Orals Orals are a defense of a dissertation prospectus, where the student presents a 20-minute overview of the dissertation thesis, and is quizzed for the remaining hour to two hours by a panel of professors.
Orals are to be scheduled, at the earliest, sometime in the third year.
In reality, orals may be taken as late as sometime in the fifth or sixth year. This is not a good idea. When students schedule orals is a function of risk aversion, secured funding for dissertation research, and the advice of one's major professor. Officially, the scheduling of orals is a function of normative time. Ask Gail about this when you are serious about taking orals.