Early-April: Deadline for submitting materials to be reviewed at the April CHD meetings.
Note: The April CHD meeting is the last CHD meeting in all academic year. CHD does not meet over the summer. Remember to plan ahead.
Second year (G2)
Throughout year
Teaching Fellows (TFing):
G2’s are required to serve as a Teaching Fellow in either the Fall or Spring semester.
Make sure you complete the TF form once you line up a TF position!
Qualifying Exam:
G2’s are required to take their qualifying exam in either the Fall or Spring terms.
Email quals_defenses@seas to book a room. If you book your own room (e.g., external to SEAS) you must still email quals_defenses@seas well in advance in order for your required documentation to be ready, else your exam cannot take place.
If you plan to request a delay of the qualifying exam, complete a Request to Delay Qual Exam form. Note that delays until September (i.e. start of G3 year) are typically approved as a matter of course
Fall
Mid-September: Course Registration Deadline (previously known as "Study Card Day"). See the GSAS Policies Academic Calendar.
May:Commencement and diploma options for Masters en Route / Continuing Master’s students - You can apply to receive your S.M. degree en route to your PhD after you have completed eight of your core courses (this requirement may depend on area). You will receive your S.M. diploma, and participate in the Commencement if you choose to. However since you will be considered a non-terminal degree recipient, you will not be able to join the ceremony in Sander's Theater.
Third year (G3+) and beyond
Throughout year
Meet with your Research Committee at least annually, as indicated by your area's expectations.
Send any changes to your Final Program Plan to the CHD for review. See the CHD page for submission dates. Note thatthe Committee on Higher Degrees expects students not to petition for a revised Program Plan less than a year prior to the final defense in case additional coursework is required, so it's important to keep your plan up to date with your courses as actually taken.
If you schedule your own room (e.g., external to SEAS) you must still email quals_defenses@seaswell in advance in order for your required documentation to be ready, else your defense cannot take place. You must also get agreement from your full committee to hold your defense in a non-SEAS room.
The best way to share your dissertation with others is by linking to the DASH copy. DASH uses persistent URLs and provides you with download statistics, and the DASH copy of your PDF will not include the signed Dissertation Acceptance Certificate (DAC). If you choose to post or share your PDF in some other way, you should remove the DAC page so that readers do not have access to the scanned signatures.
Get ready for commencement by updating your email and other contact information via my.harvard.edu.