The Dissertation Prospectus

The dissertation prospectus should offer a provisional account of:

  1. What your argument is
  2. Why it matters
  3. What body of evidence you will draw on to substantiate it

Your “argument” might be expressed in the prospectus as a focused research question, as a hypothesis you intend to test, or as a tentative thesis. In explaining why it matters, you should outline how your dissertation will contribute to, or change, the existing scholarship on the topic. And in describing a body of evidence, you should indicate which primary and secondary texts are essential to your project and why.

In addition to these general aims, your prospectus should provide answers to the following:

  • Why are you addressing this topic? How does it build upon prior scholarship, and how is your approach, archive, or perspective significant?
  • Do you make use of any special methodological or theoretical approach? How is it appropriate to your topic and body of evidence?
  • What is that body of evidence? How is it defined and delimited?
  • What is the proposed organization of the dissertation?

Students work on prospectus drafts in the Third Year Proseminar, which will also include a full introduction to the prospectus as an academic genre.

Schedule for Submission

Students begin work on the dissertation prospectus in the Third Year Proseminar. Students who receive the grade of “Fail” or “Low Pass” on the Oral Exam cannot progress to doctoral candidacy and will not write a dissertation prospectus. 

The following deadlines apply in the 2026-27 academic year:

  • Jan-March – With your Oral Exam committee, and in the Proseminar, begin drafting and brainstorming towards the prospectus while completing preparation for the Oral Exam
  • March 13, 2027 - Last day to take the Oral Exam
  • April 2, 2027 – Deadline to identify a three-member dissertation committee and share first draft of the prospectus with your committee and DGS
  • April 16, 2027 – Deadline to hold prospectus meeting with committee
  • May 3, 2027 – Last day to share a polished draft of the prospectus with your committee and DGS, taking account of committee’s comments on the first draft
  • May 17, 2027 – Deadline for committee to approve polished draft or demand final revisions
  • May 31, 2027 – Last day to submit revised prospectus for approval

 

Students who do not submit an acceptable prospectus by the final deadline of May 31, 2027, will be subject to academic review by the Committee on Graduate Education and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, with consequences up to and including dismissal from the PhD program and withdrawal of fellowship support.