Benchmark

Content

Notes

Program Level

Year One

First Semester Core Curriculum

Research, Social Policy, Organizational Theory

Second Semester Core Curriculum

Quantitative Research Design

Social Policy and Organizations

Social Science Theory

Students are assigned an advisor based on intersecting interests

Students should discuss elective courses with their advisors or other faculty members no later than beginning of second semester

Level One

First Examination

A standardized take-home examination taken when core curriculum is completed, written over the summer

The examination is distributed in May of the first year and due before beginning of Year Two; must be submitted before eligible for Year Two registration

Level One

Year Two

First Semester Curriculum

Qualitative Research,  Basic Statistics and Elective Course

Second Semester Curriculum

Advanced Statistics and two Elective courses

Students must take two electives outside of the PhD Program in Social Welfare

Level One

Year Three

First Semester Curriculum

Dissertation Seminar, Elective Course

Second Semester Curriculum

Dissertation Seminar

Students achieve Level Two when all course work is complete. They are eligible to submit the Second Examination after they achieve Level Two.

The final grade for the dissertation seminar is given on completion of the dissertation.

Level Two

Second Examination

The examination must be submitted and passed by the student’s 10th semester in the program or the student is separated from the program

The second examination is a paper that demonstrates the capacity to develop a dissertation proposal. The written document must be submitted six weeks before the end of a semester for review in that semester. The EO appoints a committee of three doctoral faculty members who read preside over an oral examination. If a student fails the second examination twice, they are separated from the program.

Level Three and Candidacy completion of Second Examination

Eligible for M.Phil. Degree

Submission of IRB Approval Form to GC before any data collection may begin

Formation of Dissertation Committee

Advisement shifts to the Dissertation Chair selected by the student and agreed to by the faulty member. The student, in consultation with the chair, organizes a Committee with two additional members from the Ph.D. Social Welfare faculty. A fourth committee member from outside of the Social Welfare faculty is permissible, but must be approved by EO based on submission of a CV

Level Three

Dissertation Proposal and Defense

Data collection and analysis; preparation of dissertation conforming to APA 6th Edition Style Guide

The student prepares the dissertation proposal with input from the Chair and committee members. For the defense, the committee presides over an oral examination. In addition, the student must have an approved application from the Hunter or Graduate Center IRB to proceed the data collection phase of the dissertation.

Level Three

Completion of Dissertation Project

Beginning at the 14the semester, students who have not completed the dissertation will be subject to administrative review each semester. The dissertation must be submitted and successfully defended on or before the 20th semester in the program, or the student is separated from the program. Students may appeal to the doctoral faculty for an extension up to one year.

Students must maintain Level Three matriculation through completion of the dissertation