First and Second Years
- Work closely with the faculty members in your academic subfield (especially the convener) and the Director of Graduate Studies. Along with the matriculation committee, they assist students in the formulation of the first year of their programs and with the choice of courses.
- Complete at least one language requirement by the beginning of the second year of study. Students must pass foreign language competency exams prior to taking preliminary exams. See modern languages exam procedures.
Third and Fourth Years
- Take preliminary examinations or request an extension from the Graduate School by the Director of Graduate Studies by the end of the third year. The faculty committee, in consultation with the student, sets the preliminary examinations guidelines, which are intended to test command of the subject areas as well as the student’s readiness to undertake the research and writing of a dissertation. There are four written exams—generally a four-hour exam in the student’s major, a three-hour exam in a broadly conceived dissertation area, and three-hour exams in each of the student’s two minors—followed by an oral exam.
- Submit a dissertation proposal to be approved by their committee within six months of completing preliminary exams. The proposal must be approved by the Committee on Dissertations Committees after it has been approved by the student's dissertation committee.
- Begin writing dissertation after approval by the CDC.
Fifth Year and Beyond
- Complete dissertation within eight semesters (4 years) after preliminary exams. Extensions of up to one year may be granted (for a total of 5 years) in certain circumstances. If this extension is granted and the dissertation is not submitted and accepted by the new deadline, the student may be dropped from candidacy. Students dropped from candidacy must then pass a second preliminary examination to be reinstated as a candidate for the degree.
- Apply to graduate through DukeHub at the start of the semester in which you intend to defend the completed dissertation. This form, giving the exact title of the dissertation, must be approved by the DGS and the chair of the dissertation committee. Note that it must be submitted one month before the dissertation is to be defended, and no later than January 25 preceding the May commencement, August 1 for a September degree, and December 1 for a December degree. Students who plan to finish in a specific semester must be sure to file this form. If a student is unable to finish, he or she simply completes the same form again the subsequent semester. All dissertations must be submitted electronically.
- Submit a copy of the dissertation in the approved format to the committee at least three weeks in advance of the dissertation defense. The defense involves an oral exam after the written thesis has been accepted.
- Defend dissertation