PhD Timelines

The following are intended as sample PhD timelines for Graduate Teaching Associates and Fellows. Timelines for PhD students may vary. Student should meet regularly with their advisor to establish a timeline for graduation.

 

A minimum of 80 graduate credit hours are required for the PhD, of which 50 credit hours must be earned while in the program (up to 30 graduate credit hours may be transferred from another institution). These requirements will generally be met through the natural progression of coursework in collaboration with minimum enrollment requirements per semester. GTAs are required to enroll in a minimum of 8 credit hours per semester and 4 credit hours for Summer term, if they so choose (Summer term registration is not required for GTAs on nine-month appointments). Fellows are required to enroll in 12 credit hours each for Autumn and Spring semesters and 6 credit hours for Summer term.

Regular PhD Sample Timeline - Graduate Teaching Associate

First Year

Autumn Semester
  • WGSST 7700 - Feminist Inquiry I
  • WGSST 7702 - Feminist Pedagogy
  • Elective
  • Mid-Semester- Transfer Graduate Credit

Spring Semester
  • WGSST 7701 - Feminist Inquiry II
  • WGSST 7760 - Feminist Inquiry: Methods
  • WGSST 8163 - Teaching Practicum
  • Elective
  • Mid-Semester - Annual Review 


Summer Term

  • Enrollment optional
 

Second Year

Autumn Semester
  • Elective
  • Elective
  • Elective
Spring Semester
  • WGSST 7790 - Research & Writing Workshop
  • Elective
  • Elective
  • Mid-Semester - Annual Review 

 

Summer Term
  • Language requirement 
  • Prepare for candidacy exams
 

Third Year

Autumn Semester
  • Remaining language requirement
  • Candidacy exam reading hours
  • Candidacy exams
  • Prior to exams - submit reading lists
 
Spring Semester
  • WGSST 8999 - Dissertation
  • File dissertation prospectus
  • Mid-Semetser  - Annual Review

 

Summer Term
  • Enrollment optional
  • Seek additional funding opportunities
 

Fourth Year

Autumn Semester
  • WGSST 8999 - Dissertation
  • Work on dissertation/conduct field-work
  • Secure additional funding
 
Spring Semester
  • WGSST 8999 - Dissertation
  • Mid-Semetser  - Annual Review

 

Summer Term
  • Enrollment optional
  • Seek additional funding opportunities

 

Fifth Year

Autumn Semester
  • WGSST 8999 - Dissertation
  • Secure additional funding
 
Spring Semester
  • WGSST 8999 - Dissertation
  • Defend Dissertation
  • Start of Semester - application to graduate
  • Prior to Defense - notification of final examination form
  • After Defense - report of final examination form

 

Regular PhD Sample Timeline - Fellow

First Year

Autumn Semester
  • WGSST 7700 - Feminist Inquiry I
  • Elective
  • Elective
  • Elective
  • Mid-Semester- Transfer Graduate Credit

Spring Semester
  • WGSST 7701 - Feminist Inquiry II
  • WGSST 7760 - Feminist Inquiry: Methods
  • Elective
  • Elective
  • Mid-Semester - Annual Review 


Summer Term

  • Elective

Second Year

Autumn Semester

  • WGSST 7702 - Feminist Pedagogy
  • Elective
  • Elective
Spring Semester
  • WGSST 7790 - Research & Writing Workshop
  • WGSST 8163 - Teaching Practicum
  • Elective
  • Elective
  • Mid-Semester - Annual Review 

 

Summer Term
  • Language requirement 
  • Prepare for candidacy exams

Third Year

Autumn Semester
  • Remaining language requirement
  • Candidacy exam reading hours
  • Candidacy exams
  • Prior to exams - submit reading lists
 
Spring Semester
  • WGSST 8999 - Dissertation
  • File dissertation prospectus
  • Mid-Semetser  - Annual Review

 

Summer Term
  • Enrollment optional
  • Seek additional funding opportunities
 

Fourth Year

Autumn Semester
  • WGSST 8999 - Dissertation
  • Work on dissertation/conduct field-work
  • Secure additional funding
 
Spring Semester
  • WGSST 8999 - Dissertation
  • Mid-Semetser  - Annual Review

 

Summer Term
  • Enrollment optional
  • Seek additional funding opportunities

Fifth Year

Autumn Semester
  • WGSST 8999 - Dissertation
  • Secure additional funding
 
Spring Semester
  • WGSST 8999 - Dissertation
  • Defend Dissertation
  • Start of Semester - application to graduate
  • Prior to Defense - notification of final examination form
  • After Defense - report of final examination form

