Culminating
Events:
Culminating event for the degree program
Dissertation
Dissertation Advising Committee Information
The Dissertation Advisory Committee is formed to oversee the student's doctoral research and is comprised of at least three Graduate Faculty members from the History Department. The student's primary adviser functions as the chair of this committee and is responsible for overseeing and guiding the student's progress, coordinating the responses of committee members, and informing the student of his/her academic progress.
Dissertation Examining Committee Information
The Dissertation Examining Committee evaluates the student's dissertation and oral defense. This committee is composed of the Doctoral Advising Committee, including one additional Graduate Faculty Member from outside the department. The outside reader should be identified either while the student is writing his/her dissertation prospectus, or right after the prospectus is approved by the Dissertation Advisory Committee.
Advisor/Committee Information
Advisers and committee members serve at the pleasure of the student and may be changed at any time before the preliminary examination and/or the dissertation defense. The student must register the change with the Graduate School.
Preliminary Exam Description
The purpose of the preliminary examination is to ascertain if the student has mastered the major scholarship in four different areas of study.
Subject Areas/Major Components of the Preliminary Examination
The subject areas will be determined, in advance, by the student and his/her Preliminary Examination Committee. The examination consists of essay questions on four to five subject areas (each one taken on separate days), followed by a two-hour oral examination to be given two weeks after the student has taken his/her last written examination.
At what point in the program is the student expected to take the preliminary examination
A student is expected to take his/her preliminary examinations within five years of enrolling in the doctoral program.
Writing the Questions for the Preliminary Examination
The members of the student's Preliminary Examination Committee write the questions for the prelimination examination.
Evaluating the Preliminary Examination
The Preliminary Examination Committee will evaluate the examination. Each member votes to pass or fail the student. In order to pass, a majority of the committee members must agree that the exam has been satisfactorily completed.
Criterion for Passing the Preliminary Examination.
Evaluators assess the student's familiarity with historical scholarship in various fields and his/her ability to make comparative judgments and critique the existing state of scholarship.
Administering, Scheduling, and Proctoring the Preliminary Examination
Students preparing to take their preliminary examinations should confirm times and dates with their Preliminary Examination Committee Chairperson, the other committee members, and the Graduate Secretary. All parties involved will receive confirmation for the times, dates, and rooms for the examination.
Dissertation/Monograph Philosophy
The Doctoral Dissertation is an original scholarly study that makes a significant contribution to the field of history. It should expand existing knowledge and demonstrate the student's familiarity with research methods and a mastery of his/her primary area of interest. Dissertations should be rigoriously investigated, uphold the ethics and standards of the historical profession, and demonstrate the student's ability to place discoveries in his/her primary field in a broader context.
Philosophy of the Proposal
The dissertation prospectus demonstrates the student's knowledge of and ability to conduct the proposed research. The prospectus should explicitly indicate the dissertation subject, its contribution to the field, its historiographical context, and a proposed research strategy and agenda. A preliminary bibliography should be appended.
The prospectus and the approval form signed by the Doctoral Advisory Committee should be filed with the Graduate School within twelve months of completion of the preliminary examination.
Criterion for Passing the Dissertation and the Defense.
The Dissertation Examining Committee will evaluate the student's ability to express verbally his/her research findings, methodology, and the broader implications reached by his/her work. The committee will vote to pass or fail the dissertation at the conclusion of the public presentation.
Dissertation Defense Scheduling
Students who are preparing to defend their dissertation should confirm a time and date with their Dissertation Examining Committee and register with the Graduate Secretary at least three weeks before the defense is to be scheduled. The Graduate Secretary will arrange the time, date, and room within five working days, and forward the student the appropriate forms.
Announcing the Dissertation Defense
After the Graduate Secretary has arranged the time, date, and room for the defense, the student must send to the Graduate School (501 Carnell Hall) a completed "Announcement of Dissertation Defense" form at least 10 days before the defense. The Department will post fliers announcing the defense. The student is also expected to provide a copy of the completed dissertation for examination by any departmental faculty two weeks before the defense date.
