American Studies - Doctor of Philosophy

Complete a minimum of 21 credits from the following:
All of the following courses (9 credits):
Writing and Publishing American Studies Scholarship
American Studies Theory, Methods, and Bibiolography
Special Topics in American Studies
One of the following courses (3 credits):
Comparative Ethnic Studies (D)
Popular Culture Studies
An 800-level methods course in another discipline may be used towards this requirement with approval fo the director of the Program in American Studies.
Complete an additional 9 credits in courses at the 400-level or above outside of the Program in American Studies, usually concentrated in a single field or discipline. The student's guidance committee may require additional course work and an additional discipline or area of study.
Pass written comprehensive examinations over three fields and an oral comprehensive examination that covers all three of those fields.
A student who fails a written comprehensive examination has one opportunity to retake that same examination. The examination must be retaken before the end of the semester following the one in which the examination was failed.
Within two weeks of passing the third written comprehensive examination, the student must take an oral comprehensive examination.
All of the comprehensive examinations must be completed within one calendar year from the date that the first written comprehensive examination was taken.
Demonstrate competence in one foreign language approved by the student's guidance committee and the Director of American Studies.
Students whose focus of study involves cross–cultural research related to countries or groups of people in which a language other than English is essential must demonstrate competence in that language.
Students whose focus of study does not involve cross–cultural research may, with the approval of their guidance committees, complete additional course work in an area of study relevant to their research in lieu of demonstrating competence in a foreign language.
Submit a dissertation prospectus or abstract no longer than 10 pages to the guidance committee no later than the end of the semester following the one in which the student passed all of the comprehensive examinations. Approval of the prospectus or abstract is required before the student may continue work on the dissertation.
Pass the oral examination in defense of the dissertation.