Timeline for the German Studies Ph.D.

Your year-by-year course of study, and the length of time it will take to complete the degree, will depend on whether you are entering our PhD program with a BA or with an MA, and, if the latter, how many credits from your MA are accepted.  The time-to-degree will and year-by-year plan will also depend on whether you enroll in study abroad.  Before your first semester, you should consult with the Graduate Associate Chair regarding your plan of study and your fall course schedule.

Year 1

Coursework

Fall:

  • Enroll in 6-9 hrs. of coursework, including GRMN 5020; the 6-9 hours can also include a course in your secondary concentration.
  • Take course for second language requirement, if needed.

Spring:

  • Enroll in 6-9 hrs. of coursework, including GRMN 5010, a course for your secondary concentration, and (if still needed) one course with pre-1900 content.
  • Take course for second language requirement, if needed.
  • Consult thesis chair and Assoc. Chair about applying for DAAD and Fulbright grants in fall of year 2.
  • Consult thesis chair and Assoc. Chair about internships for year 2.

Year 2

Qualifying Paper and Exam

Fall:

  • Recommended internship**
  • Take course for second language requirement, if needed.
  • Apply for Fulbright and DAAD, deadlines in Sept. and Oct.
  • Apply for university dissertation fellowships.

Spring:

  • Dissertation hours, if needed
  • Recommended internship**
  • Take course for second language requirement, if needed.
  • Submit your Application for Candidacy to the Graduate Program Assistant at least four weeks before your first comprehensive exam.
  • Comprehensive exams.

Year 3

Dissertation

Fall:

  • Study abroad on DAAD, Fulbright or CU program (recommended)
  • Dissertation prospectus defense
  • Dissertation research and writing*

Spring:

  • Study abroad on DAAD, Fulbright or CU program (recommended).
  • Dissertation research and writing*

Year 4

Dissertation

Fall:

  • Dissertation research and writing*
  • Recommended internship**

Spring:

  • Dissertation research and writing*

Year 5

Dissertation

Fall:

  • Dissertation research and writing*
  • Recommended internship**

Spring:

  • Dissertation research and writing*
  • Schedule your dissertation defense (see Graduation Deadlines): Contract the Graduate Program Assistant for information on scheduling your dissertation defense.  This should be done during the beginning of the semester in which you plan to graduate.
  • Apply for graduation online.  (See Graduation Deadlines.)
  • E-mail your dissertation title to the Graduate School, including your name and department, and copy the Graduate Program Assistant.  (See Graduation Deadlines.)
  • At least two weeks before your defense, email the Graduate Program Assistant date, time and location of your defense.  Also include dissertation title and a short abstract (2-3 paragraphs).  This information will be emailed out to the department before your defense.
  • Submit signature page to Graduate Program Assistant two weeks before dissertation defense.
  • Defend dissertation and submit final dissertation online by Graduate School Deadline.

*For each semester in which you are engaged in dissertation writing, e-mail your request to enroll in dissertation hours and the name of your dissertation advisor to the Graduate Program Assistant so that he or she can enroll you in dissertation hours.

**You are strongly encouraged to enroll in an internship for at least one semester during your doctoral studies.  Up to 3 internship credits may be applied toward PhD coursework.  Internships may also be taken during the summer, but students enrolling in summer internship hours do not receive tuition remission.