Georgetown University

Department of History

Graduate Student Guide

2004-2005

Rev 9/22/04

Contents

1.0 Program Requirements

1.1 Mentors and Advisory Committees

1.2 Fields of Study

1.3 Course Work

1.4 Language Requirements and Examinations

1.5 Comprehensive Examinations

1.6 Dissertation

2.0 Professional Training

2.1 Fellowships, Assistantships and Scholarships

2.2 Teaching Assistants

2.3 Other Awards and Grants

2.4 Membership on Committees

2.5 Part-Time Teaching

2.6 Academic Conferences

3.0 Administrative Details

3.1 Registration

3.2 Appeal Procedure

3.3 Graduation

3.4 Dossiers and Job Searches

3.5 The Office and Environment

The Graduate Student Guide provides recommendations and advice for those enrolled in the History Ph.D. program at Georgetown University. It outlines the basic structure of the program, offers suggestions for various procedures, and clarifies the academic requirements and administrative procedures of the History Department. It should be utilized as a supplement to the university's Graduate School Bulletin.

Students should also familiarize themselves with the principal administrators of the History Ph.D. program for the upcoming academic year:

Department Contacts:

Prof. John Tutino	Department Chair

Prof. John McNeill	Director of Graduate Studies

Ms. Sara Scalenghe	Assistant to the DGS

Ms. Kathleen Gallagher	Administrative Officer

Ms. Elizabeth G. English	Administrative Assistant

Ms. Djuana Shields	Office Assistant

Graduate Studies Committee (GSC):

Prof. John McNeill	Chair

Prof. John Tutino	Latin America

Prof. Adam Rothman	United States

Prof. Aviel Roshwald	Modern Europe

Prof. James Collins	Early Modern Europe

Prof. Judith Tucker	Middle East

Prof. Andrzej Kaminski (fall)	Russia/Eastern Europe

Prof. Catherine Evtuhov (sprg)

Prof. John Witek	Asia

Ms. Alissa Chase	Graduate Student Rep.

Mr. Kevin Powers	Graduate Student Rep.

Ph: (202) 687-6061

Fx: (202) 687-7245

www.georgetown.edu/departments/history

Executive Summary

We hope that what follows in the Graduate Student Guide is helpful, and we wish you every success in the challenges of the History Ph.D. program. Students should be familiar with all rules and regulations in the Guide and n the Bulletin of the Graduate School. You, not your Mentor or your Advisory Committee or your classroom professors or your lead teacher, are responsible for your knowledge of these rules. This summary provides a brief list of the most critical information.

Requirements:

12 courses (minimum 3.3 GPA); pass two language exams (exception: U.S. field, one language); Comprehensive Exams; dissertation.

Funding:

In all cases, you should consult the full description in the body of the Guide.

University Fellowships: five years of stipend; seven years of tuition. University Fellows are exempt from service in two of the five years of the award.

Renewable Teaching Assistantships:

Stipend five years, tuition for seven years; awarded on entry to the program. Grantees must maintain an A- average (3.67 gpa), complete degree requirements on time, and do satisfactory work as teaching assistants to be renewed. Those who meet these criteria are automatically renewed.

Competitive Teaching Assistantships:

The department awards some one-year teaching assistantships, based on an annual competition. Such grants are not renewable, but those who hold such an assistantship may re-enter the competition in succeeding years.

In accordance with Graduate School policy, a teaching assistantship includes teaching responsibilities.

Scholarships:

The department offers tuition scholarships to some students; such support is based on an annual competition but the department makes every effort to continue tuition support once begun.

Advising:

The mentor and three members of the Ordinary Faculty serve as Advisory Committee, which must meet at least once per year, usually in late spring. It is the student's responsibility to arrange the meeting. Changes in a student's program require the approval of the Advisory Committee. The Graduate Student Advisory form is completed at this meeting, signed, and given to the Administrative Officer. Students who have not completed these forms will be considered in irregular status and ineligible for financial aid of any kind.

Language Exams:

Incoming students must take a language exam during orientation, and must pass a language exam before the end of the first year of study. For non-native speakers of English, the TOEFL counts as a foreign language exam; non-native speakers of English who have obtained an American or Anglophone university degree get credit for EFL. Native speakers of a language other than English and relevant to the course of study receive credit for that language proficiency.

Course Work:

Students take a two-semester seminar in the Major and the one-semester Core Colloquium. Maximum of three courses can be done before entering program; see section on Advanced Standing.

Comprehensives:

Comps are taken in the third or fourth year. There are two chances: if you fail twice, you are out.

Dissertation:

Your Dissertation Committee must have at least three members, two of whom must be members of the Ordinary Faculty. The Mentor must be a member of the Ordinary Faculty of the History Department; no exceptions, so don't even ask. You may have an additional member on the Committee, at the discretion of the Committee. If you have more than one person from outside Georgetown University's Ordinary Faculty, you must have written permission from the Chair of the Department.

Grades:

A: superior work; A-: expected level of work; B+: barely acceptable work; B: unacceptable work. Students are expected to maintain an average of A- or better.

Incompletes:

Avoid incompletes. Two incompletes automatically disqualify a student from financial aid. Graduate assistants who have two Incompletes forfeit their grant.

1.0 PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

The requirements of the History Ph.D. program at Georgetown University have four components, each of which must be successfully completed within the course of seven years of full time study: at least two foreign language examinations (exception: those in the U.S. field must pass only one language exam); 36 hours of relevant graduate-level course work; a series of written and oral comprehensive examinations; and a dissertation. Scholarly integrity is the essence of our profession, and Georgetown expects the student to conform to the University's Honor Code throughout this program of study. Cases of plagiarism or other academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of the Graduate School (see http://www.georgetown.edu/grad/current/regulations/reg_7.htm or Graduate School Bulletin for details of how cases are adjudicated). In almost all cases, the penalty for plagiarism is dismissal.

1.1 MENTORS AND ADVISORY COMMITTEES

Director of Graduate Studies (DGS):

During orientation incoming Ph.D. candidates meet individually with the DGS. At that time, they agree on appropriate Mentor and Advisory Committees as outlined below. The DGS continues to serve as the main administrator and final arbitrator of the Graduate Studies Program in his/her capacity as Chair of the Graduate Studies Committee. Although the Mentor and the Advisory Committee will henceforth assume the most direct role in the Ph.D. candidate's course of study, the DGS will continue to serve as a member ex officio of the Advisory Committee, and may attend meetings either at his/her own initiative or at the invitation of any of the advisors or the student.

Mentor:

This individual is selected from the Ordinary Faculty of the History Department. The Mentor assumes the primary role in launching the postgraduate career of the Ph.D. candidate. The Mentor supervises the student's Research Field and chairs three successive committees: the Advisory Committee, which helps direct the student's choice of courses; the Comprehensive Examination Committee; and the Dissertation Committee.

Over the course of study, the Ph.D. candidate may change Mentors. Although the Mentor will normally serve as Chair of the committees, the student, with the approval of the Advisory Committee, may designate another member of that Committee as Chair of the Advisory Committee or the Comprehensive Committee. The Mentor must be Chair of the Dissertation Committee.

Advisory Committee:

In consultation with the Mentor and the DGS, the student will select an Advisory Committee consisting of four or five faculty members, including the Mentor. These individuals should represent each of the student's four fields of study: Major, Research (represented by the Mentor), Minor, and Collateral. The mentor, in consultation with the student, may add the fifth member as a representative of any one of the fields of that is appropriate to the student's program of study.

In addition to guiding the student through his/her program of study, the members of the Advisory Committee also form the board for the comprehensive examinations. For that reason, the Ph.D. candidate is advised to take at least one course with each faculty member of the Advisory Committee. Informal contacts and consultations between students and their Mentors and faculty advisors are also encouraged.

The composition of the Advisory Committee may be modified at any time to conform to changes in a student's program and interests, or the availability and willingness of individual faculty members to serve. Personal incompatibility between a student and a faculty member may also result in a change in its composition. The Advisory Committee, the Ph.D. candidate, and the DGS must agree in writing to any such changes in its composition.

Meetings:

The Department relies on the Advisory Committee as the main source of guidance for the student from the time of his/her entry into the program until the completion of the comprehensive examinations. The Advisory Committee meets with the student on a regular basis, but at least once each year -- typically late in the spring semester -- to assist him/her with course selection, other matters concerning the intended program of study, and an application when appropriate for financial aid during the following academic year. It is the student's responsibility to arrange these meetings, though other meetings may be scheduled as needed at the request of the student or any member of the Advisory Committee. As part of this annual meeting a Graduate Student Advisory Form, is completed, by the Mentor, and submitted to the Administrative Officer.

