Ph.D. Road Map

Road Map to Ph.D. Completion

This guide details the steps that doctoral program students should take in pursuit of their degree. 

 

Thank you to Professor Julia Menard-Warwick for preparing this essential guide! Check frequently with Stephanie Fallas (Graduate Coordinator) about required forms, which are subject to change.

Before the Qualifying Exam

  • Course Work: Talk to a grad advisor regularly, at least yearly, perhaps quarterly. Familiarize yourself with pages 10–12 of the Linguistics Graduate Handbook. 
  • Language Requirement: Demonstrate competence in two languages besides English. Talk to a grad advisor about your plans, and consult page 12 of the Linguistics Graduate Handbook. 
  • Major Professor: By the end of your first year or beginning of your second year, identify a major professor based on shared research interests. Talk to a grad advisor if you need help. Fill out the Major Professor Selection Form and send to the Graduate Coordinator.
  • Preliminary Examination Paper: Students should complete this paper by the end of second year at the latest, but it is advisable to start as early as possible (preferably around the end of year one) when you have identified a major professor. Read more about the preliminary examination on pages 14–15 of the Linguistics Graduate Handbook, and see the steps below for the typical procedure for writing the paper:
  1. Determine a topic in consultation with your major professor, possibly based on a term paper that you have written for a course.
  2. Set up a committee of two other professors who are willing to read the paper. Fill out the Committee Members Form and submit it to the Graduate Coordinator for placement in the student academic file. 
  3. Write an abstract and send it to your major professor and rest of committee; revise if asked to do so.
  4. Work on a first draft of the paper with your major professor, then send to the rest of the committee; revise if asked to do so.
  5. When completed to the satisfaction of your committee, fill out the Report on Preliminary Exam for the Ph.D. Use this form to indicate the results of a preliminary exam paper review for the Ph.D. program. Send to the Graduate Coordinator.

Qualifying Exam

  • Timing: The qualifying examination is normatively taken by the 9th quarter, end of 3rd year. Read about the QE on pages 15–16 of the Linguistics Graduate Handbook.
  • Qualifying Paper (QP): In consultation with your major professor (and perhaps other professors with expertise in this area), write and revise your qualifying paper. This should be done as soon as possible — that is, immediately after finishing the preliminary examination paper. Complete this to the satisfaction of your major professor during your 7th quarter.
  • Dissertation Prospectus: In consultation with your major professor (and perhaps other professors with expertise in this area), write and revise your dissertation prospectus. This should be done as soon as possible — that is, immediately after finishing your qualifying paper. Complete this to the satisfaction of your major professor during your 8th quarter.
  • Qualifying Exam Committee: In consultation with your major professor, set up a qualifying exam committee with five members. Select an exam chair who is a member of the Linguistics Graduate Group but not your major professor/dissertation advisor. Complete this during your 8th quarter. Fill out the Qualifying Examination Application for Ph.D. Degree Form, ask a graduate advisor to sign the completed form, and give it to the Graduate Coordinator for submission and filing. This form, and your committee, needs to be approved by Graduate Studies before the Qualifying Exam can occur.
  • Consulting the Exam Committee: Consult with your exam committee about your qualifying paper and dissertation prospectus. Revise as requested.
  • Schedule Qualifying Exam: In consultation with your exam committee, set the date for your qualifying exam and reserve a room. The exam should be during your 9th quarter, and scheduling the exa should be completed as early as possible.
  • Submit Qualifying Paper: Send the final draft of your qualifying paper and dissertation prospectus to your exam committee no later than 10 days before the exam.
  • Qualifying Exam: The exam is oral and typically lasts for two hours. It should begin with a brief presentation of your research trajectory (approximately 10-15 minutes). Then your committee will ask you about your qualifying paper and dissertation prospectus. At the completion of the exam, your exam chair will fill out a form that s/he has received in an email from Grad Studies, certifying the result of the exam (Pass, Not Pass, Fail). This form should go to the Graduate Coordinator.

Advancing to Candidacy

  • Dissertation Committee: Once you have passed the exam, set up a dissertation committee in consultation with your major professor (who now becomes your dissertation advisor). Your committee should have 3-4 members, who are professors with relevant expertise, not necessarily members of the Linguistics department. To add a member who is not affiliated with the University of California, ask the Graduate Coordinator for the required form.
  • Candidacy Fee: Pay the candidacy fee at the Cashier’s Office.
  • Candidacy Form: Download and fill out the Advancement to Candidacy for Ph.D. form, obtain all required signatures, and give it to the graduate coordinator to file with the Office of Graduate Studies.

Writing Your Dissertation

  • Timing: You will write your dissertation during years 4 and 5.
  • Data Collection and Analysis: In consultation with your dissertation advisor, collect and analyze data. Draft chapters. Ask your dissertation committee members if they want to read individual chapters as they are ready, or if they prefer to wait for a complete first draft.
  • Chapter Revision: Revise chapters and complete the first draft as the dissertation advisor and committee request. Continue revising until all members are satisfied.
  • Obtain Signatures: Collect the signatures of the dissertation advisor and committee members. This is done through an online process (contact the Graduate Coordinator for more information).
  • Submission: File your dissertation with the UC Davis Office of Graduate Studies.