Suggested Course of Study

NOTE: The time it takes to complete the graduate program will vary by admission option (M.A.-Ph.D. or Ph.D. only), by field of specialization, and by the needs of individual students. These suggested schedules for the M.A.-Ph.D. and Ph.D. only options can help you plan your progress. However, this basic schedule does not take into account the additional time needed to conduct field research or acquire foreign language skills beyond those required by the graduate school. Consult your advisor or the Director of Graduate Studies for more information.

For M.A.-Ph.D.

For Ph.D. Only

M.A.-Ph.D. Year One

Courses to take: 5 + RELI 700 (18 hours)

Fall Semester:	Spring Semester:
Take RELI 700	Select faculty advisor Select readers for Field Examination and compile readings lists Take gateway course Take Foreign Language Proficiency Assessment (first required language) Read for Field Examination (spring and summer)

M.A.-Ph.D. Year Two

Courses to take: 4 + RELI 993 (18 hours)

Fall Semester:	Spring Semester:
Take Field Examination Select Thesis committee	Submit Thesis proposal (early Spring) Write M.A. Thesis (RELI 993) Defend Thesis (at least two weeks before Spring semester ends) Apply for graduation and petition to continue to the Ph.D. program(Consult advisor about these particulars and their timing)

M.A.-Ph.D. Year Three

Courses to take: 6 (18 hours)

Fall Semester:	Spring Semester:
Take Foreign Language Proficiency Assessment (second required language) Begin thinking about dissertation and exams committee Be sure to complete gateway coursework by the third year (one gateway in your concentration and one in another concentration)	Select dissertation and exams committee(early Spring) Compile reading list for Doctoral Exams Read for Doctoral Exams (Spring and Summer)

M.A.-Ph.D. Year Four

Courses to take: RELI 994 (Doctoral Dissertation)

Fall Semester:	Spring Semester:
Take Doctoral Exams Submit Dissertation Proposal* (Applications for international dissertation scholarships are by and large due in November. If applying, you will need to have passed both Doctoral Exams and a Dissertation Proposal by then)	Write 2 dissertation chapters (spring and summer) Begin researching jobs, post-docs, and fellowships (summer)

* If dissertation proposal is delayed to spring, it must be completed by at least 30 days before the end of the spring semester. Consult the Graduate Program Policies and Procedures for more information, or consult your advisor.

M.A.-Ph.D. Year Five

Courses to take: RELI 994 (Doctoral Dissertation)

Fall Semester:	Spring Semester:
Search for and apply for jobs, post-docs, and fellowships Prepare for interviews, give a mock job talk Write third chapter of dissertation (Be sure to have 2 chapters written by AAR/SBL/AAA)	Finish dissertation and revisions Defend dissertation Apply for graduation

Ph.D. Only Year One

Courses to take: 5 + RELI 700 (18 hours)

Fall Semester:

Spring Semester:

Take RELI 700

Select faculty advisor
Take gateway course

Ph.D. Only Year Two

Courses to take: 6 (18 hours)

Fall Semester:	Spring Semester:
Take Foreign Language Proficiency Assessment (second required language)	Begin thinking about dissertation and exams committee Begin preparing reading lists for Doctoral Exams Be sure to complete gateway coursework by the end of the second year (one gateway in your concentration and one in another concentration)

Ph.D. Only Year Three

Courses to take: RELI 994 (Doctoral Dissertation)

Fall Semester:	Spring Semester:
Select dissertation and exams committee (summer and fall) Compile reading lists for Doctoral Exams (summer and fall) Read for Doctoral Exams	Take Doctoral Exams Submit Dissertation Proposal* Begin researching fellowships (summer)

* Dissertation proposal must be completed by at least 30 days before the end of the spring semester. Consult the Graduate Program Policies and Procedures for more information, or consult your advisor.

Ph.D. Only Year Four

Courses to take: RELI 994 (Doctoral Dissertation)

Fall Semester:	Spring Semester:
Write 2 dissertation chapters Apply for fellowships	Write 2 dissertation chapters Begin researching jobs and post-docs (summer)

Ph.D. Only Year Five

Courses to take: RELI 994 (Doctoral Dissertation)

Fall Semester:	Spring Semester:
Search for and apply for jobs, post-docs, and fellowships Prepare for interviews, give a mock job talk Finish dissertation and revisions	Defend dissertation Apply for graduation