1.2 FIELDS OF STUDY

Field Selection:

The History Ph.D. program requires students to prepare themselves in four interrelated fields of study. These fields are fulfilled through the completion of course work and comprehensive examinations. Upon entering the Ph.D. program, students will meet with their Mentor and Advisory Committee to select and design four fields of study from among the following groupings:

Major Fields: Modern Europe, Medieval and Early Modern Europe, Russia and Eastern Europe, Middle East and North Africa, East Asia, United States, Latin America, and Other (e.g. Atlantic);

Research Fields: A region, period, or theme within the Major Field that is of direct relevance to the planned dissertation topic;

Minor Fields: A second geographic field selected from the list of Major Fields with the additional choice of Africa; it must be outside the regional focus of the Major and Research fields;

Collateral Fields: Focusing on theme and method, this field may be developed within History, in a related other discipline, or it may be a combination of both. If pursued within History, the Collateral Field must deal substantially with regions outside the Major and Research fields.

Course Distribution:

There are no established credit hour requirements for any of these four fields of study. However, there is a maximum of nine credit hours for which a student can be granted advanced standing, and the research seminar must be taken in the Major Field of study.

1.3 COURSE WORK

Course Requirements:

Ph.D. candidates must complete 36 hours of graduate course work at the 500 course level or higher. As a rule, that requires the successful completion of 3 courses during each semester of the first two years of study. Each student must complete the Core Colloquium (one semester) and a two-semester research seminar in his/her Major Field. The remaining course work is selected with the guidance of the Mentor and Advisory Committee.

If course offerings in a given semester are limited, graduate students may approach a faculty member within the department to create a specialized tutorial; they may look outside the History Department at offerings in other fields of study within Georgetown University; or they can look outside the university to course offerings at other Ph.D. programs through the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area. It is possible to register for a course at Consortium universities provided that such a course is not offered at Georgetown and is necessary for the program of study.

Lists of course offerings at other universities in the Washington, D.C. area are available at the Registrar's Office, at the front desk of the History Department, and on the World Wide Web. Students must register and pay for such courses as if they were Georgetown courses. Consult the Graduate School Bulletin for additional details.

Advanced Standing:

Students entering the program with an M.A. in History or with previous Ph.D. graduate credits earned at Georgetown University or at another recognized institution can petition to earn up to nine hours of advanced standing with the consent of the faculty Advisory Committee. A maximum of six hours of advanced standing will be granted in any one field of study (major, minor, or collateral). Generally, this process is done during the first semester of enrollment in the program, and the advanced standing is applied towards the second year of full time study.

Upon the presentation of appropriate documentation by the student (usually a syllabus and papers from the course and the Petition to Change in Program), the Advisory Committee will deliberate and make a written recommendation to the DGS. It will then be forwarded to the Graduate School for further review. The student's Advisory Committee, however, may still require additional course work beyond the remaining credit hours. The Graduate School stipulates that students whose remaining course work requirement is 30 or more credits will be permitted seven years from matriculation to complete the doctoral degree; under some discussion is their current policy that less than 30 credits needed mandates a five year limit.

Grades:

Students holding renewable University Fellowships or Assistantships must maintain an "A-" average. Failure to do so will result in non-renewal of the financial support (Consult Section 2.1).

All Ph.D. candidates are expected to achieve grade of "B+" or better in each course.. The attainment of a "B" or lower grade in any course is considered cause for concern and may generate a review of the student's work by his/her Mentor and/or Advisory Committee. Students with average grades of "B" or lower will be asked to withdraw from the program.

Courses in which grades of "C" or lower are earned will not be counted by the Department toward a student's required total number of credits. If a "C" grade is earned in a course that is required for the Ph.D. program, it will be necessary for the student to at the minimum repeat the course; additionally the GSC to review the student's status and, in most cases, ask the student to leave the program.

Incompletes:

There are occasions when a limited extension of time is needed to complete course work. Illness or family emergencies may justify the granting of an "I" (Incomplete) grade. However, students should never assume that an "I" will be granted. Arrangements must be made in advance with the instructor, and students should realize that some faculty members as a matter of policy do not grant incompletes except in cases of dire medical or personal emergency.

If a professor has granted an "I", the work must be completed by the end of the following semester. Although the departmental regulations allow an entire semester to complete the "I", instructors may impose narrower time restrictions.

As a rule, the History Department enforces the rules of the Graduate School regarding incomplete course work. Any course requirement which is not resolved according to the above schedule will become a "Permanent Incomplete." Any student with more than one incomplete will not be allowed to register at the start of the following semester. Furthermore, an "I" grade which is not resolved according to the above schedule will be considered an "F" grade, and the course will not be counted for credit. The student will need to take another course to make up for the lost credits and will not be eligible for aid.

Students on fellowship are not permitted to take "I" grades under any circumstances; the only exceptions are medical and personal emergencies for which special arrangements have been made or the unusual circumstance of a faculty member's own failure to submit grades on time to the registrar (See Section 2.1).

Graduate Studies Committee (GSC):

The GSC will review regularly the academic records of all Ph.D. candidates taking classes to determine whether they are making adequate progress. When overall course work is below the "B+" level, or when "C", "F", or "I" grades are present on the transcript, the DGS will issue a written warning. In general, a record with one or more "B" grades will result in a request that the student's Advisory Committee meet with him/her to make recommendations to the student and to the GSC concerning that individual's academic status and future in the Ph.D. program.

1.4 LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATIONS

The language examinations for the History Ph.D. program are designed to determine a student's ability to read and understand professional material appropriate to his/her fields of research. The Department places considerable emphasis upon the mastery of languages appropriate to a student's area of concentration.

Requirements:

During their program of study, all students (except U.S. History Majors) must demonstrate competency in at least two foreign languages relevant to the student's program of study. For students whose native language is not English, it may be possible to have the TOEFL serve as one of those requirements. In other cases, proven ability in the use of a computer language relevant to the research needs of the student may be accepted in place of a foreign language. In all such special circumstances, a determination will be made on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the student's faculty Advisory Committee and the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS).

Competency in two languages is a minimum requirement for the Ph.D. program, and proof of additional language competency may be required if the Mentor and/or Advisory Committee deem it necessary. The Mentor should inform the DGS in writing if more than two foreign languages will be required and which languages are most appropriate for that Ph.D. candidate's course of study.

U.S. History Majors:

Ph.D. candidates majoring in U.S. history must typically pass only one foreign language examination. Some US students however whose areas of specialization require the mastery of additional languages will still be expected to pass an exam in a second language. Normally, this will be the language(s) of the countries whose relations with the United States form the basis of their dissertation research.

As soon as the Ph.D. candidate in U.S. History enters the program, the assigned Mentor should inform the DGS in writing if more than one foreign language will be required.

Examiners:

The Department Chair assigns certain faculty the responsibility of administering and grading the language examinations for a particular academic year. Anyone wishing to take an examination in a language not listed below should contact the DGS or the Administrative Officer. For 2004-2005, the available languages and assigned faculty examiners are as follows:

Arabic	Prof. Judith Tucker

Chinese	Prof. John Witek

French	Prof. James Collins

German	Prof. Kathryn Olesko

Italian	Prof. Tommaso Astarita

Japanese	tba

Latin	Prof. Joann Moran Cruz

Polish	Prof. Andrzej Kaminski

Russian	Prof. David Goldfrank

Spanish	Prof. Erick Langer

Deadlines:

Each student must pass at least one language examination before the end of the first academic year. Those who fail to do so have two options: they may take a leave of absence from the program, or they may take an intensive language program approved by the Department during the summer semester following their first year of study. In either case, they must pass the language examination prior to enrolling the following year or take a leave of absence until the first language examination is successfully passed. Students are required to pass the language most appropriate to their field of study during the course of their first academic year (e.g. those majoring in Modern Germany should pass their German exam, etc.)

The Graduate Studies Committee considers proven language competency especially important in its deliberations on fellowship awards and renewals. Students on fellowship and teaching assistantships, both renewable and annually competitive, who do not pass a language examination by the end of their first academic year will forfeit the fellowship. Similarly, any new awardees will find a specific sentence in the offer letter stating that the award is conditional on passing at least one language examination by the end of the first academic year.

Students who withdraw from the PhD program and seek a terminal M.A. must also pass at least one language examination as part of the requirements for that degree.

