Handbook: Philosophy, Interpretation, and Culture (PIC)-Interdisciplinary Graduate Program at Binghamton University -- PIC

The PIC brochure provides essential information concerning requirements and expectations related to the program in Philosophy, Interpretation, and Culture. The purpose of this Handbook is to provide details that cannot be provided in a formal brochure. This Handbook is intended to explain, not replace, the brochure, and every student is advised to possess a brochure and to be familiar with its contents.

Every student is expected to be familiar with the contents of this Handbook. For convenience, detailed guidelines are provided summarizing the most important steps at each stage of progress toward the degree. All general examination reading lists are included.

The primary goal of the PIC program is to provide a productive graduate environment for its students and for students in other programs on campus who might benefit from enrolling in their courses and attending their colloquia. Students are invited to speak to the PIC director about ways in which the graduate program may be strengthened. Students meet with PIC faculty at program meetings throughout the academic year.

PIC is an interdisciplinary program leading to Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in philosophy. It is administered by a Program Director, a Director of Graduate Studies, and a Director of Undergraduate Studies in collaboration with the PIC Executive Committee. It is overseen by a program faculty committee. PIC has its own office and secretaries who support the activities of the PIC program, and provide important assistance to students. The PIC Director of Graduate Studies is responsible for all signatures, recommendations, and certifications to the Graduate Office for students in the program.

The Department of Philosophy is administered by a department chair with responsibility for the department. PIC functions independently of the department but PIC students on funding are frequently but not always assigned to assist and teach courses in the department.

PIC BYLAWS

These bylaws prescribe the organizational means by which the Program in Philosophy, Interpretation, and Culture governs its affairs. The following articles specify the details of the Program’s structure and procedures of operation.

I. FACULTY

A. Program Faculty

Program Faculty are faculty members of Binghamton University appointed to the Program by the Dean of Harpur College either with a joint title or as a joint appointment. Program Faculty participate in the teaching mission of the Program, and are collectively responsible for, and participate in the administration and governance of the Program. Program Faculty are expected to attend meetings of the Governing Committee (IIA, below). Program Faculty enjoy full voting rights.

B. Associated Faculty

Associated Faculty are faculty members of Binghamton University who participate in the teaching mission of the Program, and may participate in collaborative projects with members of the Program Faculty. Associated Faculty do not participate in the administration and governance of the program, and do not vote.

C. Appointment to the Faculty

Program Faculty and Associated Faculty are appointed by the Dean of Harpur College, in consultation with, and upon the recommendation of the Program Faculty. Any member of the Program Faculty may nominate a Binghamton University

faculty member to the Program Governing Committee (II-A), which will then consider forwarding the nomination to the Dean.

D. Quorum

A quorum is defined as a majority of the Program Faculty in residence.

II. ADMINISTRATION

A. Governing Committee

The Governing Committee is the governing body of the Program, and consists of all Program Faculty as well as two representatives from the PIC Student Association (PICSA) (see II, below). The Governing Committee is responsible for all programmatic and policy decisions in the Program and for nominating University faculty to the Program. The Governing Committee, chaired by the Program Director, meets at least once every semester, or more frequently as the Program Director deems necessary. Any member of the Program Faculty may request the Program Director to schedule a meeting of the Governing Committee.

B. Executive Committee

The Executive Committee consists of the Program Director (ex officio), the Director of Graduate Studies (ex officio), the Director of Undergraduate Studies (ex officio), plus five other members of the Program Faculty elected by the Governing Committee, as well as one representative from PICSA. The Executive Committee, chaired by the Program Director, meets at least once a semester, or more frequently as the Program Director deems necessary. The Executive Committee is responsible for the implementation and administration of all programmatic and policy decisions; it also serves as the Graduate Admission Committee, making all decisions on graduate student admissions and funding in accordance with Program policy and in consultation with Program Faculty. The Executive Committee assists the Director of Graduate Studies in assigning funded graduate students to appropriate teaching responsibilities. Any member of the Executive Committee may request the Program Director to schedule a meeting of the Committee.

C. Undergraduate Committee

The Undergraduate Committee consists of the Director of Undergraduate Studies (ex officio), who chairs all meetings of the Committee, plus three members of the Program Faculty, one undergraduate student representative, and one representative from PICSA (IID, below). The Undergraduate Committee advises the Director of Undergraduate Studies on the constitution and administration of the undergraduate program. It also collaborates with the Director of Graduate Studies and the Executive Committee in the design and implementation of the Program’s undergraduate curriculum, including the assignment of graduate students to appropriate teaching responsibilities.

