Direction of work during progress toward the Ph.D.
The Director of Graduate Studies is the advisor to all graduate students, and is to be informed of any needs, problems, or proposed changes in program as they arise. In addition, each incoming student will be assigned a faculty mentor for the first year, ideally to meet at least twice a month with the student. The Department encourages students to establish working ties with all faculty members whose interests and expertise may be especially helpful to them, and to identify one faculty member as a particular mentor.
By Sept. 15 of students’ third year (and no later than 60 days before the first examination) the DGS will form a Preliminary Exam Committee consisting of five faculty members, which will administer and read all preliminary exams that year. Well before that (preferably late spring / early summer of the second year), students should have chosen the subjects for the two Special Preliminary Exams, in consultation with the DGS and after discussion with the appropriate faculty. If a Special Preliminary exam is to be set by faculty outside the Preliminary Exam Committee, the faculty member(s) will be added to the individual student’s committee. Students can expect response to their exams within two weeks of each exam.
Before students begin the dissertation, preferably by July 1 before the start of the fourth year, they must consult with the Director of Graduate Studies on the formation of a Ph.D. committee, comprising at least four faculty members, and reflecting the direction of their research. This Ph.D. committee does not have to be the same as the Preliminary Exam Committee, and not all members of it need to be drawn from the Department of Classical Studies at Duke. Only one member may be from outside Duke. By the rules of the Graduate School, one member must be a Minor Area representative. The composition of the Ph.D. committee, whose members serve as readers and examiners of the dissertation, may change over time if necessary, but only in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies. The director of the dissertation serves as chair of the Ph.D. committee.