Joint Programs:

Students in the Joint History Ph.D./MAGES program are governed by rules specific to that program. As a rule, the History Department accepts the result of the MAGES German language examination, the MAAS Arabic language examination, the CERES Russian language examination, and the MSFS language examinations when taken in the joint MSFS/History M.A. program. However, MSFS/History M.A. students who have satisfied the language requirement while in the MSFS program and who subsequently transfer into the Ph.D. history program must re-take language examinations administered by the History Department.

Scheduling:

Language examinations are held four times each year. The first opportunity is during new student orientation in August. The other opportunities are late in the Fall semester, and during the first and last months of the Spring semester. Students are encouraged to take the examinations during these scheduled dates and times, although arrangements can be made on an individual basis.

Format:

The faculty member responsible for giving the examination in a particular language has the option of employing either a traditional translation or a reading comprehension format. The translation examination involves a passage of fixed length, while a reading examination comprises a passage and a series of related questions that are both asked and answered in English. In Western European languages the reading passages are 8-15 pages in length. In other languages, the length of the passage is left to the discretion of the faculty examiner because of the greater time generally needed to read non-European languages.

In either case, the examination lasts between 1.5 and 2.5 hours, and both formats are graded on a simple pass/fail basis. Whichever format is chosen, all examinations given that year in that language must be in the same format (translation or comprehension). In exceptional cases, such as Chinese, students may be required to pass a two-part examination. The exams are usually graded within 48 hours.

1.5 COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATIONS

Students intending to take the Comprehensive Examinations in a given academic year are expected to inform the DGS, and the Administrative Officer within the first two weeks of the academic year.

Comprehensive Examination Committee:

The four faculty members who form the original Advisory Committee for the Ph.D. candidate also form the Comprehensive Examination Committee. Acting as representatives of each of the four fields of study, they are responsible for testing the student's knowledge derived from course work as well as from additional study done in preparation for the examinations. They also assess the student's ability to synthesize scholarly material and discuss analytically knowledge of the assigned fields.

Eligibility:

In order to take the PhD Comprehensive Examinations, a student must have completed all required course work and language exams and have no outstanding incompletes. The department opposes any last-minute completion of eligibility requirements and tries to avoid situations where a student is working on incompletes or studying a foreign language when he/she should be focused on preparing for the Comprehensive Examinations.

Scheduling:

Comprehensive Examinations are normally administered after the completion of all course work sometime during the third year of doctoral study and are intended to test a student's knowledge and analytical ability in each of the four fields of study. They combine a minimum of two and a maximum of three written examinations with one oral examination, all of which are administered during the course of a single semester.

The preferred times for the oral examinations are Tuesdays, Thursdays (except 1-3 pm), and Friday mornings due to the availability of ICC 662. Once a Comprehensive Examination has been scheduled, the date can be changed only in an emergency, and it is the responsibility of whomever has requested the change to arrange the rescheduling and inform everyone involved: the Chair, DGS, Administrative Officer, other Comprehensive Examination Committee members, and the student.

Preparations:

Students preparing for Comprehensive Examinations should meet regularly with each of the faculty members on their Comprehensive Examination Committee. It is essential that the student and each faculty examiner agree on the breadth and emphasis of the reading lists and the format of each of the written examinations, including how many questions will be offered and answered, the length and format of the written answers, and the time frame allowed to complete them (48 or 72 hours). To assist graduate students preparing for their Comprehensive Examinations, the following advice is offered:

Major and Research Fields:

The student must demonstrate mastery in these two fields that would enable him/her to teach a specialized upper-level undergraduate course, participate effectively in a discussion by specialists, and gain a clear idea of the context for his/her dissertation research. Preparation of a reading list comprising 60-120 titles for each Major and Research Field examiner is usually recommended. Mastery is demonstrated through knowledge of major historiographical debates and primary sources, including foreign language materials. It is usually recommended that students review all major academic journals in their field in order to keep abreast of the latest scholarship. They should also familiarize themselves with the basic chronology and most useful survey texts in the field.

Minor and Collateral Fields: The student must demonstrate sufficient competence in these two fields to teach an undergraduate survey course. This would be demonstrated by depth of knowledge of several major historiographical issues and some breadth of reading. Preparation of a reading list comprising approximately 40-60 well chosen monographs on at least three historiographical issues of importance for each Minor and Collateral Field examiner is usually recommended. Students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with major journals that carry articles about the field and relevant survey texts.

Written Examinations:

Students take written examinations in two fields: Research and Collateral or Minor; the concentration for the second exam will be determined based on close consultation among the student, the mentor, and the advisory committee. The faculty member devising the written exams, after consultation with the student, will determine the number and length of essay questions and the time allotted to complete the examination.

Usually, the written examinations are distributed by hand or e-mail by the Administrative Officer. Completed examinations must be returned to the Administrative Officer by hand or e-mail after the designated hours for the exam.

Students must leave a minimum of two weeks between the start dates of each examination, including the oral. Under normal circumstances, therefore, the minimum time required to complete the entire examination process is six weeks and the maximum length of time allowed for completion is a single semester.

Grading of Written Examinations:

Professors have 48 hours to assess written examinations, grade them as pass or fail, and return them to the Administrative Officer. Graded exams must remain in custody of the Administrative Officer, but students are allowed to read the comments of the examiner. Once the process has started, students take all written exams. If the student has failed any of the written exams, the Comprehensive Examination Committee must meet to determine if the student will be allowed to continue for the Oral Examination. If the Committee determines that the student has failed a written exam, only the failed exam must be retaken. The Committee reserves the right to allow the student to take the Oral Examination if the written exams, taken as a whole, merit such a course of action.

Oral Examination:

The four faculty members who comprise the Comprehensive Examination Committee will meet as soon as possible after the last written examination has been successfully completed to determine if, taken as a whole, the student's performance during the first portion of the process justifies continuing on to the Oral Examination. If they recommend against continuing, they will discuss with the student how best to proceed in rescheduling the oral examination at a later time.

The Oral Examination is considered the final stage of the comprehensive examination process. Although questions will focus on the Major field of study, they may also extend into the student's entire body of knowledge. All four members of the Comprehensive Examination Committee will read all written examinations completed prior to that date, participate in the Oral Examination, and vote on the outcome. Upon completion of the Oral Examination, the members of the Comprehensive Examination Committee will ask the student to leave the room so they can discuss privately his/her performance. No guests are permitted to attend Oral Examinations.

If a faculty member is unable to attend the Oral Examination for any reason, and advance notice cannot be given to the student to reschedule prior to the scheduled date and time, the student will be given two options: proceed with the Oral Examination before the partial committee, with the process to be completed and decided upon with the missing faculty member at a later date; or postpone the entire process. In both cases, it will be the responsibility of the Chair of the Comprehensive Examination Committee, and not the student, to arrange a rescheduling of the date and time with the other faculty members.

Grading of Oral Examination:

Grading of the Oral Examination is done on a scale of "Distinction", "High Pass", "Pass", and "Fail." There may be no more than one dissenting vote for a grade of "Pass"; that vote may not be that of the Mentor. A grade of "Distinction" or "High Pass" requires a unanimous vote, and must be based on consideration of the student's total performance in both the written and oral portions of the Comprehensive Examination. In past years, only 10-20% have merited this distinction.

If the student fails the Oral Examination, he/she must discuss with the members of their Comprehensive Examination Committee when it can be rescheduled and how best to prepare. Written examinations do not need to be retaken if the Oral Examination is not passed on the first attempt. If the student fails on the second attempt to pass the Oral Examination, that individual will not be permitted to remain in the History Ph.D. program.

M.A. Comprehensive:

A small number of students decide to take an M.A. in History. The requirements for the M.A. are 30 hours of course work with a B average or better, demonstrated competence in one foreign language (TOEFL is acceptable for non-native speakers of English), and an M.A. Comprehensive Exam. The M.A. Comps consist of a one-hour exam in the major field, conducted by two members of the Ordinary Faculty of that field. Scheduling is done among the student, faculty members, and the Administrative Officer.

1.6 DISSERTATION

This is the main scholarly work required to complete the Ph.D. Students are expected to choose a viable subject and develop a detailed proposal not later than six months after completion of the Oral Comprehensive Examination.

Choosing a Topic:

It is vital that this topic not duplicate a published work, a completed but unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, or a dissertation already in progress at another university in the United States. For that reason, an appropriate bibliographical search should be made, including in specialized listings of relevant dissertations. Students should also consult closely with the faculty members of their Dissertation Committee.

