WRITTEN & ORAL QUALIFYING EXAMINATIONS

1. Two three-hour translation examinations consisting of passages from the Ph.D. reading lists and other literature. These examinations will normally be offered twice a year, and must be taken before the end of the second year in the doctoral program.
2. A significant research paper on a field or author of the student's choosing outside of the area of expected specialization. The research paper must be submitted before the end of the third year in the doctoral program, and may be submitted either before or after the translation examinations.
3. A "special field" examination: a written three-hour examination in the general area of the prospective dissertation topic. This examination is to be taken before the end of the third year in the doctoral program.

Each qualifying examination may normally be retaken once. Within one quarter of the last qualifying examination, the doctoral committee administers the University Oral Qualifying Examination. This examination probes the student's knowledge of your major field (and possible stipulated areas outside the specialization) and includes a discussion of a formal dissertation proposal.