Direct-to-PhD Sample Timeline - Graduate Teaching Associate

First Year

Autumn Semester
  • WGSST 7700 - Feminist Inquiry I
  • WGSST 7702 - Feminist Pedagogy
  • Elective

Spring Semester
  • WGSST 7701 - Feminist Inquiry II
  • WGSST 7760 - Feminist Inquiry: Methods
  • WGSST 8163 - Teaching Practicum
  • Elective
  • Mid-Semester - Annual Review 


Summer Term

  • Enrollment optional

 

Second Year

Autumn Semester
  • Elective
  • Elective
  • Elective
Spring Semester
  • Elective
  • Elective
  • Elective
  • Mid-Semester - Annual Review 

 

Summer Term
  • Language requirement 
  • Prepare for candidacy exams
 

Third Year

Autumn Semester
  • Elective
  • Elective
  • Elective
Spring Semester
  • WGSST 7790 - Research & Writing Workshop
  • Elective
  • Elective
  • Mid-Semester - Annual Review 

 

Summer Term
  • Language requirement 
  • Prepare for candidacy exams
 

Fourth Year

Autumn Semester
  • Candidacy exam reading hours
  • Candidacy exams
  • Prior to exams - submit reading lists
 
Spring Semester
  • WGSST 8999 - Dissertation
  • File dissertation prospectus
  • Mid-Semetser  - Annual Review

 

Summer Term
  • Enrollment optional
  • Seek additional funding opportunities
 

Fifth Year

Autumn Semester
  • WGSST 8999 - Dissertation
  • Work on dissertation/conduct field-work
  • Secure additional funding
 
Spring Semester
  • WGSST 8999 - Dissertation
  • Mid-Semetser  - Annual Review

 

Summer Term
  • Enrollment optional
  • Seek additional funding opportunities

 

Sixth Year

Autumn Semester
  • WGSST 8999 - Dissertation
  • Secure additional funding
 
Spring Semester
  • WGSST 8999 - Dissertation
  • Defend Dissertation
  • Start of Semester - application to graduate
  • Prior to Defense - notification of final examination form
  • After Defense - report of final examination form

 

 

Regular PhD Sample Timeline - Fellow

First Year

Autumn Semester
  • WGSST 7700 - Feminist Inquiry I
  • Elective
  • Elective
  • Elective
  • Mid-Semester- Transfer Graduate Credit

Spring Semester
  • WGSST 7701 - Feminist Inquiry II
  • WGSST 7760 - Feminist Inquiry: Methods
  • Elective
  • Elective
  • Mid-Semester - Annual Review 


Summer Term

  • Elective

 

Second Year

Autumn Semester
  • WGSST 7702 - Feminist Pedagogy
  • Elective
  • Elective
Spring Semester
  • WGSST 8163 - Teaching Practicum
  • Elective
  • Elective
  • Elective
Mid-Semester - Annual Review 

 

Summer Term
  • Language requirement 

 

Third Year

Autumn Semester
  • Elective
  • Elective
  • Elective
Spring Semester
  • WGSST 7790 - Research & Writing Workshop
  • Elective
  • Elective
  • Mid-Semester - Annual Review 

 

Summer Term
  • Language requirement 
  • Prepare for candidacy exams

 

Fourth Year

Autumn Semester
  • Candidacy exam reading hours
  • Candidacy exams
  • Prior to exams - submit reading lists
 
Spring Semester
  • WGSST 8999 - Dissertation
  • File dissertation prospectus
  • Mid-Semetser  - Annual Review
 
Summer Term
  • Enrollment optional
  • Seek additional funding opportunities
 

Fifth Year

Autumn Semester
  • WGSST 8999 - Dissertation
  • Work on dissertation/conduct field-work
  • Secure additional funding
 
Spring Semester
  • WGSST 8999 - Dissertation
  • Mid-Semetser  - Annual Review

 

Summer Term
  • Enrollment optional
  • Seek additional funding opportunities

 

Sixth Year

Autumn Semester
  • WGSST 8999 - Dissertation
  • Secure additional funding
 
Spring Semester
  • WGSST 8999 - Dissertation
  • Defend Dissertation
  • Start of Semester - application to graduate
  • Prior to Defense - notification of final examination form
  • After Defense - report of final examination form