Ph.D. Sample Timetable -- Religious Studies -- College of Liberal Arts & Sciences -- The University of Iowa

314 Gilmore Hall • Iowa City, IA 52242 • 319-335-2164

Ph.D. Sample Timetable*

By the end of the second semester the student should

Complete two of the following: Teaching Religious Studies (32:201), Asian Religious Traditions (32:203), Western Religious Traditions (32:204), Methods and Theories in the Study of Religion (32:205)
Complete at least one semester of foreign language requirement
Meet with the adviser to develop a projected Plan of Study

Early in the fourth semester
In consultation with the adviser, students must prepare the Program of Study so that Ph.D. candidacy decision can be made by the faculty. Following admission to Ph.D. candidacy, the student should meet with area faculty and form a five-member comprehensive examination committee

By the end of the fourth semester the student should also

Finish the four required departmental courses
Complete two seminars
Complet at least one language requirement
Submit to area faculty at least two scholarly papers

No later than the eighth semester the student should

Completed all course work requirements
With approval of their committee, finalize a bibliography for the comprehensive examination and frame a brief description of the subject matter of the proposed dissertation
Certify of all aspects of foreign language and other research tool competence

Within six months following successful completion of the comprehensive examination, the student must submit a dissertation prospectus for approval by her or his adviser and committee.

* This timetable is meant only as a general guideline. Each student’s schedule varies depending on such things as the amount of graduate transfer credit and language proficiency at the time of admission. The language requirements for some areas of specialization take longer to fulfill than others.