Timeline and Deadlines

Note: many due dates are not set by the department, so all dates below should be understood as approximate. 

Year 1:

  •  July/August:  sign up for fall graduate courses; consult departmental undergraduate listings for teaching apprenticeship (TAP) possibilities
  • Early November:  sign up for spring graduate courses; consult departmental undergraduate listings for teaching apprenticeship (TAP) possibilities
  • January 15:  return signed teaching apprenticeship contract to the DGS office.  Submit request to audit this class before the end of spring drop/add period.  
  • March 31:  annual reports and CVs are due.
  • (usually) May:  sign and return summer fellowship contract

Year 2: 

  • Late March/early April:  register for fall graduate courses. Consult departmental undergraduate listings for teaching apprenticeship (TAP) possibilities
  • October: Select prospective readers for your portfolio meeting in the Spring, and consult with the DGSA for assistance with scheduling.
  • Early November: sign up for spring graduate courses; consult departmental undergraduate listings for teaching apprenticeship (TAP) possibilities.
  • December 15: Submit three paper portfolio and evaluative statement to DGS office.
  • January 15: return signed teaching apprenticeship contract to DGS office.  Submit request to audit this class before the end of spring drop/add period.
  • Early February: Thompson Writing Program applications due (department/DGS deadline)
  • March 31:  annual reports and CVs are due.
  • By the end of spring semester:  send in initial reading lists for preliminary exams
  • (usually) May:  sign and return summer fellowship contract 

Year 3:

  • Late March/ early April:  if applicable, register for fall graduate courses
  • Mid-August: Writing Program Training
  • Late August: begin attending pedagogy workshop
  • Mid-October:  Graduate School fellowship applications (including summer fellowships) due to DGS office.
  • Mid-November:  Revised Graduate School fellowship applications due in Graduate School's web-based fellowship system
  • Mid-late November:  Students submit two English 90S course descriptions to DGS office for the following year.  For credit for the pedagogy workshop, enroll in Spring pedagogy tutorial.
  • January and February:  Internship and Department Summer fellowship applications due
  • By early spring semester: finalize exam committee
  • March:  return summer fellowship contract (if applicable)
  • March 31:  annual reports and CVs are due
  • By the end of spring semester:  take exams

Year 4: 

  • Late March/early April:  if applicable, register for fall graduate courses. Sign up for Fall Dissertation Workshop.
  • Early October:  summer teaching application due (if applying)
  • Mid-October:  Graduate School fellowship applications (including summer fellowships for years 3+) due to DGS office.
  • Mid-November:  Revised Graduate School fellowship applications due in Graduate School's web-based fellowship system
  • By December:  chapter meeting completed
  • January and February:  applications for summer internships and internal summer funding due
  • March: return summer fellowship contract (if applicable)
  • March 31: annual reports and CVs are due

Year 5:

  • Late March/EarlyApril:  if applicable, register for fall graduate courses.  Sign up for Dissertation Workshop.
  • Early October:  summer teaching application due (if applying)
  • Mid-October:  Graduate School fellowship applications (including summer fellowships for years 3+) due to DGS office
  • Mid-November:  Revised Graduate School fellowship applications due in Graduate School's web-based fellowship system
  • November:  Sign up for article publication workshop
  • January and February:  applications for summer internships and internal summer funding due
  • March:  return summer fellowship contract (if applicable)
  • March 31:  annual reports and CVs are due
  • Late spring: initial job placement meeting (if you're going on the market next year) 

Year 6:

  • Late March/Early April:  if applicable, register for fall graduate courses. Sign up for Dissertation Workshop and Jobs workshop
  • Early October:  summer teaching application due (if applying) 
  • October:  Deadline to apply for December graduation.  See additional graduation deadlines
  • Mid-October:  Graduate School fellowship applications (including summer fellowships for years 3+) due to DGS office
  • Mid-November:  Duke internship applications and misc. fellowship applications due in Graduate School's web-based system
  • Early February:  Deadline to apply for May graduation.  See additional graduation deadlines. 
  • March 31:  annual reports and CVs are due
  • Late March - Early April:  PhD defense deadline for May graduation