How long will a PhD program take?
The coursework for the PhD takes two years (one if coursework is waived due to a previous MA). In the third year, students take their oral field exams in the Autumn and propose their dissertation topics in the Spring Quarter. Beyond the third year, students research and write the dissertation. It is possible to complete the entire PhD program, without an MA waiver, in five years. However, more typically, students spend seven to eight years in the PhD program. The amount of time needed to complete the program varies greatly, depending on the field of study, language work required, teaching/working during the degree program, and self motivation.
