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Guidelines for Progression through the M.A. and PhD Degree

YEAR ONE
Semesters 1 & 2

Complete 24 points of coursework (3 courses at 4 points each semester). Three four-point courses totals 12 points; 12 points constitutes full-time status. During these and other semesters of coursework, at least 2 of the 3 courses should normally be chosen from Italian Studies offerings, while the third may be from another NYU department. Students are encouraged to consult with the Director of Graduate Studies as they choose their courses each semester.

For both terminal M.A. and Ph.D. students, incompletes are granted only under exceptional circumstances and after student consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies. This applies to all years of coursework.

YEAR TWO
Semesters 3 & 4

Ph.D. students should complete 24 points of coursework. Terminal M.A. students should complete remaining 8 points of M.A. coursework and any outstanding incompletes. After the first year of study or from within the NYC consortium, PhD students may also register for courses in the NYC graduate consortium, subject to approval from the DGS. The proportion of internal (departmental) and external courses should remain that outlined above (2 of 3 internal as usual practice, though exceptions may be made in the case of students with strong interdisciplinary interests).

By December 1, terminal M.A. students must inform the Director of Graduate Studies which seminar paper they intend to expand into their M.A. thesis and must choose an adviser from among the departmental faculty. By March 1, terminal M.A. students must give their thesis in draft form to the adviser, so as to leave time for eventual revisions as suggested by the advisor and by other faculty members. They should aim to complete by May 1 for May graduation. There is usually no oral defense of the M.A. thesis, which should be between 40 and 50 pages.

Students who have completed their coursework after Year 2 (those who entered with an MA for which they received credit) may apply to study in Florence, at NYU’s Villa La Pietra, during the fall or spring semester of year three. It may be possible for students still engaged in coursework to complete some of this on an exchange basis at the Istituto Italiano di Scienze Umane in Florence. Students must apply to the Director of Graduate Studies by February 1.

YEAR THREE (PhD students only)
Semesters 5 & 6

Complete Ph.D. coursework (24 points, for a total of 72 points).

Satisfy second language proficiency (other than Italian); where necessary, pass language proficiency examination by the end of the spring semester.

By December 1, students must inform the Director of Graduate Studies which seminar paper they intend to expand into their M.A. thesis and must choose an adviser from among the departmental faculty. By May 1, Ph.D. students must submit a draft of the thesis to their adviser. The thesis should be revised over the summer for submission at the beginning of Year 4. There is usually no defense of the M.A. Thesis, which should be between 40 and 50 pages long.

Students may apply to study in Florence,(at NYU’s Villa La Pietra and/or at the Istituto Italiano di Scienze Umane, during the spring semester of year four. Those wishing to do so should apply to the Director of Graduate Studies by February 1.

NOTE: Study in Florence during year four is intended for students who have passed their comprehensive examinations and who might find it helpful to be in Florence while they are working on their dissertation prospectus. We do not recommend that students be in residence in Florence while they are preparing for their comprehensive exams.

YEAR FOUR
Semester 7

Once they have submitted their M.A. Thesis, students should decide on a potential advisor for their Ph.D. thesis, and should meet with that faculty member about possible dissertation topics. Once a potential topic has been identified, students should meet with their advisor and other faculty members to discuss the themes and texts of their Ph.D. qualifying examinations.

By the end of November, students must hand in the final version of their Ph.D. qualifying examination reading lists for approval by their advisor and other faculty members and by the Director of Graduate Studies. The lists must be accompanied by a brief description of the intellectual project that has guided the choice of texts for the lists and the themes that bind them. The exam should take place no later than January of Year 4.

N.B. Any outstanding incompletes from Ph.D. coursework must be completed before qualifying examinations can be scheduled.

Students may apply to study at NYU’s Villa La Pietra in Florence during the fall or spring semester of year five, while they are engaged in research for their Ph.D. thesis. Students must apply to the Director of Graduate Studies by February 1.

Semester 8

After completing their exam, students should work on their dissertation prospectus in conjunction with their chosen adviser and should decide, in conjunction with their adviser, which faculty members will make up the balance of the dissertation committee. The dissertation prospectus should be about 10-15 pages, including bibliography, and should outline the principal hypotheses and arguments of the thesis, its theoretical basis, the methodologies and sources to be utilized, and how it will be structured. It should be submitted for approval by the end of the semester.

YEAR FIVE
Semester 9

Students should be engaged in research for their Ph.D. thesis.

Semester 10

Students should begin to write their Ph.D. thesis with the aim of having a completed draft by February of their sixth year. Students should meet regularly with their advisor and establish a schedule for submission of the chapters.

YEAR SIX
Semester 11

Students who continue past year five are no longer guaranteed MacCracken funding. The department is normally in a position to provide two additional years of financial support in the form of adjunct pay for courses taught. Such support is conditional upon continued progress to degree.

Students should be engaged in the writing of their Ph.D. thesis.

The department will provide information sessions for students who plan to go on the job market, and students should consult their advisors when drafting job letters and other application materials. Mock interviews will be held on request for students who obtain MLA interviews.

Semester 12

Students should turn in a completed draft of the dissertation to their advisor and their first two readers by February 1. Advisor and first two readers should give students comments and suggestions for revision by March 1. Students should finish all revisions and send the thesis to external readers by April 1. Any final revisions can be completed in time for them to file by May for their Ph.D. degree.