Doctoral Candidacy

At the end of the third year, doctoral students submit their dissertation prospectus. With all MPhil requirements complete, and the dissertation project approved, students progress to doctoral candidacy, also known as being “ABD” (all but dissertation). Over the next three funded years, students are expected to make steady progress on their dissertation, which they should defend and deposit before the end of the sixth year.

Requirements by Year

Required

  • Registration: Two Extended Residence Units
  • Advising: Meet at least twice per semester with all three dissertation advisors; hold a chapter meeting with your committee within four weeks of submitting each chapter
  • Teaching: Departmental TAship (or equivalent appointment) fall and spring semesters. Students in the fourth year have priority in assignments to our gateway to the major, ENGL UN2000: Approaches to Literature
  • First chapter of dissertation: Submit by March 24 to qualify for dissertation fellowship in the fifth year
  • First chapter meeting: Must be held before the end of the spring semester

Recommended

Required

  • Registration: Two M&F Units (if on dissertation fellowship)
  • Advising: Students in the fifth year are expected to be on dissertation fellowship (DF). Even if you use the DF year to travel, you must meet at least twice per semester with all three dissertation advisors and hold chapter meetings with your committee within four weeks of submitting each chapter
  • Teaching: No teaching during the DF year
  • Significant progress on dissertation: By the end of the fifth year, you should have drafted the body of your dissertation

Recommended

  • Participate in the Academic Careers Seminar (spring semester)
  • Participate in a major scholarly conference in your field, or in a discipline-wide conference such as MLA, ACLA, or ASA
  • Submit a second article for publication in a peer-reviewed journal, or revise and resubmit a previously submitted article
  • Continue to apply for internal and external research fellowships
  • Participate in a departmental research colloquium
  • Use the services offered by GSAS Compass (career services and professional development) and the GSAS Writing Studio (dissertation writing support)

Required

  • Registration: Two Extended Residence Units
  • Advising: Meet at least twice per semester with all three dissertation advisors; hold a chapter meeting with your committee within four weeks of submitting a chapter
  • Teaching: Fall and Spring appointment: options include departmental TAship, Core Teaching Associates program, and GSAS Teaching Scholars
  • Distribute, Defend, and Deposit: Work with your advisors to develop a plan to distribute, defend, and deposit your dissertation before the end of your sixth funded year. If you intend to apply for postdoctoral positions at Columbia, be aware of the common requirement to deposit the dissertation before June 30th of the year of appointment.

Recommended

  • Consult with the Director of Academic Careers throughout the year
  • Participate in a major scholarly conference in your field, or in a discipline-wide conference such as MLA, ACLA, or ASA
  • Submit a second or third article for publication in a peer-reviewed journal, or revise and resubmit a previously submitted article
  • Continue to apply for internal and external research fellowships
  • Participate in a departmental research colloquium
  • Use the services offered by GSAS Compass (career services and professional development) and the GSAS Writing Studio (dissertation writing support)

Required

  • Registration: Two Matriculation and Facilities Residence Units, to be paid by the student (see here for cost of attendance information).
  • Advising: Meet at least once per semester with all three dissertation advisors; hold a chapter meeting with your committee within four weeks of submitting each chapter. Students who do not respond to outreach from their advisors/departments will lose administrative standing and risk disenrollment from the PhD program.
  • Teaching: Students in the seventh year and beyond are not guaranteed teaching appointments or fellowship support. Students in year eight and beyond cannot be appointed as a graduate student TA or instructor in any capacity.
  • Distribute, Defend, and Deposit: Work with your advisors to develop a plan to distribute, defend, and deposit your dissertation before the end of your ninth year of enrollment. Students who do not graduate before the end of year nine will be disenrolled from the PhD program.

Recommended

  • Consult with the Director of Academic Careers throughout the year.
  • Continue to submit work for publication
  • Continue to apply for internal and external research fellowships
  • Use the services offered by GSAS Compass (career services and professional development) and the GSAS Writing Studio (dissertation writing support)