The three-hour Oral Qualifying Examination is required by the University for advancement to candidacy. As administered in DCRP, the oral qualifying exam is split between questions covering the student’s inside and outside fields (see above) and questions regarding the student’s planned dissertation research as outlined in their PhD prospectus. Most PhD students take their orals in their third year.

This prospectus should describe the purpose of the dissertation; theoretical and empirical questions and hypotheses to be addressed; the significance of those questions/ hypotheses; ideas in existing literatures and how they relate to the dissertation research; a detailed research design; and a proposed dissertation outline. The prospectus is normally 25 to 30 pages in length, plus references and bibliography. The prospectus should be refined by the student in consultation with members of the oral qualifying Examination Committee.