The following applies to Ph.D. students who begin matriculation during or after the Fall 2011 semester.
Students must complete 36 points of course work in addition to their M.A. degree (which will be assessed at 36 points) to total 72 points; three qualifying exams; a foreign language requirement; an oral defense and approval of dissertation proposal; and a doctoral dissertation. Students are permitted to take up to two classes outside the department or as independent study.
First Year
Fall Semester
Registration: 3 courses to total 12 points
- One of these courses must be Advanced Seminar: Paradigms of Globalization.
- Master's degree must be confirmed or transferred in from another institution.
- Students with M.A. degree from another institution must submit a request letter to the department together with a completed M.A. transcript with the official seal of the institution. Students should contact Melanie Daly (212-998-1600) regarding submissions and approval.
- If the degree has not yet been conferred, students earning an M.A. from NYU must make sure that the degree is conferred this semester.
Students should expect a departmental mailing that goes over specific comprehensive exam schedules as well as the Doctoral Review Sheet. This mailing is usually sent in late September.
The Doctoral Review Sheet is a required form that asks the student to answer many relevant questions. The department will request that each student update the form every fall semester until graduation.
Spring Semester
Registration: 2 courses to total 8 points
- Students must also claim full-time equivalency at time of registration.
Students must register to take the first of their 3 qualifying exams. Registration forms with semester specific deadlines are mailed to the student at the start of the academic year and also available throughout the year at the Cinema Studies offices.
Summer Semester
Registration: no coursework.
It is strongly recommended that students needing to fulfill the language requirement with an exam make arrangements to do so. If the student plans on completing the department exam, Liza Greenfield (212-998-1600) must be contacted at least 40 days prior to the desired exam date.
If you have already completed the Language requirement through previous coursework, contact Melanie Daly (212-998-1600) to insure proper fulfillment paperwork is submitted.
Second Year
Fall Semester
Registration: 2 courses to total 8 points
- One of these courses must be a Directed Reading in the student’s dissertation topic area supervised by the student’s anticipated dissertation advisor or appropriate substitute.
- Students must also claim full-time equivalency at time of registration.
Students should expect a departmental mailing that goes over specific comprehensive exam schedules, information regarding Ph.D. grants and fellowships as well as the Doctoral Review Sheet. This mailing is usually sent in late September.
Spring Semester
Registration: 2 courses to total 8 points
- One of these courses must be the Dissertation Seminar.
- Students must also claim full-time equivalency at time of registration.
The Dissertation Seminar will serve to develop and complete the dissertation proposal. The proposal must be completed by the deadline established by the seminar and turned into the department chair.
Summer Semester
Registration: Coursework should have been completed.
If necessary, use this time to finish any outstanding coursework or revisions to proposal if required.
Resubmission of proposal is required if revisions are sought.
Third Year
Fall Semester
Registration: Maintenance of Matriculation
Students will be assigned an appointment for an oral exam and defense of their dissertation proposal. This meeting will serve as the third and final comprehensive examination with questions posed to the student that draw from the proposal and related directed reading. Students must successfully pass the exam and defend their proposal in order to be eligible to receive their 3rd year dissertation writing fellowship award.
Once the defense is passed, a copy of the dissertation proposal, with all appropriate signatures, must be filed in the department.
Students should expect a departmental mailing that goes over information regarding PHD grants and fellowships as well as the Doctoral Review Sheet. This mailing is usually sent in late September
Spring Semester
Registration: Maintenance of Matriculation
An evaluation of at least one complete chapter of the dissertation will be scheduled and conducted by a faculty committee. The student may be questioned on the work and on plans for continued research and writing. Students must successfully pass this evaluation in order to be eligible to receive their 4th year dissertation writing fellowship award.
Remaining Years of Required Enrollment
The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences requires that all students have continuous enrollment from time of entry to the final semester before graduation. Please consult the departmental and university calendars for individual registration periods for each semester.
Fall Semester
Registration: Maintenance of Matriculation
Spring Semester
Registration: Maintenance of Matriculation
Students are required to provide an updated CV and turn in the Doctoral Review sheet at the beginning of each academic year.
At the end of the 7th year after matriculation into the Ph.D. program, all students must defend their dissertations and graduate.
