Appendix C – Suggested Timeline for May Graduation
The final courses for the program are taken in the fall of the third year and end in December. Once students have successfully completed all coursework and passed the qualifying exams, they may begin the Dissertation Series. While graduation dates will vary among students, those who wish to graduate within 18 months of completing their coursework should note the following suggested timeline for writing the dissertation.
BIB915 Dissertation IA: Reading & Proposal
In this course, students begin the literature review and develop the Dissertation Proposal, which presents the student’s research questions and strategy. The PhD in Biblical Studies director will assign the student a dissertation advisor based on the student’s area of interest. The student will work with the advisor in the development of the proposal.
January: Begin discussion with the program director about the specific area of research interest and potential dissertation committee members (advisor and reader(s)).
February: Develop the research question and begin the literature review.
March: Continue the literature review, write the research proposal, and develop the annotated bibliography.
April: Submit initial Dissertation Proposal to the dissertation committee for review and feedback. Revise as necessary and resubmit. Move forward to BIB916 once approved.
BIB916 Dissertation IB: Chapters 1-2
In this course, students will continue the literature review and develop the first two chapters of the dissertation.
May: Continue literature review. Begin to write the first two chapters of the dissertation.
June: Continue writing the first two chapters. Submit them to the dissertation committee for feedback.
July: Revise as necessary.
August: Resubmit and move forward to BIB917 once approved.
BIB917 Dissertation II: Completion
In this course, students continue to write the dissertation in consultation with the Dissertation Committee.
September – October: Continue writing the dissertation.
November: Submit the final chapters to the dissertation committee for feedback. Revise as necessary.
December: Resubmit and move forward to BIB918 once approved.
BIB918 Dissertation Defense
In this course, students make final revisions to their work, defend the dissertation in an open hearing, implement any changes required by the committee following the defense hearing, work with the dissertation style editor on a final version, and submit the final version for printing by May 1st in order to graduate in the spring graduation ceremony.
January: Dissertation submitted to the dissertation advisor for edits and revisions.
February 1: Final edited version submitted in preparation for the defense hearing.
February 21: Dissertation defense hearing.
March 1: Defense hearing revisions completed. Dissertation submitted to the dissertation editor for the style editing process.
May 1: Final date to submit the dissertation for print in order to participate in the spring graduation.
Mid-May: Graduation.
The schedule outlined above presents an ideal timeline for the dissertation writing process. Some students will take longer to complete the process.
At the discretion of the Program Director, students who have successfully defended the dissertation and completed all stages of revision except for the dissertation style editing process may be allowed to participate in the May graduation ceremony and receive a mock diploma. The final diploma, transcripts, and official credential will be granted after the fully edited, final version of the dissertation has been approved and printed and all related fees have been paid to the school.