The spring session is devoted to shorter reading courses and thesis-writing workshops. Throughout the year students are provided guidance to individual and group research and to the discussion of their results. Members of the faculty offer guidance, assistance and supervision for the students own creative work and information on fields students may not have studied earlier. The department seeks to ensure that the courses chosen will most effectively balance specific research interests with interdisciplinary training. A tentative program for the entire year is individually discussed and designed for each student in September.
Minor changes reflecting new interests on the part of the student are always possible.
PhD program normally lasts for three years. Students admitted to the doctoral program become probationary doctoral candidates. Once these requirements are fulfilled, students become doctoral candidates and are allowed two years to complete their doctoral theses. The Doctoral Support Program is open to graduate students registered in an accredited PhD program at an institution of higher education. Positions are held on either a semester or academic year basis.