The Dissertation
Students are expected to have identified an area of specialization and made initial explorations within it under the guidance of their intended dissertation director by the time they have completed the Preliminary Examination. Before the start of the seventh semester they will have established, in consultation with the DGS, a Ph.D. Committee of at least 4 members, preferably 5. A majority of members must be Duke faculty, but not all Duke faculty need to be drawn from the Department of Classical Studies. By the rules of the Graduate School, one member must be a Minor Area representative. For further details, see: https://registrar.duke.edu/sites/default/files/graduate/2016-17/index.html#54/z
By September 15 of the seventh semester the student should submit a first draft of the dissertation prospectus to her/his advisor. By November 1, the student is to submit to the Ph.D. committee a dissertation prospectus, approved by the dissertation director; the student may meet with members of the committee for advice in advance of submission. Committee members are to receive the prospectus at least two weeks before the scheduled defense, and the prospectus meeting must be undertaken successfully by Thanksgiving. If the committee considers that the prospectus is not fully developed or is deficient in some other way, it may ask the student to rethink and resubmit the prospectus, after incorporating ideas and material from the prospectus discussion. The dissertation prospectus must pass by February 15 of the student’s fourth year.
By Sept. 15 of the student’s fifth year (but preferably within the student’s fourth year), the student will submit a chapter to all members of the Ph.D. Committee, and will meet two weeks later to discuss progress on the dissertation with the Committee. If the committee considers that the chapter is not satisfactory, it may ask the student to rethink and resubmit the chapter, after incorporating ideas and material from the discussion. A satisfactory dissertation chapter must be approved by February 15 of the student’s fifth year. After the initial chapter discussion committee members may, but are not obligated to, read drafts of further dissertation chapters. The candidate is expected to provide drafts of all the chapters (with the bibliography) no later than six weeks before the submission date set by the graduate school for that semester. The final draft of the dissertation (with bibliography, and in correct format) should be distributed to all committee members at least two weeks before the dissertation defense. (See Graduate School web site for current formatting guidelines). Committee members with serious objections to the dissertation must notify the advisor in advance of the defense.
Failure to submit a satisfactory prospectus or first chapter by the specified deadlines may result in termination or placement on the terminal M.A. track.
When the dissertation has been completed to the satisfaction of the advisor, the Director of Graduate Studies will arrange the dissertation examination. This will take the form of a two-hour defense consisting of a 15-minute presentation by the candidate followed by questions from the committee. After the committee has deliberated in private, the candidate will be invited back to discuss the outcome.
The Graduate School expects the acceptance of the dissertation within two calendar years after completion of the Preliminary Examination, but sets the maximum time limit at four years. A copy of the dissertation must be submitted to UMI/ProQuest on or before March 25 preceding the May commencement, ten days before the end of the Duke summer session for a September degree, or ten days before the end of the fall semester for a December degree. The electronic dissertation must be submitted to UMI/ProQuest and the format accepted at least two weeks before the scheduled date of the student's examination. Except in unusual circumstances approved by the Dean, a final examination will not be scheduled when the university is not in session. A student must be registered during the term that he/she takes the final examination. Refer to the Graduate School Ph.D. requirements page for further details.