Ph.D. in English sample timeline
First year
Fall
- Read degree requirements (general and program-specific) on English website and Graduate School website
- Read the Graduate Student Survival Handbook on the Graduate School website
- Meet with Director of Graduate Studies in English in the early weeks of the semester
- Meet twice with appointed faculty mentor
- Plan approach to fulfill the requirements for your degree (including language requirements)
- Submit transfer credit evaluation form to Director of Graduate Studies
- Meet and talk with faculty members who share your interests
Spring
- Check progress toward degree requirements, including foreign languages
- Start thinking about who you might want to chair your committee and about fields for your exams
- Consider applying for internships, or volunteer work that gives professional experience
- Consider attending a professional conference and/or joining a few professional organizations
Summer
- Consider doing a summer internship, field institute, or volunteer work
- Consider and begin to research possible scholarly focus areas
- Continue language classes if requirements not met
Second year
Fall
- Choose a committee chair and in consultation with chair, form rest of your committee
- Check progress toward degree requirements, including foreign language requirements
- Submit program of study form to Director of Graduate Studies
- Discuss comprehensive exams with your chair and begin planning your approach
- Become more professionally involved (memberships, internships, conferences, etc.)
Spring
- Complete coursework and any outstanding requirements (foreign language, etc.)
- In consultation with chair, complete reading list for exams
Summer
- Continue preparing for comprehensive exams
- Consider doing a summer internship, field institute, or volunteer work
- Become more professionally active (presenting work, publishing book reviews, etc.)
Third year
- Complete any outstanding coursework or requirements (foreign language, etc.)
- Complete comprehensive exams this year
- When comprehensive exams are passed, submit admission to candidacy form to Graduate School
- In consultation with chair, begin to determine dissertation topic
- Draft a dissertation prospectus
- Talk with your chair about the following issues:
- Presenting papers at conferences and making professional connections
- Sending out an essay or two for publication
- Applying for grants and fellowships
- Attend department academic job placement workshop
- After you have completed comprehensive exams, consider diversifying teaching
Fourth year
- Get dissertation prospectus approved by committee if you haven't already done so
- Determine dissertation completion timeline with your chair
- Consider sending out modified dissertation chapters for publication
- Continue presenting papers at conferences and making professional connections
- Attend department academic job placement workshop
- Familiarize yourself with the job market and application procedures
- Draft strong C.V., cover letter, writing sample(s), statement of teaching philosophy
- Continue to diversify teaching experiences
- Consider applying for research and/or dissertation fellowships
- Consider attending the MLA (and/or CCCC) conference
Fifth year
- Complete your dissertation
- Defend your dissertation
- Participate in department academic job placement workshop
- Revise C.V., cover letter, writing sample(s), statement of teaching philosophy
- Establish a dossier and solicit letters of recommendation
- Go on the job market
- Continue to diversify teaching experiences
- Plan to attend the MLA (and/or CCCC) conference for job interviews
- Continue applying for jobs through spring
- Submit application for graduation to Graduate School early
- Submit dissertation to Graduate School
Note: A teaching assistantship in the Ph.D. program may be held for a maximum of five years. The Ph.D. degree must be completed within eight years. This timeline represents a general model for your progress toward the degree. The key is to be aware of what you're doing, keep medium and long-range goals in mind and consult frequently with your mentor/chair.