Dissertation Committee:

The Dissertation Committee is comprised of at least three faculty members. This three-person committee is constituted at the outset – that is, when the dissertation proposal is finalized – and the Chair, and at least two of the three members including the Chair, must be drawn from the ranks of the Ordinary Faculty of the History Department. One member -- but not the Chair of the Dissertation Committee -- may be a professor from outside the department and/or the University who is recognized as an expert in the student's topic. In many cases the presence of an outside reader is even encouraged. Such an individual must be referred by the Mentor to the DGS for his/her approval, and if approved, the Department will provide an appropriate honorarium and cover travel and related costs at the time of the dissertation defense. If, in the judgment of the Dissertation Committee, a fourth member of the board would be appropriate, the Committee may appoint an individual of their choice. If the fourth member of the Committee is not a Georgetown faculty member, the Committee must obtain the written approval of the Chair of the department.

Whenever appropriate, the Mentor should schedule a meeting with the other two members of the Dissertation Committee to discuss the proposed topic and research plan with the student. Periodically, the student should also meet with these three faculty members, either individually or collectively, to update them on the progress of his/her research and writing. It is the student's responsibility to keep the Mentor and the other faculty members of the Dissertation Committee informed of progress and problems, and to set up a routine for reviewing drafts of the written work as it is produced.

Dissertation Proposal:

The student must prepare a proposal for his/her dissertation using the "Outline of Thesis or Dissertation" form, available from the Administrative Officer or the web site http://www.georgetown.edu/departments/history/gradresources.html. The student should also obtain comments and approval from the Dissertation Committee and have each member sign the form. The form itself must contain the following information:

1.	Title: Give the tentative title of your dissertation/thesis.

2.	Problem: State clearly and fully the problem you intend to investigate.

3.	Bibliography: List primary and secondary sources, grouped accordingly.

4. Review of Related Literature: State which items of the bibliography furnish the immediate background for your investigation, which closely related problems have been solved and by whom, other researchers of the topic and the extent of their work, and the beginning point of your own research.

5.	Procedure: Describe in detail your research plan.

6.	Probable Contents: State the probable chapter headings for your Table of Contents.

Students may choose, for the more complex questions, to append additional sheets to include more thorough responses.

Registering a Dissertation Topic:

Once the Dissertation Committee has approved the dissertation proposal, it should be submitted to the Administrative Officer for approval by the Chair. The proposal will then be registered with the Graduate School, and the title will be submitted to the American Historical Association for inclusion in the Directory of History Departments. Dissertation titles must be submitted to the Administrative Officer before June 1 in order to appear in the October edition of the AHA Directory.

Dissertation Defense:

When the dissertation is finished, and drafts have been accepted by all three faculty members of the Dissertation Committee, the final process of approval is a formal defense. The student must establish a date and time for all three faculty members of the Dissertation Committee to meet. This meeting is open to the public, but visitors are prohibited from doing anything more than hearing the defense. Both visitors and the Ph.D. candidate being examined must leave during the final deliberations by the Dissertation Committee. The Thesis Reviewers Report, which attests to the readiness-for-defense of the dissertation, must be signed by the mentor and submitted to the Graduate School at least one week prior to your defense.

The defense itself will focus on discussion of the content and methodology of the dissertation, and will run from 1-2 hours. It is History Department practice to hold the defense on the basis of a completed draft; any revisions to be made after the defense should only be minor ones.

When the dissertation has been approved by the Dissertation Committee, a final copy should be prepared according to the guidelines of the Graduate School, following these guidelines meticulously. Details about listing your work in Dissertation Abstracts and microfilming the contents are available from the Graduate School. Ph.D. candidates who wish to graduate in May must complete their defense by April 1.

2.1 FELLOWSHIP, ASSISTANTSHIPS, AND SCHOLARSHIPS

Administrative Procedures for Departmental Financial Aid:

During the spring semester, the Administrative Officer will distribute an application for financial aid to all graduate students. Students seeking financial aid should complete and submit the application. The application includes an academic plan for the course work in the following year and so must schedule a meeting with the Advisory Committee from which will emerge the Graduate Student Advisory Form. Applicants must also have a letter in their file from their Mentor and/or the Chair of their Advisory Committee. When applicable, a second letter from the faculty member to whom they were assigned as a Teaching/Research Assistant attesting to the quality of their work is also required. For more information, consult the Administrative Officer

Applications are reviewed by the GSC, whose faculty members will consult the applicant's academic record ("A-" is considered the minimum acceptable grade point average) and the faculty appraisals that are on file. Graduate students already on fellowship are evaluated first. Decisions of financial aid for students completing the first year of study are made only after second semester grades are available.

Georgetown University Fellowship Award:

Georgetown University Fellowship Awards are awarded annually to several truly distinguished candidates nominated by the department which they are entering. These awards differ from five-year Teaching Assistantship Awards in two ways: the stipend is more generous; and there is no service component during the first and fifth years of fellowship support.

Teaching Assistantship Award:

On average fifteen students are admitted to the History PhD program each year. Of those seven or eight usually receive five year Graduate School/Departmental Teaching Assistantship Awards. Such an award includes an annual stipend paid in eight equal payments (September to April), and tuition support. Students receiving these awards normally serve as Teaching Assistants assigned to work with members of the faculty. Typically students use this stipend during years one, two, and three, spent in course work and preparation for comprehensive exams. Students are expected to find external sources of research support for year four, and to use the remaining Georgetown stipend for research and dissertation support in the latter years of the program.

Annually Competitive Teaching Assistantships:

The GSC usually awards competitive Teaching Assistantships to some continuing, non-funded students. This highly competitive process occurs in late May/early June. The GSC evaluates students based on their grades and on letters of assessment from relevant faculty. There are one or two such awards each year, so the competition is intense. Students receiving such an award must meet the same criteria as renewable Teaching Assistants. All students, but especially first-year students, are encouraged to complete spring course work on time because those grades are essential to a full evaluation of any application for financial support in the following year.

Competitive Scholarships:

The History Department offers tuition support independently of stipend support. These awards are competitively available to students progressing within the seven-year time limit, are dependent on availability of funds, and are awarded only after the department has provided tuition support for teaching assistants, university fellows, and non-resident thesis research support for any student who has received an external grant for research. The awards are then made in accordance with the following priorities:

thesis research support for students in the semester of comprehensive examinations or dissertation defense;

thesis research for students preparing for comps or dissertation defense;

course work for students with no other departmental, university, or external support.

Students who have exceeded seven years in the program, except for those whose studies have been delayed by specialized language training in for example, Chinese or Arabic, are not usually eligible for any money - tuition, Piepho fund, travel, etc. In occasional circumstances the department is able to provide tuition support to a student beyond the seven year limit in the semester in which she or he defends her or his thesis. Such a grant is a one-time offer; once given, the student can no longer apply for further assistance.

American Studies Association (ASA) Assistantship:

This Assistantship is jointly funded by the History Department and the ASA and includes a full tuition waiver and stipend equivalent to a regular Teaching/Research Assistantship. Preference in selection is normally given to a second-year PhD candidate majoring in U.S. History who is able to hold the position for a minimum two-year period. The individual selected is expected to work an average of 18 hours per week at the ASA offices located in downtown Washington, D.C. Employment during the summer months provides supplemental payment.

Duties include writing and producing the organization's quarterly newsletter, organizing and helping to select paper and panel proposals for the annual conference of the ASA, attending and working at the annual conference, maintaining and updating membership files, and responding to telephone queries and correspondence.

American Quarterly Assistantship:

This Assistantship is jointly funded by the History Department and the American Quarterly, and includes a full tuition waiver and stipend equivalent to a regular Teaching/Research Assistantship. Preference in selection is normally given to a Ph.D. candidate majoring in U.S. History who is able to hold the position for a minimum two-year period. The individual chosen for the position is expected to work an average of 15 hours per week at the offices of the journal's Editor, Professor Lucy Maddox of the English Department. Employment during the summer months provides supplemental payment.

Duties include clerical work, communicating with subscribers and authors, processing, editing, citation checking of manuscripts, and general management of the publication of the journal. The official title of the position was recently changed to Managing Editor and Copy Editor in recognition of the increased responsibilities associated with it.

Assistant to the DGS (Assistantship):

This Assistantship is funded entirely by the History Department and includes a full tuition waiver and stipend equivalent to a regular Teaching/Research Assistantship Although final selection is at the discretion of the DGS, preference in selection is normally given to an advanced graduate student with a solid knowledge of the structure of the PhD program. To allow for some continuity, this Assistantship will also be directed at an individual who will be able to hold the position for a two-year period that will overlap the terms of the DGS. The individual chosen for the position is expected to work an average of approximately 10 hours per week during the academic year and 5 hours per week during the summer; particularly heavy periods include May-June (admissions), August (registration and orientation), and the late fall (job interviews). These reduced hours during the school year compensate for the fact that tasks occurring during the summer months are not compensated during those months.

