Course Requirements. For the general requirements for the Ph.D. degree, see the “Degree Regulations ” section in this Bulletin.

The Ph.D. degree requires 32 units beyond the CGU M.A., including two additional seminars.

Folio. The folio is the main basis for determining whether a student has acquired the abilities necessary for dissertation work. It should demonstrate the student’s mastery of technical skills, capacity for both original and exegetical work, and breadth of knowledge. It consists of three 4,000- to 5,000-word papers on topics formulated by the student with consultation of the faculty. Formal approval of these topics must be secured at least one semester before the folio is submitted. A dissertation prospectus should be submitted with the folio, and the student is advanced to candidacy after passing a qualifying oral examination that concentrates on, but is not restricted to, the folio and the dissertation prospectus. Students normally write the folio in their third year of study.

Language and Research Tools. Students must demonstrate a reading knowledge of two foreign languages before scheduling the qualifying oral examination on the folio.

With the advisor’s approval, a Ph.D. student may substitute the second language requirement with Digital Humanities (HUM 340), (research tool). No degree units will be given for this research tool. This workshop is normally offered during the summer session.

Transdisciplinary Course Requirement. All students who enter the doctoral program after the fall 2004 semester are required to complete the transdisciplinary course requirement within the first two years of their program. For details on the requirement, see the “Doctor of Philosophy Degree ” section in this Bulletin.

Preliminary Oral Examination. On the basis of the dissertation prospectus and the qualifying oral examination, the qualifying examination committee recommends a dissertation supervisory committee to direct work on the dissertation. No later than one year after advancement to candidacy, the student takes a preliminary oral examination designed to test the viability of the proposed dissertation and the student’s command of the area in which the dissertation falls.

Final Oral Examination. When the dissertation supervisory committee decides that the dissertation is complete and ready for defense, the dean of the school approves a committee to conduct the final oral examination. This examination is open to all interested students and faculty, and is designed to test both the quality of the dissertation and the candidate’s general philosophical competence. The Ph.D. degree is awarded only if the committee approves both the dissertation and the oral examination.