Path to Degree

Coursework

• Take six seminars (18 credits), including required courses 70100, 70300, 70600, as well as other courses that fill general gaps in knowledge and that promise to be especially useful in preparing for the First Examination.
• Have transfer credits for MA degree (or other graduate-level work) evaluated and approved.

Examination

• Show proficiency in at least one of the two foreign languages required for the degree.
• Begin studying for the First Examination, conducting a self-diagnostic and possibly participating in a study group.

Professionalization

• Attend all of the program’s professionalization events.
• If possible, attend a regional conference.

Teaching

• Attend workshops through the Teaching and Learning Center in the spring semester to prepare for teaching one course per semester as a Graduate Center Fellow in year two or to improve your profile when seeking adjunct teaching in the CUNY system or elsewhere.

Wellness

• If you’re having trouble managing the transition to graduate school, contact the Wellness Center in room 6422 or at 212-817-7020 to learn about resources available to you.

Coursework

• Take remaining six seminars (18 credits), including required course 82500 after passing the First Examination.

Examination

• Take (and pass) the First Examination by no later than the spring semester.
• Within a month of passing the First Examination, identify a mentor with whom to start planning the Second Examination.
• By the beginning of November or April, present to Standing Examination Committee the three fields to be examined and for which lists of books will be prepared.
• By the beginning of April or November, present to the Standing Examination Committee the lists of books in the three fields.
• Demonstrate proficiency in a second foreign language.

Professionalization

• Attend pertinent program professionalization events and workshops.
• Submit an abstract to present a paper at a conference.
• Attend pertinent workshops through the Office of Career Planning and Professional Development.

Teaching

• Begin teaching at one of CUNY college campuses as part of the Graduate Center Fellowship.
• Start building a teaching portfolio, including syllabi that you have used, student evaluations, and selected copies of papers that you have graded.

Examination

• Take (and pass) Second Examination by the beginning of spring semester.
• Within a month of passing the Second Examination, establish chair and dissertation committee members in consultation with the executive officer and Second Examination committee mentor.

Professionalization

• Attend pertinent program professionalization events and workshops.
• Consider sending article based on revised seminar paper or other work to journal for publication.
• Consider submitting a book or performance review for publication.
• Present paper at a conference.
• Submit an abstract to present a paper at another conference.
• Attend pertinent workshops through the Office of Career Planning and Professional Development.

Teaching

• Teach courses as part of Graduate Center Fellowship.
• Maintain and enhance your teaching portfolio.

Wellness

• Consider joining an academic/dissertation support group through the Wellness Center or starting one among your peers to deal with accompanying stress and anxieties as well as to ensure that you meet deadlines.

Dissertation

• Begin research on dissertation and defend prospectus by the end of the fall semester.
• Complete a draft of the first chapter of dissertation by the end of the spring semester, and submit it first to director and, when approved, to the other two readers.

Professionalization

• Attend pertinent program professionalization events and workshops.
• Present paper at a conference.
• Submit an abstract to present a paper at another conference.
• Consider sending article based on revised seminar paper or other work to journal for publication.
• Meet with the program’s placement officer to begin individual discussions regarding the job search.
• Attend pertinent workshops through the Office of Career Planning and Professional Development.

Teaching

• Teach courses as part of Graduate Teaching Fellowship.
• Develop philosophy of teaching statement.

Dissertation

• Complete dissertation.
• Deposit dissertation and attend Commencement.

Professionalization

• Attend pertinent program professionalization events and workshops.
• Early in the fall semester meet with the placement officer to discuss the job search and postdoctoral fellowships.
• Assemble dossier, including cover letter and CV.
• Participate in mock job interview.
• Revise a conference paper or portion of your dissertation for submission as a journal article.
• Apply in January for Graduate Center and other dissertation-year fellowships (as backup if you do not finish the dissertation in the time anticipated or if you are not successful on the job market).
• Attend pertinent workshops through the Office of Career Planning and Professional Development.

Teaching

• In consultation with the placement officer, complete teaching portfolio, including sample syllabi.
• Complete requirements for the fifth year of the Graduate Center Fellowship by fulfilling the responsibilities of Writing Across the Curriculum at one of the CUNY colleges.