Why the Plan of Study?

The Plan of Study lays out the academic substance and path that the student intends to follow in his/her doctoral studies.   The document is intended to help students define the intellectual landscape of their research and teaching; to prepare students for the Major Field Examination; and to provide students with a roadmap for the successful and timely completion of their doctoral studies.

Timeline for Completion of the Plan of Study

• The Plan of Study must be completed in the first year of the doctoral program.
• The student's faculty advisor and the Ph.D. Coordinator approve the final Plans of Study.   These plans then are filed with the Graduate Advisor.
• Students are expected to complete and file their Plan of Study as part of 208A in the Fall quarter of the first year.
• Students who have not filed by the end of Winter quarter will not be eligible for financial aid in the Spring quarter.
• Students who have not filed by the end of Spring quarter will be put on probation and will not be permitted to enroll in Fall until the Plan of Study is filed.

The Plan of Study

1. Select a Major Field.   The major field is a broad area of scholarship in which students are prepared to teach a sequence of courses and to conduct research.

2. Select 3 sub-specializations that fall within the Major Field and that reflect students' interests and approaches to the field.

3. Identify the context and major debates of each of the three sub-specializations and provide a basic bibliography that covers these areas.

4. Provide a list of classes that will fulfill the course requirements in the following areas:

• Ph.D. Core (UP 222A <if required>, UP222B, UP222C)
• Core methods (UP208B or M204, UP220B, UP208A)
• Advanced research methods (3)
• Courses outside the major field (3) (If the Master's degree is not in planning, the outside field is comprised of 207, 220A, and either C233, 242, M250, or 281)

5. Identify strategies to prepare for the Major Field Examination.   These strategies might include research papers, new and prior coursework, research projects, course outlines, etc.

6. Provide a timetable that indicates the expected date of completion of the major requirements for the degree.

7. Provide a brief paragraph describing a potential dissertation topic.

DSCF0239.jpg [1]