Doctoral Program Timeline

This is a sample program timeline. Students can track their own progress using this online checklist. Students should anticipate at least a four year period of residency, followed by two years of dissertation research and writing. The department provides funding for five years, but expects that students will seek at least one year of extramural funding to support dissertation field research or writing. If students win external fellowships they will be allowed to 'bank' a year of funding. In addition, the department will make every effort to provide health insurance to facilitate a student taking both external field-research and writing fellowships in their fifth and sixth years. However, in order to do so students must ensure they have taken all Doctoral Thesis Credits beforehand, while in residency and under funding.

FIRST YEAR

Students are required to take ARTH 8001, Art History: Theory and Methods, during the first semester it is offered during their time at UMN. They should take at minimum two additional courses in fall semester and three courses in spring semester, completing a total of 18 course credits during the first year. They should make plans to finish the first of their language requirements, consider possible topics for their research paper, and discuss those plans with potential advisers.

FALL SEMESTER (9-14 CREDITS)

• Begin coursework

• ARTH 8001 Art History: Theory and Methods
  
  

SPRING SEMESTER (9-14 CREDITS)

• Fulfill language requirement and file appropriate form with the Graduate Program Coordinator

• Select academic adviser

• Continue coursework

• Determine research paper topic, select readers

If doing the optional in-process MA

• Submit form to add the Master’s degree 

• File  GPAS planner for the in-process MA with the Graduate Program Coordinator

• Determine qualifying ('Plan B') paper topics, select readers 

• Select committee members for Comprehensive ('in-process MA') Examination

SECOND YEAR

By the end of the second year, students should have completed 36 course credits. They should have fulfilled their first language requirement. They should be working to complete their research paper, which is due before the beginning of the third year.

FALL SEMESTER (9-14 CREDITS)

• Continue coursework

• Work on research paper

If doing the optional in-process MA

• Complete at least one Plan B paper

• Continue work on second Plan B paper

• Apply for spring commencement for the in-process MA

SPRING SEMESTER (9-14 CREDITS)

• Continue coursework

• Complete research paper prior to beginning of the third year

If doing the optional in-process MA

• Submit materials for the Second Year Review

• Complete Comprehensive ('in-process MA') Examination

• Complete second Plan B paper

• Apply to graduate on the first  day of the month  to graduate in that month

THIRD YEAR

During the third year of the program, students complete their remaining courses. In addition, they should finish the second of their language requirements. They work with their adviser to plan for the preliminary doctoral examinations, which they take either in the summer or during the fall semester of the fourth year. They develop a dissertation topic and determine the appropriate committee members. If they have not done so already, in their third year, students should begin to take their Doctoral Thesis Credits (ARTH 8888). Ideally students should register for 5 thesis credits per semester if they can do so without going over 14 credits.

FALL SEMESTER (14 CREDITS)

• Continue coursework

• Ideally try to take at least 5 Doctoral Thesis Credits (ARTH 8888)

SPRING SEMESTER (14 CREDITS)

• Take remaining coursework

• Ideally take at least 5 Doctoral Thesis Credits (ARTH 8888)

• File  GPAS planner for PhD with Graduate Program Coordinator 

• Complete second language requirement and file appropriate form with the Graduate Program Coordinator 

• Develop dissertation topic and appropriate committee membership

FOURTH YEAR

In the fourth year, students prepare to research and write the dissertation. They take their preliminary doctoral examinations, develop and write a dissertation prospectus, and apply for extramural funding for the subsequent year. Students should take any remaining coursework and continue to take thesis credits as their schedule allows, ideally finishing them.

FALL SEMESTER (14 CREDITS)

• Finish any remaining course work, thesis credits or additional languages

• Schedule and take prelims (by September deadline if planning to register for thesis credits during fall semester)

• Preliminary Written Exam Report should be filed two weeks prior to date of preliminary oral exam (via online form available to program staff only)

• Preliminary oral exam

• Develop dissertation prospectus

• Apply for external funding

SPRING SEMESTER (up to 14 CREDITS if needed)

• Finish any remaining thesis credits

• Prepare for field research

FIFTH YEAR

In the fifth year, students are supported by external funding and are away conducting dissertation research. They are required to have finished a total of 24 thesis credits. If their program of study did not allow them to finish their thesis credits before their fifth year, and if they have won and are taking an external fellowship, they must be prepared to return to UMN to take a TA-ship in order to support the cost of the remaining thesis credits or pay for these credit hours out of pocket. Students may request nomination for the Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship for the following year, however, students who have not finished their thesis credits are not eligible for the DDF.

SIXTH YEAR

In the final year, students return to the department where they receive their fifth year of financial support. During this year, they complete the dissertation and defend it. NOTE: Students must return to the department to TA in order to take their final year of funding. Students who do not wish to return to the University for any reason to take the TA-ship must ensure that they have taken all their Doctoral Thesis Credits. If any thesis credits remain, they must either take a TA-ship or be prepared to pay for them out of pocket at an out-of-state tuition rate.

FALL SEMESTER

• Apply for spring commencement

SPRING SEMESTER

• Apply to graduate on the first day of the month to graduate in that month

• Distribute dissertation/thesis to committee at least two weeks in advance of final oral examination

• Initiate the Reviewers’ Report form at least one week prior to the final oral examination

• Schedule Final Oral Examination with the Graduate School at least one week in advance of the exam date

• Announcements of public presentation of thesis topic are posted at least one week in advance of the exam date. Send dissertation title and an image to department staff. 

• Initiate the Final Exam Form at least one day prior to exam and send to committee chair.

• The Final Examination Report is submitted to the Graduate School within 24 hours of the Thesis Defense by the committee chair.

• All forms should be submitted and the thesis uploaded to the Graduate School on the last working day of the month to graduate in that month.