D. Ad Hoc Committees

The Program Director may constitute ad hoc committees, composed of Program Faculty and student representatives (as appropriate), for purposes and responsibilities that do not fall within the purview of the standing committees, as necessary.

E. The Program Director

The Program Director, acting in accordance with Binghamton University bylaws, represents the interests of the Program to the University, and administers and coordinates the work of the Program. The Director is appointed to a renewable three-year term by the Dean of Harpur College, in consultation with the Program Governing Committee. Exceptions to the length of the Director’s tenure are negotiated between the Director and the Dean. The Director is responsible to the Dean of Harpur College in the first instance.

F. The Director of Graduate Studies

The Director of Graduate Studies is appointed by the Program Director, with the approval of the Dean of Harpur College and the Dean of the Graduate School, for a renewable term of one year. The Director of Graduate Studies is responsible in the first instance to the Program Director, and is charged with the administration of the graduate program.

G. The Director of Undergraduate Studies

The Director of Undergraduate Studies is appointed by the Program Director, with the approval of the Dean of Harpur College, for a renewable term of one year. The Director of Undergraduate Studies is responsible in the first instance to the Program Director, and is charged with the administration of the undergraduate program.

II. STUDENT REPRESENTATION

A. PIC Student Association

The PIC Student Association (PICSA) represents the interests of Program graduate students to the Program Faculty on all issues of policy and administration of the Program. Neither the Program Faculty nor any officer of the Program intervenes in the constitution or operation of PICSA.

B. Governing Committee

PICSA will name to the Program Director two representatives to the Governing Committee. PICSA representatives will enjoy full voting rights, except when a clear conflict of interest is involved, or when University policy precludes student participation.

C. Executive Committee

PICSA names to the Program Director one representative to the Executive Committee. The PICSA representative enjoys full voting rights, except when University policy precludes student participation. University regulations prohibit student access to the files of applicants to the program.

D. Undergraduate Committee

PICSA will name to the Program Director one representative to the Undergraduate Committee. The PICSA representative will enjoy full voting rights, except when precluded by University regulations.

III. GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES

A. Informal

1. The grievant should attempt to find satisfaction first by discussing the matter with the faculty member or student involved.

2. If no mutually agreeable resolution is reached during stage A-1, the grievant may seek mediation through the Program Director (or Director of Graduate or Undergraduate Studies, if the Director is respondent).

3. When complaints and concerns are resolved through the informal process to the satisfaction of both the grievants and the respondent, any written materials, including electronic files, that may have been part of mediation are destroyed. The Program shall keep the original of any written agreement signed by both parties.

B. Formal

1. Filing a Grievance

a. If the above-mentioned informal procedures do not result in a resolution, the grievant may file a formal written complaint, submitted to the Program Director (or Director of Graduate or Undergraduate Studies, if the Director is respondent).

b. A formal complaint must be filed before the end of the semester following the semester during which the incident being grieved occurred.

c. Within ten working days of the receipt of the written complaint, the Director (or designee) will forward a copy of the formal complaint to the respondent(s), and may forward a copy to the Assistant/Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (or the Dean’s designee). The Director will also forward copies to the members of the Grievance Committee along with the request that they convene a meeting.

2. The Grievance Committee

a. Student-Faculty

If a student wishes to file a formal complaint against a faculty member, or against a graduate student acting as a teacher or teaching assistant, the complaint will be heard by a committee consisting of the Program Director, the Director of Graduate Studies, the Director of Undergraduate Studies, and two student representatives—undergraduate if the student is an undergraduate student, graduate if the student is a graduate student.

b. Student-Committee

If a student wishes to file a formal appeal against the decision of a committee of the Program, the student shall first be given a formal hearing by that committee. Appeals from that decision within the Program will be heard only on grounds of procedure or prejudice. Such appeals will be heard by the committee established in 2a, above.

c. Faculty-Student

If a faculty member wishes to file a formal complaint against a student, the complaint will be heard by the Undergraduate Committee or the Executive Committee, as appropriate. Appeals may be taken by either party to the committee established in 2a, above.

