Advising
In the course of the five-year program, students work closely with various faculty members, first through class work, then in preparing qualifying papers, the dissertation prospectus, and the dissertation. The faculty regularly reviews the progress of each student. The first formal review in the student's graduate career occurs at the end of the first year, after the qualifying exams. The second formal review occurs after the defense of the first qualifying paper in the second year. The results of these reviews, and advice regarding continuing progress, are communicated to the student by the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS).
Each student in the first and second years must consult with the DGS about their course of studies: the DGS is responsible for monitoring the progress of students in their first and second years.
By the beginning of the third year, each student, in consultation with the DGS, must choose a Research advisor who will monitor the student's progress and advise the student. This advisor is typically chosen in the specific major field the student intends to pursue, and is often the supervisor for one of the QPs. After the second QP is complete, each student should choose a dissertation advisor, in consultation with the department. The dissertation advisor helps the student prepare the dissertation prospectus and the dissertation. There is no presumption that the Research advisor chosen in the third year will necessarily become the Dissertation advisor, though this possibility is not excluded.