Graduate Dissertation Proposal

In the spring semester, third-year Ph.D. students who have advanced to candidacy enroll in the Dissertation Proposal Workshop. Taught by two faculty members, generally one senior and one junior, the workshop typically meets 8 times per semester. The workshop is a requirement of the program; participation is mandatory. If illness or other circumstances make it impossible to attend, the student must petition the Graduate Chair with a proposal for an alternate arrangement.

Throughout the semester, third-year students meet regularly with their committees to discuss progress on their proposals. The final draft should be approximately 2500 to 3000 words in length, plus a bibliography. 

Following the advice of the committee, the proposal ought to set forth, as clearly and concisely as possible, some or all of the following: 

• Any background information pertinent to the subject
• A close exposition of the subject and its merits within the field of study
• Some notice of previous scholarship pertinent to the subject
• The proposed method of organizing the subject and a tentative indication of the table of contents
• Any special research needs or problems encountered
• A bibliography

If the subject is interdisciplinary, the student should describe his or her proficiency in the related discipline(s).

Upon receiving approval from all committee members, students submit their proposals to the GEC for feedback by a date in April set each year. Committee approval can be conveyed through title page signatures and/or written notice of approval forwarded to the ADGS. The GEC will read and provide feedback on all proposals but the responsibility of final approval lies with the committee.

In order to remain in good standing in the English Ph.D. program, all students must have completed an approved proposal by the end of the spring semester of their third year. In rare cases, the Graduate Chair may approve a 1-month extension. In cases where a committee requires revisions, students must complete revisions to the satisfaction of their committee by the first day of classes of the fall semester.