d. Faculty-Faculty

If a faculty member wishes to file a formal complaint against another faculty member, other than the Program Director, the complaint will be heard by the Executive Committee (including the Program Director). Appeals may be taken by either party to the Governing Committee.

e. Faculty-Director or Director-Faculty

In the event of a formal complaint filed with the members of the Executive Committee by a faculty member against the Director, or vice versa, a mediation committee constituted in the matter stipulated in A, above, shall attempt mediation within one week of inauguration of the formal complaint.

f. Substituting Committee Members

If one of the parties involved in a grievance is a member of a body that will hear the grievance, the vacancy shall be filled by the Program Director, or by the Executive Committee if the Director is involved. When the Director is a member of the body hearing a case, the Director will preside; otherwise, the body shall choose a presiding officer.

3. The Hearing

a. The Grievance Committee Chair will schedule the hearing within thirty (30) working days from receipt of the complaint at a time which does not preclude the attendance of either party—save that the period between the end of the spring term and the beginning of the fall term shall not be counted, and the first fifteen (15) working days of any semester shall not count toward the thirty days.

b. Parties will be provided at least five working days notice of the hearing date.

c. The grievant and the respondent have the right to challenge the impartiality of any member of the committee. The other members of the committee shall decide by secret ballot whether that member shall be disqualified for that hearing. The grievant and the respondent have the right to bring one person, who is present in a non-participating capacity, to the hearing.

d. A quorum shall consist of a majority of the members of the Grievance Committee with the proviso that at least one faculty and one student be present in committees including students.

e. Both parties shall be present during the hearing and may participate in Parts One and Two of the hearing. If either party is not present and there is reasonable doubt as to whether the notification of the hearing was received, the hearing should be postponed and a second notification should be made. At the beginning of the hearing, the Chair of the Grievance Committee should introduce all those in attendance, ask if anyone has questions about procedures, and assure both the grievant and the respondent that both may participate in Parts One and Two and that the hearing will not conclude until they are both satisfied that they have had ample opportunity to speak.

f. The hearing shall consist of at least three Parts:

(1) The initial presentation of the grievance by the grievant followed by discussion focused on the grievance.

(2) The presentation of the respondent’s response to the grievance followed by discussion focused on clarifying the response.

(3) The assessment of the evidence by the Committee and the formulation of a recommendation to the concerned parties.

g. No one other than committee members shall be present during Part three, and no new evidence may be introduced at that time.

h. Parts (1) and (2) of The Hearing should be tape-recorded and written Minutes thereof should be made with sufficient particularity to allow for review by the appeal agent.

4. Decision of the Grievance Committee

a. The decision of the committee will take place in Part three of the hearing and shall be put in the form of a written recommendation to the Director (or the Director’s designee, if appropriate) of the Program. The decision will be based on an open vote by all members of the Committee in attendance. The recommendation shall be based on a vote of the majority of the members present. In the case of a tie vote, the judgment will be for the respondent. Those members of the Committee who do not concur with the majority decision have the right to append a minority report to the recommendation

b. Within five (5) working days of the hearing, the Committee Chair will send a written report of the Committee’s decision to the Program Director, and within ten (10) working days shall notify all parties, including the Assistant/Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. This written decision will include a description of the appeal process, according to University procedures in force at the time of the decision.

IV. AMENDMENTS

Amendments to these Bylaws of the Program in Philosophy, Interpretation, and Culture require a vote of two-thirds majority of the Program Faculty, as defined in I-A, above. Amendments will be proposed at one meeting of the Governing Committee, and voted upon at the next meeting if two weeks have intervened. Amendments may also be voted on by mailed paper ballots.

Advising and mentoring relationships between students and faculty are an essential part of the PIC program. Incoming students are supervised by the PIC director and program faculty. Upon entry, every student is assigned an adviser from the program faculty, who continues to provide program advice throughout the student's career in the program. At the point where students begin to prepare for the MA comprehensive/PhD qualifying examination, a three-person faculty committee is appointed by the PIC director at the initiation of the student, and takes on advisory responsibility for that student's completion of degree requirements and beyond. The performance of each student is evaluated at regular intervals by the student's advisory committee.