The individual selected for this Assistantship should be willing to work closely with graduate students and other staff and faculty in the History Department. Duties include providing general administrative support to the DGS (particularly in non-sensitive tasks), preparing and overseeing the orientation for incoming Ph.D. candidates, updating the Graduate Student Guide, responding to inquiries about the program, assisting with student job searches and preparations, and disseminating information relating to grants, fellowships, registration, and other related matters.

2.2 TEACHING ASSISTANTS

Most holders of Graduate School Assistantship or University Fellowship awards in the History Department are required to work as Teaching Assistants in partial fulfillment of their stipend obligations. For those seeking future employment as college and university professors, this experience provides valuable training in the methods and challenges of undergraduate teaching.

Selection:

Teaching Assistantships applications are evaluated annually as part of the financial aid process already described. Students and faculty may express preferences of individual assignments. The Department Chair, in consultation with the DGS, will consider the request, student qualifications, the student's Major and Minor Fields of study, and departmental needs in making specific assignments.

The Director of Undergraduate Studies will arrange for an orientation of new Teaching Assistants at the beginning of each academic year. Participation in this orientation is mandatory for new Teaching Assistants and may also be useful for those who have already served as Teaching Assistants or Sessional Lecturers. At times, the Center for New Designs in Learning and Scholarship (CNDLS) organizes special sessions to train students in such topics as constructivist pedagogy, new media, lecture techniques, moderating discussion groups, or Georgetown University's Honor System. The History Department also arranges a "debriefing" towards the end of each academic year in order to learn from the experiences of Teaching Assistants in the classroom.

As learning to teach is an integral and important part of the graduate program, it is the policy of the department that Teaching Assistants be given an opportunity, such as lecturing or leading discussion, to engage actively in teaching those classes to which they have been assigned.

Relationship with the Instructor:

The role of the Teaching Assistant is to assist the Instructor in running an undergraduate course. Typical responsibilities may include any combination of the following: attending course lectures, leading discussion sections, grading student papers and examinations, holding office hours to consult with the students, and providing general assistance to the instructor in his/her conduct of the course. The Teaching Assistant is an integral part of the course and is encouraged to make relevant suggestions and recommendations.

The Teaching Assistant should always keep in mind that final authority for the course remains with the Instructor. If there are disagreements or concerns regarding any aspect of the course or grading, these should never be expressed anywhere but in private and directly with the Instructor. When it comes to differences in grading, late penalties, or on other matters related to the course's content or format, the Instructor has the final say and the Teaching Assistant is obligated to honor those decisions. If any situation develops with the Instructor that does not appear to be remedied by direct discussion, the Teaching Assistant may want to approach the DGS or the Department Chair for advice.

Expectations:

Teaching Assistants are expected to work no more than an average of 10-15 hours per week. This may vary during the course of the semester, however, with Teaching Assistants spending less time in the early part of the semester and more during mid-term and final examination periods. Normally, the Teaching Assistant is expected to proctor examinations (including make-up examinations) as assigned by the professor. Teaching Assistants may be assigned no more than 50% of the total grading responsibility in any course. Teaching Assistants should report any violations of this policy to the Chair of the department.

Honor System:

Georgetown University's Honor System governs the conduct of its undergraduate students. Each Teaching Assistant should obtain a copy of the document and familiarize him/herself with its contents and its implications for their role as an instructor of undergraduate students. The standards of conduct apply to such issues as cheating on examinations and assignments, plagiarism, falsifying academic documentation, and abuse of library privileges and shared electronic media. In cases of suspected academic misconduct, the Teaching Assistant should inform the course Instructor immediately.

Office Hours:

The Instructor is expected to provide the Teaching Assistant with exclusive access to their office for certain designated periods each week. The Teaching Assistant is expected to use that time to hold regular office hours for student consultation and other matters pertaining to the course. He/she should also allow students to arrange an appointment should they not be able to meet during those designated times.

In the interest of student privacy, all meetings of an official nature should be held in the office of the course Instructor. If this is not possible, the Instructor should help arrange the use of another faculty member's office or another equivalent professional setting. Teaching Assistants should take care not to create situations that could compromise them either personally or professionally.

Desk Copies:

Generally, publishing companies will provide complementary copies of course textbooks for the Instructor and the Teaching Assistants assigned to any particular course. If he/she has not already done so by the time the semester begins, the Instructor should be reminded to assume responsibility for ordering additional desk copies for the Teaching Assistant of the books and materials used in the course.

Instructor Evaluation Forms:

For Ph.D. candidates who plan to seek academic employment, formal instructor evaluations will become an important component of their professional dossier. In many cases, the Teaching Assistant may be able to have university administered Instructor evaluation forms ordered and distributed to his/her students. Normally, the permission of the Instructor must order these forms. The evaluation is only worthwhile to do if you have had substantial contact with the undergraduate students in the course by running discussion groups, meeting with them, and conducting guest lectures. Nevertheless, this evaluation process can be a worthwhile means of obtaining useful feedback on your strengths and weaknesses as a Teaching Assistant, and in addition to a recommendation letter from the course instructor it can be a valuable addition to your application package when you enter the job market.

Ten TA Commandments:

1.1	Arrive at the professor's office at least ten minutes before the scheduled start of EVERY class (you will often have to help carry materials to the class). Meet with your lead professor at the start of each week to go over the main points to be covered in that week's classes. You should take particular care to be sure what points the professor wishes to emphasize in the discussions. You should also accompany the professor back to the office at the end of class.

1.2	Do all reading for the class, on time; finish all reading before the relevant discussion sections.

1.3	Hold office hours at least once per week. Hold extra office hours the week before a paper is due. Hold mandatory paper conferences after the first paper with all students, and conferences thereafter as appropriate.

1.4	If you do not know very much about a given topic to be covered in the class, seek bibliographic guidance from the professor. Follow the philosophy of Chaucer's clerk: view the class as an opportunity to learn, not merely to teach.

1.5	Grade all work ON TIME. Nothing will get you in trouble faster than being late with your grading.

1.6	Go over in detail the professor's expectations of graded work. Ask for a sample paper graded by the professor before you set to work. Ask the professor to check on your assessment of the first three or four papers/exams you grade, to make sure you are working on the same standards.

7.	Give a lecture each semester. VOLUNTEER at the start of the semester. Ask for a detailed critique from the professor. Invite your mentor to the lecture: ask her or him for a critique. Do not be embarrassed when the first lecture is terrible: everyone's first lecture is terrible.

8.	In discussion sections, learn the students' names as soon as you can. You can ask each speaker to identify her or himself during the first one or two discussion classes. When you call on that person a second time, try to do so by name; don't worry about occasional mistakes in that first class (although you should apologize when you make one). You should keep up-to-date written records about in-class participation.

9.	Avoid close personal relationships with students in your class, while they are still in the class: friendly relations, yes; close friendships (or romantic ties), no. Such relationships obviously compromise your impartiality and create situations of ethical conflict. In extreme cases, they can lead to legal action, both against you and against the department (and University).

10.	Make sure that your professor writes an evaluation of your work at the end of each semester and that s/he gives it to the Administrative Officer. This letter will become part of your permanent file. You should also request the professor to provide a copy of the letter to the Director of Graduate Studies.

2.3 OTHER AWARDS AND GRANTS

In addition to teaching assistantships and scholarships provided through the History Department and the Graduate School, other sources of funding available to students for specific purposes related to their doctoral studies include the following:

History Department Piepho Fund:

This fund supports Ph.D. candidates who are obtaining special training, such as language study, or undertaking pre-dissertation research. Each student may draw from a maximum of $1,500 during the course of their studies at Georgetown University. Applications should include a proposal, financial details of expected expenditures, a summary of past Piepho grant (if any), and a letter of support from the student's Mentor, and must be submitted to the Administrative Officer for consideration by the GSC in early May. The amount of money available in any given year is limited, and usually totals approximately $3,500 for all students. There is a call for proposals in January for research during spring break and a call in April for research in the summer months.

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Research Travel Grant:

The Graduate School is usually an important source of support for travel expenditures related to dissertation research. Unfortunately in the current year the GSAS will be unable to fund travel.

External Grants and Fellowships:

The Assistant to the DGS maintains an updated collection of fellowship brochures, and grant and fellowship opportunities. Additionally, the History Department maintains updated bulletin boards featuring the most recent information on grants and fellowships offered by other universities, research centers, and institutions and government programs throughout the country and overseas.

