The Road to the Ph.D.
(See also: Where does the road lead?
and Recent Doctoral Dissertations)
The Time Commitment
The amount of time required to complete the doctorate can vary widely – depending on your level of preparation at the time of enrollment, the nature of your dissertation project, work commitments, and other demands on your time. However, you must complete all requirements for the degree within eight years after matriculation.
The Three Stages of Doctoral Work
Like its students, each doctoral program is unique. Still, all CUNY doctoral programs divide the road to the Ph.D. into three stages: course work, qualifying exams, and candidacy.
Course work. Typically graduate study begins with two to three years of course work to meet the basic requirements of your chosen discipline. You will also fulfill proficiency requirements in essential research skills such as foreign languages, statistics, or computing. Generally, at least sixty credits of approved graduate work, including the course requirements in the field of specialization, are required for the
doctorate.
Qualifying Exams. At some point during course work – after the completion of forty-five credits in most programs – you must pass a first qualifying examination. The exam varies in form from program to program. You are also required to pass a second examination, usually upon completion of the course
requirements.
Candidacy. Once you have successfully completed course work, examinations, and any special
requirements, you are certified as a candidate for the doctorate. You then enter the last stage of doctoral study, the completion of a dissertation embodying original research and its defense in an oral final examination.
Teaching Opportunities
Whenever possible, candidates whose objective is college teaching will be given the opportunity to gain classroom experience. There are over 225,000 undergraduate students throughout the City University system, and often Graduate Center doctoral students find part-time positions teaching at one or more of the CUNY colleges. In addition, fellowships are available that provide opportunities to teach.
Other Training Opportunities
As a doctoral candidate you will have an opportunity to join professional organizations, submit papers for publication in professional journals, and attend professional conferences. Once you reach a certain level of doctoral study, you may also be invited to work with doctoral faculty on individual research pro-jects or in one of the research centers and institutes at the Graduate Center.
