GRADUATE  HANDBOOK

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Contents
Introduction
Admissions
Coursework
Financial Aid
The MA Program
Pre-Candidacy
Preliminary Examinations
The PhD Program
Appendix 1 Calendar
Appendix 2 List of Courses
Appendix 3 Forms
Near Eastern Studies

VIII. The PhD Program

The PhD program is tailored to the specific research aims and requirements of a student who is preparing to take the Preliminary Examinations and to write a PhD dissertation. Normally, the faculty members chosen to serve on the preliminary examinations committee continue to serve on the PhD committee. Students are only required to register for one credit hour 990 for the term that they are defending their dissertation. After passing the prelims and advancement to candidacy, students may take only one course per term for credit. Normally students register for 995 (up to 8 units per semester) while they write their dissertations. These units count toward the Rackham requirements for credit and fee hours to the PhD.

A. Direct Admission into the PhD Program

Students with a relevant MA from another institution may apply directly to the PhD program. When admitted they select a PhD advisor and with that faculty member they choose a Preliminary Examinations committee and begin to prepare for the Preliminary Examinations.

B. Course Requirements Common to All PhD Programs

• Sixty-eight credit (fee) hours (including MA hours and dissertation credits).
• Eighteen of these credits must be taken on the Ann Arbor campus.
• If entering with a relevant MA, the student needs only 50 credit hours; NES writes a letter to Rackham to certify this.
• Completion of language requirements, both the languages of specialization and languages of scholarship, before the Prelim Exams are taken.
• Pass in Preliminary Examinations.

C. PhD Committee

The PhD committee normally consists of four faculty members, three from NES and one cognate member (from another department). Additional members may be added to the committee. No matter what the size of the committee, two negative votes at the dissertation defense constitute failure to pass the PhD.

If the Chair of the prelim committee, the student’s PhD advisor, is not chosen to direct the dissertation, the student must so inform the Director of Graduate Studies and Graduate Student Services Coordinator.

The members of the PhD committee must all sign a form agreeing to serve on the committee.

The student must meet with the PhD committee at least once per year, but ideally more frequently with the director.

D. Prospectus

• A dissertation prospectus of not less than 10 pages (exclusive of bibliography and illustrations) must be submitted by the candidate within 6 months of having passed the preliminary examinations.
• Format of prospectus defense will be determined by student in consultation with their PhD Committee.
• The prospectus will be evaluated by the PhD committee, consisting of a chair, at least two other members from NES, and a cognate member from another department.
• The prospectus should summarize research on a topic, identify research objectives and methods, and indicate the value of the research for the field or discipline in general. The prospectus should be accompanied by a bibliography of prior research on the topic.
• The evaluation of the committee, listing the members with their signatures, is to be filed with the Graduate Student Services Coordinator.

E. Dissertation Defense

The dissertation defense is scheduled to last at least 2 hours. The first hour is a public lecture by the candidate, summarizing the contributions of the dissertation and/or presenting an example of the work in the dissertation. Questions may be asked by the public.

After the lecture the candidate meets with committee members to discuss the dissertation. The committee then votes on its acceptance. No matter what the size of the committee, two negative votes means a failure.

F. Dissertation Time Limits

The candidate must pass the PhD defense within a maximum of 6 years after having achieved candidacy (passing prelims).

Students not having finished their PhD defense within this 6-year span must petition the department (both their PhD committee and the department as a whole) to re-take the preliminary exams. If they pass these exams, they have an additional 2 years to finish their dissertations. (Since students usually take their preliminary exams in their third or fourth years, they have a maximum of 9 or 10 years from the time of admission to finish their PhD.)

All students in NES are reviewed in February each year. Students not making adequate progress in their programs are so notified by their PhD chair after this meeting. Remember, all PhD students are required to meet with their committee once per year.