus in a public defense no later than six months after taking the last comprehensive examination. The prospectus should define the dissertation’s subject and central questions, explain the methods by which the questions will be answered, and itemize the evidence and sources that will be examined.
Dissertation - The dissertation must be an original and analytical treatment of a subject of conceptual importance. A candidate will have a period of five years beginning at the date of the first written comprehensive examination to conduct the research for, write, and defend the dissertation. It is understood that in fields with exceptionally difficult languages, the process may take longer.
Defense - The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs appoints the members of a student's dissertation committee after consultation with the candidate’s field director. The aim is to ensure both quality control and involvement of the entire full-time faculty in the reading and evaluation of dissertations. The examination committee will grade the dissertation as defended (1) pass with distinction, (2) pass, (3) conditional pass, or (4) fail. When the grade is a conditional pass, the members of the committee provide the candidate with a memo that itemizes required revisions, establishes a deadline for completion, and specifies the procedure through which revisions will be reviewed and approved.
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