While discussion of proposed dissertation research may be of substantial importance, such discussions can rarely in themselves satisfy the requirements of the Preliminary Examination. With these general policies of the Graduate College in mind, we regard the Preliminary Examination as an opportunity to test a student's intensive work in specific areas of interest as part of the preparation for the writing of the dissertation. We encourage students to register for six hours of independent study with their committee chair during their last semester of course work and to take their prelims at the end of that semester or during the first semester after they complete course work. However, we recommend that students contact the Administrative Assistant for the Graduate Literature Program one year before they plan to take their prelims so that she can review the process with them. We recommend that students complete their language requirement before they take the Preliminary Exam.
Students select five members of the literature faculty to serve on their committee.
The student's mentor serves as chair of the committee. The Preliminary Exam consists of a written portion and an oral portion. Students prepare examination reading lists for each of these examination areas in consultation and with the approval of their committee members. Students write the examination in three parts, with one part devoted to the Period, a second to the Genre, and a third to the Major Authors. Each part is written during a four-hour period, and each is usually scheduled on a separate day.