Hisham Sharabi Graduate Student Essay Competition:

This annual competition honors a prominent and respected faculty member who recently retired from the History Department, and encourages and rewards excellence in graduate student written work. $500 is distributed in prize honoraria to the top three entrants each year. Presentations are made at the year-end History Department reception, and the names of the winners are listed in the department Newsletter.

Entertainment Budget:

Each year, the History Department makes available to the students a total of $1,200 to be spent on social and other expenditures. In the past, there have been professional development luncheons, house parties, happy hours, and other functions. Usually a social coordinator is elected by the graduate students at the first meeting of the academic year to determine how best to utilize this budget.

2.4 MEMBERSHIP IN PHI ALPHA THETA AND COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

Phi Alpha Theta:

Georgetown University has a very active local chapter of the National Honor Society in History under the guidance of Professor Sandra Horvath-Peterson and an elected executive board of students. In addition to various social activities, guest lectures, and film showings, a group of undergraduate and graduate representatives from our History Department attends the regional Phi Alpha Theta conference each year.

All graduate students, including those who are newly admitted to the program, are eligible for membership in Phi Alpha Theta as long as they have taken at least four semesters of History courses in the past. The organization publishes a newsletter and The Historian, a quarterly with the largest circulation of a historical journal published in the United States. Contributions are welcomed from graduate students in all fields. Phi Alpha Theta also offers various prizes and awards for undergraduate and graduate papers and a range of scholarships for graduate study in history. Membership applications can be obtained at the reception area of the Department.

"Service" is another important component of academic advancement, and an excellent way for graduate students to learn how universities and departments operate. During the past five years, the students in the History Department have greatly expanded their formal and informal roles on various committees. In particular, student representatives have participated formally in the restructuring of the comprehensive examination guidelines and field requirements and the launching of a student essay competition and informally in numerous other initiatives.

Graduate Studies Committee (GSC):

The GSC is responsible for all preliminary decisions pertaining to the department's Ph.D. program, including admissions, fellowship renewals and distribution, and overall policy. Two student representatives are elected each year at meetings of their peers: one is selected in the Spring semester and the other in the Fall. These two Ph.D. candidates serve on the GSC along with the DGS and faculty members representing each of the geographic Area Committees (Europe, U.S., Latin America, Middle East, Russia/Eastern Europe, Asia).

Although they are informed of and expected to attend all GSC meetings, the student representatives are presently recused from formal participation in any decisions pertaining to admissions, assistantships, or scholarships.

Area Committees:

Although the main work of the geographic Area Committees is course selection and curriculum development, they also play an important role in establishing the criteria for new faculty selections and Ph.D. candidate admissions within each field. In 1997, the students won approval for representation on each of the Area Committees within the History Department. A total of eight positions need to be filled each year, with two students represented on both the European and the U.S. History committees, and one on each of the other Area Committees (Latin America, Middle East, Russia/Eastern Europe, Asia).

These individuals are chosen at the beginning of the Fall semester at a student meeting called for that purpose. They are elected by a vote of their peers majoring and minoring in each of the listed fields of study. Members of the Area Committees must have completed at least one year of study in the Ph.D. program.

Graduate Student Organization (GSO):

This university-wide organization includes representatives from each of the major graduate programs at Georgetown, both M.A. and Ph.D. The GSO in past years has organized and funded workshops and undertaken university-wide initiatives on issues involving library privileges for students, public transportation services, and student health care. In past years the History Department has been especially well represented on the GSO, with students holding at various times the positions of Treasurer (Justin Hoffmann 1994-1998, Suzy Stimler 1999-2000), Vice President (Richard Wiggers 1997-
98, Alyssa Chase 2003-04, Hugo Maureira 2004-05), and President (James Class, 1998-1999, Meredith Oyen, 2000-2001). One official representative from the History Department also sits as a voting member of the GSO, and is elected at the same meeting at which the student representatives for department committees are selected. The elected representative must attend all GSO meetings if students in the History Department hope to receive any financial benefits from that body such as conference travel grants, group grants, and other awards.

Faculty Search Committees:

In the fall of 1998, the History Department approved a proposal to have -- at the discretion of the Department Chair -- one graduate student participate as a full voting representative on future faculty Search Committees. The Ph.D. candidate so selected must be majoring in the relevant field, and have completed all requirements for the Ph.D. except the dissertation (ABD). He/she operates under the same oath of confidentiality and professional conduct as the faculty members on the job Search Committee, and when granted access to private information regarding candidates is prohibited from sharing that information in any form with their faculty or student colleagues.

It is also hoped that the Ph.D. candidate selected to participate in future Search Committees will undertake to represent -- to the best of their abilities -- the concerns of all of their fellow students, keeping them regularly informed of the process, and relaying to the faculty members of the Search Committee those broader concerns and interests, while also exercising their best judgment based on the greater information available to them.

2.5 PART-TIME TEACHING

The Ph.D. experience is not limited to the standard concerns of course work, comprehensive examinations, and completion of a dissertation. In an effort to better prepare students for the job market, faculty and graduate students within the History Department have launched a number of initiatives in recent years to enhance the opportunities for professional training.

Davis Course Awards:

The History Department offers as many as six opportunities each academic year for Ph.D. candidates to teach senior-level seminars with a maximum enrollment of twenty. In addition to providing valuable teaching experience in a subject of their choice and expertise, these awards also provide a full stipend to students in the final stages of their dissertation work.

Students submit applications and course proposals in late winter/early spring to the Administrative Officer. Their applications are considered by the GSC; awardees are informed of the decisions in February. Ph.D. candidates who have passed Comprehensive Examinations and completed a year of dissertation research are eligible. The GSC attempts to distribute the awards and course offerings by fields.

The award itself normally consists of a full scholarship and stipend equivalent to that for Teaching/Research Assistantship during the semester that the PhD candidate will be teaching the course. In recent years, the department has been able to provide full support for the entire year, allowing the fellow to focus on writing the dissertation in the other semester.

Adjunct Faculty:

A limited number of courses within the History Department are taught by adjunct Instructors. This has been especially true of the full year undergraduate survey courses in European history. In recent years the Department has made a concerted effort to reserve the majority of these Adjunct teaching positions for our own Ph.D. candidates, and to formalize the information and selection process to ensure fairness. As with the Davis Course Awards, applicants are asked to submit a proposed course outline and to provide recommendation letters from faculty familiar with their work as Teaching Assistants. Unlike the Davis Course Awards, the selections in this case are normally made by the faculty members of the relevant Area Committee in which the course will be taught. The Area Committees place a particular emphasis on the quality of the proposed syllabus and on their evaluation of the applicant as a teacher. The first priority for adjunct hiring is putting quality teachers in the classroom.

Ph.D. candidates selected to serve as Adjunct Faculty for a survey course in History have the opportunity to design their own courses within general guidelines provided by the Area Committee and are assigned office space, usually shared with other faculty. The student serving as Instructor is responsible for preparing and presenting lectures, leading discussion groups, and grading all assigned exams and essays. Because the class size for these survey courses often approaches 40-60 undergraduates, Adjunct Faculty are often assigned Teaching Assistants -- usually younger less experienced Ph.D. colleagues -- and are also responsible for supervising their work.

Georgetown University Summer School:

The Summer School offers a limited number of undergraduate History courses. Coursework that would otherwise be a semester will be compressed, meeting each day over a five week period in the early summer. Although full time Georgetown faculty frequently teach these courses, the History Department encourages the Summer School to also consider qualified Ph.D. candidates. These teaching opportunities are more compressed, the class sizes are usually smaller, and Teaching Assistants are usually not available. Summer School schedules are completed during the preceding spring semester. Interested advanced ABDs should contact the chair. Students must have completed at least one year of research before applying to teach in the Summer School.

Other Local Adjunct Faculty Positions:

In recent years, a number of Ph.D. candidates have been hired into Adjunct Faculty positions at local colleges and universities such as George Mason University, Northern Virginia Community College, Marymount University, University of Western Maryland, and Gettysburg College. As with the Adjunct Faculty and Summer School positions described earlier, these positions usually last either one semester or one academic year. They pay poorly but provide invaluable teaching experience essential for success on the job market. The History Department is trying to be more proactive in contacting local colleges and universities to find out about such positions as they become available and encouraging its best Ph.D. candidates to apply for and teach in such Adjunct Faculty roles.

