In the third year, field course work should be completed and dissertation research begun. Highly motivated students can complete the doctoral program in four years, though five years is more likely. The department is committed to helping place students in the academic or non-academic job markets at the appropriate time. The doctoral curriculum for a typical student is given below. Field exams are given upon completion of the field course work.
Students have two chances to pass each exam.
Students who fail twice on a core theory exam will be dismissed from the Ph.D. program. Students failing a field exam twice will have one chance in an alternative field.