2.5-Year Plan Pathway

Year 1

Coursework & Service:

see Coursework Requirements and Departmental Service for more information

Milestone:

• Late April — Comprehensive Theories Exam; see Milestones

Other:

• By mid-January — Begin IRB process for summer research
• By mid-March — Apply for Summer Research Fellowship; see Summer Funding, Internal Fellowships and Grants
• By late-March — Submit Plan of Study; see Plan of Study
• By late April — Complete IRB process for Summer Research
• By late April — Identify at least one committee member; see Committee Requirements & Registration

Summer Term:

• Preliminary Fieldwork

Year 2

Coursework & Service:

see Coursework Requirements and Departmental Service for more information

Milestone:

• April — Field Specialization Workshop; see Milestones

Other:

• By first day of Fall semester — Submit Summer Field Report; see Summer Field Reports
• By end of Fall semester — Complete annotations for first (of three) reading lists and sit for list examination; see Milestones
• By mid-January — Begin IRB process for summer research
• By February 1 — Identify advisor and remainder of Ph.D. committee; see Committee Requirements & Registration
• By Spring break — Finalize date and time for Field Specialization Workshop; see Milestones
• By mid-March — Apply for Summer Research Fellowship; see Summer Funding, Internal Fellowships and Grants
• By late March — Submit Plan of Study; see Plan of Study
• By late April — Complete IRB process for Summer Research
• By end of Spring semester — Complete annotations for second (of three) reading lists and sit for list examination; see Milestones

Summer Term:

• Preliminary Fieldwork

Year 3

Coursework & Service:

see Coursework Requirements and Departmental Service for more information

Milestone:

• November or December — Portfolio Review; see Milestones

Other:

• By first day of Fall semester — Submit Summer Field Report; see Summer Field Reports
• By early September — Begin IRB process for dissertation research
• By late September — Apply for graduation in DukeHub to receive en passant M.A. after successful completion of Portfolio Review; see En Passant M.A.
• By Fall break — finalize date and time for Portfolio Review; see Milestones
• By mid-November — Apply for Summer Research Fellowship; see Summer Funding, Internal Fellowships and Grants
• By mid-November — Apply for internal dissertation fieldwork grants; see Internal Fellowships and Grants
• Varying deadlines in November, December — Apply for external dissertation fieldwork grants; see Dissertation Fieldwork Policies
• By late November — Complete IRB process for dissertation research
• By end of Fall semester — Complete annotations for third (of three) reading lists and sit for list examination; see Milestones
• By end of Fall semester, at least two weeks prior to Portfolio Review — Complete remainder of portfolio contents; see Milestones
• By late March — Submit Plan of Study; see Plan of Study
• Varying deadlines — Apply for second round of external grant applications for dissertation fieldwork (varies)

Summer Term:

• Begin Dissertation Fieldwork (early January)

Year 4

Coursework & Service if staying in the field two semesters:

Coursework & Service if staying in the field three semesters:

see Coursework Requirements and Departmental Service for more information

Other:

• By early October (if returning from fieldwork in Spring) — Confer with DGS and DUS to teach a course Summer Term; see Summer Funding
• By mid-November — Apply for Summer Research Fellowship; see Summer Funding, Internal Fellowships and Grants
• By late March — Submit Plan of Study (late March); see Plan of Study

Summer Term:

• Dissertation research (if staying in the field 3 semesters)
• Students returning in the Fall of Year 5 are expected to continue research through the end of July at the earliest

Year 5

Coursework & Service:

see Coursework Requirements and Departmental Service for more information

Other:

• IMPORTANT: If defending your dissertation, review the Dissertation & Defense section of Milestones by the start of the semester in which you intend to defend, and follow the procedures and timeline provided there.
• By mid-November — Apply for Summer Research Fellowship; see Summer Funding, Internal Fellowships and Grants
• By mid-November — Apply for 6th year funding; see Internal Fellowships and Grants
• By early October — Confer with DGS and DUS to teach a course Summer Term; see Summer Funding
• Varying Spring deadlines — Apply for 6th year funding; see Internal Fellowships and Grants
• By late March — Submit Plan of Study; see Plan of Study

Summer Term:

• Continue dissertation write-up 

Years 6+

Coursework & Service:

see Coursework Requirements and Departmental Service for more information

Other:

• IMPORTANT: If defending your dissertation, review the Dissertation & Defense section of Milestones by the start of the semester in which you intend to defend, and follow the procedures and timeline provided there.
• By early October — Optional: confer with DGS and DUS to teach a course Summer Term
• By mid-November — If not defending by Spring, apply for Summer Research Fellowship; see Summer Funding
• By mid-November — If not defending by Spring, apply for 7th year funding; see Internal Fellowships and Grants
• Varying Spring deadlines — If not defending by Spring, apply for 7th year funding; see Internal Fellowships and Grants
• By mid March — 7th year students, if not defending by Spring, submit a Memorandum of Understanding to the Graduate School.
• By late March — Submit Plan of Study; see Plan of Study

Summer Term:

• If not defending by Spring, Continue dissertation write-up