Purpose of the Prospectus After completing comprehensive exams, all Ph.D. students must write and defend a dissertation prospectus—a formal, written plan for the dissertation project. The prospectus is not a binding contract, but a road map: a tentative and strategic document that outlines the student's intended direction for research and writing. It should help students clarify the scope, significance, and logistics of the dissertation before fully immersing themselves in research and writing. A successful prospectus offers an informed starting point that reflects deep engagement with the relevant literature and preliminary sources, while also remaining open to change as the project develops. Timeline and Committee Structure As early as possible in the first full semester (excluding summer) after completing comprehensive exams, students should submit a first draft of the prospectus to their major professor. Students are encouraged to plan well in advance, allowing time for thoughtful revisions and multiple rounds of feedback. Students must form or confirm a dissertation advisory committee of at least three faculty members, including the major professor as chair. A fourth member may be added with the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies. Committee composition must comply with Graduate School guidelines (see “Major Professor and Advisory Committee”). The final version of the prospectus must be distributed to the entire advisory committee at least one month before the end of the semester in which students defend it. Content and Format The dissertation prospectus should be 12 to 15 double-spaced pages in length (approximately 3,000–4,500 words, not including bibliography) and should demonstrate that the student is prepared to undertake a viable and significant research project. The prospectus must include the following components: Project Description – A clear articulation of the dissertation topic and guiding research questions. Justification of the Project – A rationale for the project’s historical significance and historiographical contribution. Preliminary Research – A brief summary of the sources consulted or discoveries made during preliminary investigation. Methodology and Framework – An explanation of the analytical approaches, theoretical foundations, or interpretive methods to be used. Primary Sources – A survey of relevant archival materials, published sources, and digital collections to be consulted. Archival Plan – A concrete plan for how and when the student will access key archives, including travel expectations and anticipated challenges. Projected Outcomes – A brief discussion of what the dissertation aims to demonstrate or argue, while acknowledging its tentative nature. Bibliography – A preliminary list of primary and secondary sources demonstrating familiarity with relevant historiography. The bibliography is not included in the word count. Prospectus Defense The student must schedule a prospectus defense with the full advisory committee no later than the end of the semester in which the final prospectus is submitted. At least one week before the defense, the student must notify the Director of Graduate Studies and Graduate Program Administrator of the date, time, and location of the defense. During the defense, the student will present the project and receive guidance, feedback, and constructive criticism from the committee. The goal is to refine the research plan and ensure its feasibility. Approval of the prospectus requires agreement from all committee members, with no more than one dissenting vote. Upon approval, the signed prospectus approval form must be submitted to the Graduate Program Administrator for the student’s file. Revisions and Progress Review If the committee does not approve the prospectus, the student must submit a substantially revised version within one month. If the revised version is again not approved, the student will be transferred to the M.A. program. The Graduate Studies Committee, in consultation with the advisory committee, will review the status of any student who has not completed the prospectus defense by the midpoint of their fourth year. In such cases, funding may not be renewed unless the student and committee submit a written plan for defending the prospectus in the following semester.