2.6 ACADEMIC CONFERENCES

In recent years, a large number of graduate students in the History Department have organized and participated in academic conferences. As with committee and teaching experience, opportunities such as this can also be an important component of a Ph.D. candidate's development as a scholar. There is no shortage of advice available from colleagues within the History Department if you are interested in putting together a panel proposal for the annual meetings of the Organization for American Historians (OAH), the American Historical Association (AHA), or other regional or more specialized professional conferences. The most recent issues of the History At Georgetown Newsletter list many of the conference activities of students and faculty.

Hosting Conferences:

The History Department has and will continue to host a variety of scholarly conferences which graduate students are welcome and encouraged to attend. In the upcoming years (fall 2004) the department will host the annual meeting of the Society for French Colonial Historians.

In April 2003 we hosted an Americanism Conference. In April 2002 we hosted the First Annual Hisham Sharabi Conference, the topic of which was The Role of the Intellectual in Contemporary Political Life. During the 2000-01 academic year we hosted a meeting of the American Hungarian Educators Association, and a one-day symposium on the topic of the Black Sea in History. Other recent meetings held at Georgetown include the Society for French Historical Studies (1999), the annual meeting of the Medieval Academy of America (1999), and the Annual Meeting of the Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations (1997).

Phi Alpha Theta Regional Conference:

A good place to get early experience as a conference presenter is this annual showcase of the History honor society. The local Phi Alpha Theta chapter normally promotes the conference, and helps arrange payment of registration fees and transportation for students who decide to attend or participate on the program. The meeting itself is normally held in October either in the immediate Washington, D.C. area, or on another university campus within a few hours drive. In past years, Georgetown University graduate students have won awards for the papers they have presented at Phi Alpha Theta conferences.

Calls for Papers:

These announcements for coming academic conferences are posted on the student e-mail distribution list on a regular basis, as well as on the bulletin board located at the back of the History Department. Keep your eyes open on Internet discussion lists as well for information about upcoming conferences, or talk to faculty and colleagues. Graduate student participation in academic conferences is also encouraged by financial support as described below.

History Department Travel Support:

The History Department has limited resources to support travel to academic conferences for Ph.D. candidates who have been invited to deliver a paper or serve as commentator. Students may request funding of up to $400 for one trip per academic year. Students obtain a travel request form from the Administrative Officer in advance of the trip. The application must include a copy of the invitation to speak or comment or a copy of the program and an estimate of expenses broken down into the major categories (travel, lodging, conference fees, and meals). If approved, the student, upon return, must submit original receipts and a copy of the original request.

3.1 REGISTRATION

Pre-Registration:

Pre-registration is held on announced dates in November and April for the succeeding semester and permits students the opportunity to avoid standing in line during registration periods. Registration must be performed online. The financial penalties for late registration are steep and must be paid by the student even if they are being otherwise supported by a fellowship.

Post course work registration:

More information can be found in the Graduate Student Bulletin. The History Department does not accept "part-time" students into the graduate program. Besides "full-time" status, which is reserved for those taking a full course load of nine hours per semester or preparing for comprehensive examinations, what follows is a list of the most important thesis research registration categories currently accepted by the Department:

1. Thesis Research (History 999-01): For more information on this category of registration status, students should consult the Graduate School Bulletin

2.	"Non-Resident Thesis Research" (History 999-02): The Graduate School has instituted this registration status for graduate students who are actively pursuing dissertation research, but are doing so at a considerable geographic distance from the Georgetown University campus. Graduate students eligible for this status include those doing research abroad, either sponsored or self-supported, or those living outside the DC metropolitan area. The advantage of this status is that it enables graduate students to retain full-time registered status (which is important for loan deferral) while paying only 25% of the regular thesis research fee. A student may register for "Non-Resident Thesis Research" a maximum of four semesters. To register for "Non-Resident Thesis Research," one must obtain the permission of the DGS. He/she will submit a list of students allowed to register for "Non-Resident Thesis Research" to the Graduate School. If you are not on that list, you will not be allowed to register.

3. "Thesis Research" (History 999-03): The Graduate School offers a third variety of Thesis Research whereby a student who is taking only one or two courses now register for History 999-03 in order to maintain full-time student status. All such students must in fact register for History 999-03. As with History 999-02, the DGS submits a list of eligible students to the Graduate School. If you are not on that list, you will not be allowed to register.

Leave of Absence:

If it is ever necessary to interrupt your consecutive semester registration, do not under any circumstances simply fail to register. You must request a formal Leave of Absence or Withdrawal from the program, by letter to the DGS and the Graduate School, with a copy to the Administrative Officer. See the Graduate Student Bulletin for further details.

The Graduate School currently allows each student a total of four semesters of Leave of Absence during one's entire graduate career at GU. If you are in good standing when you withdraw, there is good reason to expect that an application for future readmission would be accepted. On the other hand, no assurance of this should be assumed in advance. Failure to register, to withdraw, or to take an approved Leave of Absence can result in extremely troublesome administrative problems if and when you attempt to resume your studies.

Time Limit:

Seven years is the normal time limit for completion of the Ph.D. Leaves of absence do not count against the seven-year clock The Department will support an extension request if there is good reason, and if the student is experiencing delays due to research problems, but is otherwise making good progress. The Department supports requests beyond the eighth year only in the most exceptional cases.

Updating Records:

If you change residence it is essential that you provide the Administrative Officer, the Registrar, and the Graduate School with your new address and phone number. In all cases the department and other offices of the university will use your GUMail address to contact you electronically. If you prefer to check your e-mail via some other account please contact the Helpdesk at ext 74949 to arrange to forward to that account mail received in your GU account.

3.2 APPEAL PROCEDURE

For administrative problems that seem insoluble, a formal Graduate Appeal Procedure exists. This procedure should be resorted to only if other means of recourse have failed. It exists within the broader framework of the guidelines and regulations of the Graduate School and the University's affirmative action office. In every instance the History Department will do its best to find satisfactory solutions for student problems.

Grievances:

A student who believes that he/she has a grievance should consult first with the professor involved. If agreement is not reached, then he/she should approach the Department Chair. The Chair will urge further consultation between the student and faculty member; should mutual satisfaction still not be forthcoming, a grievance procedure will be initiated as follows:

1. A formal statement of grievance and pertinent supportive materials will be submitted to the DGS, who will then select two faculty reviewers and complete and distribute their findings and conclusions, advisory only, to the concerned parties;

2. When the efforts of the Department Chair and/or of the DGS fail to produce an internal resolution of the grievance, it may then be brought before an ad hoc Departmental Grievance Appeals Board which consists of six members, chosen as follows:

The Department Chair, who also sits ex officio as Chair of the Appeals Board;

Three faculty members, chosen by the Department Chair and including the DGS;

Two graduate student representatives chosen by the Graduate Studies Committee. It is expected that none of the faculty members so appointed shall be members of the grievant's Advisory Committee, and that any individual who is in any way a direct party to the grievance will disqualify him/herself. "Direct party" includes any classmates in a course mentioned in the grievance.

3. The group thus chosen will sit as an Appeals Board for the grievance concerned, and will make every effort to obtain appropriate information, including testimony from the grievant's Advisory Committee. Its decisions will be by a simple majority vote. The hearings may be private or open to the public at the option of the individual bringing the grievance. Should this procedure fail to resolve the grievance to the satisfaction of all parties, the next level of appeal is to the Dean of the Graduate School.

Sexual Discrimination:

Guidelines for cases of sexual discrimination or harassment are also available through the Graduate School. Any case involving discrimination should be reported immediately to Georgetown's Office of Affirmative Action, (202) 687-4798.

3.3 GRADUATION

Master's and doctor's degrees are awarded at the end of each month of the year except June. Check with the Graduate School or the Administrative Officer for the list of graduation dates.

Clearance for Graduation:

For a May degree, terminal M.A. requirements or the successful completion of the doctoral dissertation must have faculty approval and be accepted by the Graduate School no later than May 1.

Application for Degree:

Accompanied by the required documentation, the application for degree form is filed in the Graduate School for a specific month and cannot be carried over to a later month. The Application is used to prepare a student's diploma and the May commencement program. Students expecting degrees between the months of July and April must file an Application for Graduate Degree by the first working day of the month during which they wish to obtain the degree, along with documentation (including an unofficial transcript) verifying that all the requirements for the program have been completed. Students expecting to receive degrees during the May commencement ceremony must file an Application by the end of the add/drop period of the preceding spring semester (usually mid-January) with proper documentation.

Diplomas:

Diplomas for degrees granted between July and April are normally available for pickup or mailing approximately 6 weeks after the official degree award date. Graduates for May commencement can pick up their diplomas after the Graduate Honors Convocation if all of the proper information has been filed by the previous January. No diplomas or final transcripts are issued to students with unpaid balances on their student accounts.

