Academics

Research Credits

Twenty-four (24) research credits are required in addition to coursework. Students are encouraged to register for research credits up to one year before the semester in which they will take the qualifying examination. If a student has had a TA for a full year, it is possible to register for up to 6 graduate credits during the summer, which will be covered by tuition remission. Students will receive a grade of either "Satisfactory" or "Unsatisfactory" for these research credits, based upon their director's judgment concerning their progress toward the completion of the doctoral dissertation.

Procedure for Approving Dissertation Topics and Dissertations:

1. The candidate, in consultation with the Graduate Director, selects a dissertation normally, this would take place at least one year prior to scheduling the doctoral examinations. Faculty members serving as directors of the dissertation committee must have exhibited expertise in the area of specialization as indicated by scholarship/research and teaching. Scholarship/research is interpreted as articles or books published or papers read at professional meetings. Teaching shall indicate courses prepared and taught at the graduate or advanced undergraduate (400) level. If no one with such expertise can be identified, the graduate director, in consultation with the student, selects someone with considerable background.
2. The candidate begins research under the dissertation director. In consultation with the dissertation director, the candidate invites two readers from the Graduate Program and an outside reader to serve on the dissertation committee. In an area of specialization where two or more people from within the department with expertise can be identified, the student may exclude only one with expertise from the committee. The choice of the external reader must be endorsed by the Graduate School, following the recommendation of the Graduate Director acting on advice from the dissertation committee. The outside member is expected to be a recognized authority on the dissertation subject.
3. It is understood that the dissertation director and other committee members must agree when no member of the Graduate Faculty in the correct area of specialization is available to serve as dissertation director, with the permission of the Graduate Director, the research may be done under the co-direction of an associate member of the Graduate Faculty and a full member in a related area.
4. Upon approval of the doctoral proposal, the committee offers guidance on how the candidate is. Approval indicates a commitment from the Graduate Program in Spanish that will be honored if subsequent changes in committee membership become necessary.
5. Each chapter must meet with the approval of the dissertation director, who is responsible for circulating it to the other committee members for their comments on the dissertation. The committee members' comments will be sent simultaneously to the dissertation director and the candidate. Revised chapters are also circulated to all committee members if extensive changes are necessary. The final version is submitted to all members who return the dissertation and comments within one month.
6. A Ph.D. dissertation is expected to reflect independent, original judgment and a thorough critical discussion of the research in the field, generally around 200 pages in length.
7. The committee convenes for the oral defense of the dissertation. The dissertation must be submitted in final form and approved by three of the four members and the Graduate Director.

Dissertation Defense:

The final examination is an oral defense of the thesis, which is open to the public. The oral defense normally takes an hour and will take the following form:

• Presentation by candidate.
• Question period from committee.
• Question period from audience.

Filing of the Dissertation:

Once accepted by the committee, the student should deposit the dissertation electronically, using the ETD Administrator. Please follow the guidelines in the following website: https://etd.libraries.rutgers.edu/submit-your-etd

For the rules, regulations, and specifications concerning the dissertation format, please refer to the "Thesis and Dissertation Style Guide" brochure from the Graduate School.

Time to Degree:

• The normal maximum for the Ph.D. is seven years. It is determined that longstanding ‘inactive' Ph.D. students will be invited to withdraw from the program. If a student does not withdraw, the department may terminate his or her candidacy. The following time frame shall normally be the maximum followed by all graduate students:
  • The students entering the program with an MA in a relevant area will take the comprehensive examinations before the start of the third year.
  • Within one year of passing the comprehensive exams, the student shall produce at least one acceptable dissertation chapter.
  • Within two years of the comprehensive exams, the student shall have completed the draft of the thesis.
  • Within three years of the comprehensive exams, the student defends his/her dissertation.
• A candidate wishing an exception to general policy must submit appropriate documentation to the Director, who will present the case to the Graduate Faculty for review. Exceptions to other time limits and policies of the Graduate Program (i.e., one-year time limit for re-examination) may be made only in extremely extenuating circumstances such as serious personal illness or death in the family. (See Bulletin for the granting of extensions by the Graduate School.)