Students are expected to meet with their advisers at least twice a semester, once at the beginning of the semester, the other before advance registration to plan for the following semester. One of those meetings should involve review of the student's checksheet and the completion of program requirements. The adviser is responsible for advice concerning the timely completion of all requirements related to progress toward the degree. The PIC Director of Graduate Studies is responsible for reviewing and certifying the completion of all requirements for the degree. Students with advisers from other departments and programs who do not have detailed knowledge of PIC program requirements are requested to consult with the PIC Director of Graduate Studies on a timely basis.

Where specific rules and regulations of the program and the graduate school or certification of degree requirements are involved, students should consult the PIC Director of Graduate Studies.

Students must not drop courses or change their course schedules without consultation with their adviser, and are urged to speak to the PIC director and other PIC faculty members for advice as well. Changes of course schedules during the semester may jeopardize funding.

Students may change advisers at any time, for any reason, by obtaining the agreement of their new adviser and by notifying the PIC office of the change. Advisors may be changed as frequently as the student desires.

Over the course of a student's studies, the student is expected to select a faculty member to serve as official mentor, chairing the student's individual student committee (ISC), MACPQE committee, comprehensive examination committee, and dissertation committee. The student may change such mentors as frequently as the student desires, but advanced students should choose their mentors with their examinations, field paper, and dissertation in view. The mentor is not required to be a member of the PIC faculty

Students are encouraged to develop advisory relationships with individual faculty members of the PIC faculty and with other campus faculty. Only members of the PIC faculty can serve as a student's formal adviser.

Students and advisers are required to keep the PIC Director of Graduate Studies apprised of all developments relevant to students' progress toward the degree. This is especially important as a student becomes a candidate for a job, but is also important throughout the student's career in the program.

During the semester leading up to the MA Comprehensive/PhD Qualifying Examination (MACPQE) and formal review of the students proposed plan of study (for students entering with an MA), the adviser is responsible for advice concerning all matters related to the timely preparation of the examination and for chairing the student's examination committee. At the point where students begin to prepare for the MACPQE, a faculty committee is appointed by the PIC Director of Graduate Studies, initiated by the student. The committee takes on advisory responsibility for that student and serves as that student's examination committee. The chair of the faculty committee is the student's mentor, and is responsible for organizing the examination and coordinating all related activities with the committee. At least two members of the committee must be from the PIC faculty. The faculty committee for a student's PhD Comprehensive Examination or field paper, and the faculty committee supervising a student's dissertation are also composed of at least two members of the PIC faculty.

The chair of a student's advisory and examination committee and the director of a student's dissertation are not required to be members of the PIC faculty.

(a) Completion of a minimum of seven four-credit graduate courses (28 credits), with a cumulative average of not less than B. Courses must be approved by the student's advisory committee. There are no specific course requirements, but no more than 4 independent study courses can be counted toward the MA degree, no more than 6 toward the PhD degree.

(b) Satisfactory performance on the MA Comprehensive/PhD Qualifying Examination (MACPQE)

(c) Demonstration of the ability to read scholarly works in a foreign language. See procedures under Proficiency Requirements.

(d) Either: Submission of a thesis deemed acceptable by a faculty committee as indicating the students' ability to do independent work (this includes registering for at least two credit hours of PHIL 599: Thesis) or: Completion of a non-thesis option consisting of three graduate courses in addition to those described above.

Students planning to continue in the PhD program are strongly advised to choose the nonthesis option. MA students on support are expected to register for a total of seven courses over two years of support plus a thesis, or ten courses if they are following the nonthesis option. PhD students are strongly advised to enroll in at least three graduate courses each semester, including proficiencies, until they complete their course requirements. Reducing enrollments beyond this point may jeopardize their progress toward the degree, and requires consultation with the student's adviser.

The minimum number of course credits required for the PhD degree is 56 (32 for students holding an MA degree from another institution) plus the appropriate number of dissertation credits required by the Graduate School. There are no specific course requirements, however the following restrictions apply:

All courses accepted for credit toward the degree must be approved by the student's advisor. Depending on background and specialization, students may be required to complete additional courses beyond the minimum.

Students entering with a BA are expected to take at least one course with each of three different members of the program faculty. Students entering with an MA are expected to take at least one course with each of two different members of the program faculty.

No more than 6 independent study courses for students entering with a BA, or 4 independent study courses for students entering with an MA, can be counted toward the PhD degree.

Student advisory, examination, and dissertation committees are appointed at the initiation of the student. All committees are required to include at least two members from the PIC faculty.

