Students are responsible for putting together their dissertation committee, which normally consists of four members: one director and two readers from the Department of Romance Languages, and one reader from another department. Students must submit a form—either digitally or on paper—two weeks before the defense of the prospectus or by week 7 at the latest—with the signature of each member of this committee, verifying that they have received the final draft of the prospectus and agree to serve on the committee.

Students will submit a ten- to fourteen-page prospectus accompanied by a substantial research bibliography of primary and secondary material to the dissertation committee members in the term following successful completion of their PhD Exam. This prospectus should define the scope of the dissertation; demonstrate the significance and originality of the project; explain the methodology and theoretical grounding; and provide a short summary of each chapter and its main arguments. Occasionally, a student may choose to have two co-directors in the Department of Romance Languages (plus two additional members, one from the department and one from another department).

Students are responsible for putting together their dissertation committee, which normally consists of four members: one director and two readers from the Department of Romance Languages, and one reader from another UO department. Students are expected to consult with each of their committee members while drafting the prospectus. The defense of the Prospectus must be scheduled by week 2 of that term, and it must occur by week 10. Students must submit a form - either digitally or on paper - two weeks before the defense of the prospectus or by week 7 at the latest -- with the signature of each member of this committee, verifying that they have received the final draft of the prospectus and agree to serve on the committee.

Once the dissertation director notifies the PhD candidate in writing that all members of the committee have approved the prospectus, the candidate will schedule a meeting with the dissertation committee members for a presentation and discussion of the prospectus. Following this conversation, the candidate will make final revisions to the prospectus. Once the committee has given its final approval, the student will file the prospectus with the department.

It is the candidate’s responsibility to have a dissertation committee in place and to have filed all necessary documents with the Graduate School six months before the dissertation defense. Upon completion of the Prospectus Defense, the student will be advanced to candidacy.

Any student making significant changes to the dissertation project after the final approval of the prospectus must schedule a meeting with the dissertation committee before proceeding.