Sample Dissertation Timeline

The doctoral candidate and dissertation director will meet together regularly, preferably once a month; the student should be encouraged to meet regularly with the committee members, and remain in touch by email. The student is responsible for contacting the Graduate School to ascertain that all materials conform to requirements for formatting, deadlines, etc.

1) Student submits draft of Chapter 1 to Chair  [date]

2) Chair returns Chapter 1 with suggested revisions [date: no longer than one month later]

3) Student incorporates changes and returns to chair [date]

4) Chair approves (or recommends further revisions to) Chapter 1, returns it to student who circulates to Committee with request for feedback by [date, no longer than 1 month later]

5) Student works on next chapter (not necessarily in chronological order) while awaiting feedback

6) Committee returns Chapter 1 with suggestions/edits [date]

7) Student incorporates changes, resubmits Chapter 1 to Chair for final approval

8) Chair returns approved Chapter 1 to student

9) This process continues apace until all chapters, including introduction, conclusion, notes and bibliography, are submitted and approved.

10) Defense date is set at least two months in advance in consultation with Chair when all chapter drafts have been received and approved, and the Chair deems the project acceptable in content, form, and language and ready to stand defense. Student reserves room and contacts all committee members to confirm their presence. Chair notifies students of protocols for defense; confirms available technology as necessary in advance; advises student on expectations for defense (e.g. a short oral presentation of findings in advance of committee questions/discussion); reminds students that refreshments are customary.

11) Defense [date]: Chair advises Graduate Program Director of defense date at least one month in advance; GPD advises Graduate School and announces to Program and Department lists. Student invites friends/colleagues, sends reminders to Committee one month and one week in advance of defense date. Student circulates final draft to Chair and all committee members at least one month in advance of defense. Student brings hard copies of complete dissertation to defense for each faculty member to facilitate discussion, in addition to electronic copies that have been circulated.

12) Student completes revisions recommended by Committee during defense and returns final draft to Chair for approval no later than three months following defense date. Chair returns approved copy no later than one month after submission by student.

13) Student files all required materials including hard copy of dissertation with the Graduate School no later than the end of the semester following the defense.

For further information, call (413) 545-5808, or write to Professor Jeremi Szaniawski, Graduate Program Director, Comparative Literature Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst MA 01003 (@email).