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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 department, or from within the NYC consortium. Students are encouraged to consult with the Director of Graduate Studies as they choose their courses each semester.

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.

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.

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 advisor from among the departmental faculty. By March 1, terminal M.A. students must give their thesis in draft form to the advisor, so as to leave time for eventual revisions as suggested the advisor and by other faculty members. Terminal M.A. students must defend their thesis by May 1. By May 1, Ph.D. students must give a draft of their M.A. thesis to their advisor. Ph.D. students must complete their thesis by the end of the summer and defend no later than September of year 3. There is no oral defense of the M.A. thesis, which should be between 40 and 50 pages for both terminal M.A. and Ph.D. students.

Students may apply to study in Florence (at NYU’s Villa La Pietra and/or at the Istituto Italiano di Scienze Umane) during the fall or spring semester of year three. Students may attend the Istituto Italiano di Scienze Umane during the fall semester only or Villa La Pietra during the fall or spring semesters. Students who have not fulfilled their teaching obligations may have the possibility of teaching at La Pietra during their semester abroad. Students must apply to the Director of Graduate Studies by February 1.

YEAR THREE

Semesters 5 & 6

Complete Ph.D. coursework (40 points of courses after the M.A., for a total of 72 points of courses for the Ph.D. degree).

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

During the spring semester, 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. Over the summer students should remain in contact with faculty members as they work on their examination lists.

Students may apply to study in Florence (at NYU’s Villa La Pietra and/or at the Istituto Italiano di Scienze Umane) during the fall or spring semester of year four. Students may attend the Istituto Italiano di Scienze Umane during the fall semester only or Villa La Pietra during the fall or spring semesters. Students who have not fulfilled their teaching obligations may have the possibility of teaching at La Pietra during their semester abroad. Students must 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

By the end of September, students must hand in 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.

All outstanding incompletes from Ph.D. coursework must be completed before qualifying examinations can be scheduled. By the end of December students must take their Ph.D. qualifying examinations.

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 who have not fulfilled their teaching obligations may have the possibility of teaching at La Pietra during their semester abroad. Students must apply to the Director of Graduate Studies by February 1.

Semester 8

During the spring semester, students should work on their dissertation prospectus in conjunction with their chosen advisor and should decide, in conjunction with their advisor, 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.

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.