The Dissertation Prospectus
After the successful completion of the general examinations, students are expected to constitute a dissertation committee and choose a topic for the dissertation.
The dissertation committee should consist of the thesis director and two additional readers. (This committee will typically include members of the general exam committee.) The student will convey the proposed membership of the dissertation committee to the DGS and the graduate coordinator by May 31st of the third year of study. The DGS will confirm the committee’s membership and pass on this information to the graduate coordinator. They will in turn provide formal confirmation of all pertinent deadlines to members of the dissertation committee and the student.
After constituting the dissertation committee, students should confer with their advisors and decide on a thesis topic. Once they have done so, they should write a prospectus, i.e., a formal dissertation proposal. The expectations for the shape and substance of the prospectus will be determined by the advisor in conference with the student; the length of the prospectus will typically be about 3,000 words and include a working bibliography.
To sustain satisfactory progress toward the degree, students will be expected to have their prospectus approved within five months after completion of the general examination. Doctoral candidates in Film and Visual Studies will normally submit their dissertation prospectus by November 1st of their fourth year of study.
The Dissertation
After the dissertation prospectus has been approved, candidates work closely with their dissertation director and readers. The PhD dissertation is expected to be an original and substantial work of scholarship or criticism. The program will accept dissertations on a great variety of topics involving a broad range of approaches to film, media, art and visual studies. It sets no specific page limits, preferring to give students and directors as much freedom as possible.
In order to ensure timely progress toward the doctoral degree, students are expected to complete at least one dissertation chapter each year by April 15, beginning with the G4 year. Copies of chapters should be submitted by the deadline to the members of the thesis committee as well as to the Graduate Coordinator.
Students in G4 and above must meet annually with their dissertation committee, in the spring term of each year, to share and evaluate their progress on the dissertation. Students should contact their committee members, cci-ng the Graduate Coordinator, to set up this meeting, and should confirm in advance the date and hour of the meeting to the Graduate Coordinator.
Program students are strongly encouraged to apply for a Dissertation Completion Fellowship (DCF) in the January/February application cycle of their 5th year. To qualify for the DCF, you will need to have completed two chapters at the time of application. If you plan on applying for the DCF, please be sure to meet in advance of the deadline with your chief advisor as well as the DGS.