Cap & Gown Order:

Participation in May commencement ceremonies is optional for all students who receive graduate degrees between July and May, but those participating in the formal ceremony are required to wear proper academic attire (cap, gown, and hood), obtainable from Jostens directly by the student. Jostens visits campus on specific dates during the spring semester, available from the graduate school.

Final Transcripts:

Official copies of final transcripts, including the student's graduate degree, are normally distributed or mailed with diplomas. Students wishing additional copies of final transcripts can usually obtain them from the Registrar's office (for a fee) within two weeks of the degree award date.

3.4 DOSSIERS AND JOB SEARCHES

Internal Dossier:

All students should maintain and regularly update the departmental dossier. The information contained within this file will inform various bodies within the university, notably the GSC, of the student's progress here. The dossier should include letters of recommendation from at least two professors who have taught the student and one letter from each professor for whom he/she has worked as a TA. The GSC relies on these letters when making decisions on fellowship renewals and considerations for financial aid.

Job Dossier:

Ph.D. candidates nearing completion of their degree and wishing to enter the academic job market should prepare a second dossier using forms provided online at http://www.georgetown.edu/departments/history/graduate/forms.html#dossier. The completed dossier should contain a transcript, dissertation abstract, and reference letters. The latter should be requested from members of the department faculty who have served as Mentor, dissertation advisors, members of the comprehensive committee, or teachers for whom the student has worked as a teaching assistant.

It is the student's responsibility to obtain these documents and to make sure the professors give them to the Administrative Officer for inclusion in the appropriate file. The Department will ask that you pay $10 for each set of three mailings.

Virtually all academic job postings in the United States at the college and university level are now listed in Perspectives, the newsletter of the American Historical Association. The Department receives Perspectives and posts other relevant job listings on the Job Board and on our History Department Electronic Discussion Group. Perspectives is also available on line at http://www.theaha.org/perspectives. Students can also find an electronic list of current jobs at www.h-net.msu.edu/jobs.

Job Searches:

Students should consult with knowledgeable colleagues and faculty members for advice on how to prepare for job searches. Most professors, and some graduate students, have had experience sitting on hiring committees and can tell students what makes a successful candidacy. Do not hesitate to see them. Each fall, the Department identifies graduate students who are planning to be active on the job market that year, and faculty who have volunteered to serve as placement advisors meet with them to discuss strategies.

3.5 THE OFFICE AND ENVIRONMENT

Throughout the academic year, with the exception of statutory holidays, the normal working hours of the department are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each Monday through Friday. During the summer months the office hours are slightly reduced.

Keys:

All graduate students are issued a department-doors-only key. Additionally, those graduate students who are Teaching Assistants are issued keys which provide access to the office of the professor to whom they have been assigned, as well as to the front and back entrances to the History Department. At the end of the semester, all Teaching Assistants must return their key to the Administrative Assistant. If a professor employs you during the summer, he/she may contact the Administrative Officer regarding the assignment of a key for use during the summer months. If you lose a key, you must pay to replace it, and if the professor requests it for security reasons the door lock must also be replaced. The replacement fee is $10 for a key and $50 for a door lock.

Stipend Checks:

Students on assistantships may pick up their monthly stipend checks from the Administrative Officer or arrange for direct deposit.

Security:

There have been thefts in the ICC building in recent years. The outside doors should always be kept locked after hours. The rear doors should be kept locked at all times. Finally, if you notice anyone you do not recognize wandering around after hours, please offer to help them get where they are going or encourage them to leave the department. Never leave wallets or purses unattended even in an office.

Coffee and Tea:

The department provides coffee, tea, sugar, sometimes even milk, cups, plates, etc. Faculty, staff and students are equally responsible for making their own coffee and tea and also keeping the area clean.

Supplies:

History Department stationery and paper supplies are available for business purposes only from the Administrative Assistant and should never be left around the department. There is usually a limited supply of paper available in copiers or laser printers. If you expect to do a great deal of printing or photocopying, please supply your own paper.

Postage:

If you have unstamped mail involving History Department official business, please give it directly to the Administrative Assistant. Unstamped personal mail left in the department outgoing mail box will be returned to you for postage.

Telephone:

In the Graduate Student Work Area there is a telephone for graduate student use (202-687-4642). Occasionally, calls for graduate students will be transferred to this phone. As a courtesy to your colleagues, please answer the phone and leave a message in the appropriate student's mailbox. Teaching Assistants who have access to professors' offices should not make personal long distance calls from these phones. Professors receive a monthly statement of long-distance charges to their extension and are asked to identify any that are not their own.

Computer Usage:

The department maintains four computers and a designated laser-jet printer at the back of the department for the exclusive use of graduate students. There are also two work stations near 620 designated for Teaching Assistants who may occasionally not have access to the office of the professor they assist. There is another computer station next to 605 designated for adjunct faculty who may occasionally not have access to an assigned office. We do believe in sharing the resources, but please respect the designation of certain computers for teaching assistants and adjunct faculty. Student computer labs and terminals are also located on the first floor of ICC, in the library, and in other buildings scattered throughout the main campus. University Information Services offers a wide variety of computer courses to all Georgetown University faculty, students and staff at no cost. Students can take classes in basic computing, word processing, or an introduction to E-mail and the WWW. Contact UIS for a class schedule and registration information: data.georgetown.edu/training or train@georgetown.edu.

Department Website:

www.georgetown.edu/departments/history. Contact the Administrative Assistant if you would like something posted to or linked with our home page.

Graduate Student Internet List:

The usual, most effective, and fastest means of passing information to graduate students in the History Department are our e-mail listserves. There is one maintained by the grad students themselves, and one maintained by the Administrative Officer.

You will be subscribed to the departmental listserve using your GUMail address and it is your responsibility to check that account for news. If you prefer to use some other e-mail system it is your responsibility to direct the mail from your GUMail account to the preferred system. Announcements of job postings, graduate student meetings and social events, deadlines for academic and administrative functions, and other information relating to the History Department are distributed through this system.

The second listserve is maintained by the graduate students for discussions and functions not related to the administration of the department, and subscription to this list is optional. This list handles announcements of graduate student meetings and social events, general discussion of issues regarding the History graduate program, as well as requests for housing, help, or roommates from fellow graduate students. For more information on this listserv, or to subscribe, visit http://www.georgetown.edu/departments/history/graduate/gradresources.html#disclist.

Photocopying:

Graduate students have access to the copy machine located near 618. If you are a Teaching Assistant, all photocopying related to class work should be given to the Administrative Assistant. Please remember to turn off the photocopy machine after use.

Copyright:

Department policy on the duplicating of copyrighted material, which is intended to protect graduate students, faculty, and the University from legal problems, is as follows:

1. Obtain permission from the copyright holder for any extensive amount of material you wish to copy. Ordinarily, this entails a telephone call to the publisher to get the name of the "permissions editor," and the preparation of a short letter describing the portion you wish to reproduce and the use you plan to make of it. Occasionally the copyright holder will ask for payment of a royalty fee, but unless the copying is substantial (more than one chapter of a book or the entire contents of a periodical, for example) the fee will probably be minimal. If you do not wish to do this yourself, the University Book Shop will obtain these permissions for you.

2. Copying without permission under "fair use" rules is an exception to the copyright laws. "Fair use" means very limited copies of small amounts of material for well-recognized legitimate uses (i.e. research or instruction). For example, it is probably legal to copy pages or even a chapter of a book for research purposes, but illegal to copy a whole book or large portions of a book (more than one chapter) or more than a single article in a journal if the material is copyrighted. It is legal ("fair use") to make copies of a book chapter or article to place on reserve at the library for the use of students. It is illegal to make multiple copies of a book chapter or journal article or of a significant part thereof to give directly to students without obtaining permission from the copyright holder.

3. Office staff will not copy more than one article from a journal or one chapter from a book and will not make more than one copy of any copyrighted material. Please do not ask the staff to do any copying in violation of this policy. If you would like the office staff to prepare reserve readings, please submit a copy of the original item along with a Reserve Materials Request Form to the Library. Make sure to also include a copy of the signed Copyright Waiver.

4. Professors should not ask teaching assistants or research assistants to use the copier in violation of the above guidelines because it would place the TA as well as the Department and the University in legal jeopardy.

5. Finally, if it is decided to use the University Book Shop's Copyright/Printing Service, expenses for any such copying must be passed on to the students enrolled in the relevant course.