The MA comprehensive/PhD qualifying examination is composed of a four-hour written or overnight take-home examination, based on an individualized reading list for each student, and a ninety-minute oral examination emphasizing contemporary areas of the student's specialization. The examination is scheduled at the beginning of the Spring semester each year.

Either a PhD comprehensive examination or oral examination based on an approved field paper must be satisfactorily completed before admission to candidacy, as follows:

a. The PhD comprehensive examination consists of five parts, four written parts, three hours each, one two-hour oral examination.

b. The field paper consists of a 40-60 page paper plus an extensive bibliography defining the student's area(s) of specialization, broadly conceived, with relevant background material. A two-hour oral examination is scheduled based on the student's field paper and proposed area(s) of specialization.

Students are required to write a dissertation under the direction of a committee composed of at least three members including at least two from the PIC faculty. Other faculty may also serve on the student's dissertation committee, and the director need not be a member of the PIC faculty. The student is expected to present the dissertation at a public oral examination.

Students must demonstrate proficiency in two languages other than English; these may include languages without a written component.

Graduate school rules establish that 12 credits per semester are full-time until 24 credits have been completed or an MA degree received, here or elsewhere: 9 credits are full-time thereafter. Other rules have recently been introduced to reduce the costs of tuition scholarships to the university, and students should keep them in mind. They should not be allowed to impede the student's progress toward the degree. PhD students should generally enroll for three graduate courses each semester until course requirements have been completed.

Proficiencies normally require one credit of enrollment after the student has completed 24 credits. Out-of-state residents are funded at the in-state resident rate, and must become New York State residents as soon as possible to receive a full tuition scholarship. Exceptions are considered by petition. Students are urged to become New York State residents as soon as possible. A bona fide domicile is required plus supporting documents. Enrollments such as thesis, dissertation, pre-dissertation, etc. are regarded as full-time for only one credit except where institutions outside the university impose alternative definitions.

The MA thesis option normally includes a full semester devoted entirely to completing the thesis. Students should be advised that few students in the past have been able to complete a thesis in that time, and that a student who is not prepared at the beginning of the third semester of course work to begin work full time on the thesis probably will not be able to complete it by the end of the fourth semester.

In addition to these course requirements for the MA, students are required to pass a comprehensive examination (MACPQE), normally scheduled at the beginning of the fourth semester of residence. Performance on this examination is a factor considered in admitting students to the PIC doctoral program. Students are also required to demonstrate proficiency in one foreign language as part of the requirements for the MA.

Students holding an MA degree from another institution at the time they enroll at Binghamton are required to prepare a proposed plan of study and undergo a formal review during their second semester of enrollment, and to complete a total of 32 credits for the PhD. Each individual student committee reserves the right to impose special conditions that it considers appropriate, including remedial courses.

Full-time PhD students are expected to complete their course and proficiency requirements in a maximum of three years beyond the BA. Part-time students must arrange an individual schedule, approved by the PIC Director of Graduate Studies. Students entering with an MA have their course and proficiency requirements established at the time of the formal review of their proposed plan of study, by the end of one year of residence. Students are expected to pass the PhD Comprehensive Examination in the semester following completion of all course and proficiency requirements, which must be satisfied before a student is permitted to take the comprehensive examination. Students are required to submit an approved prospectus within a semester after passing their comprehensive examination, though an approved prospectus is due by the end of February for students applying for dissertation-year fellowships. The Graduate School requires that students complete their requirements for the MA within five years of admission, for the PhD within five years of becoming ABD. PIC encourages students to complete their dissertations within two years of becoming ABD.

Course schedules are prepared during the first two weeks of September for the following Spring and during the first two weeks of February for the following Fall. Students are urged to participate each semester in course planning by helping the PIC director to identify courses that could be offered of benefit to them that might not otherwise be offered. Students are encouraged to indicate their collective preferences for courses that might not otherwise be scheduled, and to do so routinely at the beginning of each semester, where appropriate. Efforts will be made to schedule a course that a number of students have requested.

Students are required to advance register during the advance registration period each semester as a condition of satisfactory progress toward the degree. Students are strictly required to be fully registered without delinquencies by the end of the third week of the semester.

Students should expect to spend at least 12-15 hours per week on each graduate course. Students on assistantships should expect to spend 18-20 hours each week on assistantship duties.

Students must demonstrate proficiency in two languages other than English; these may include languages without a written component.

The language proficiency requirement is met in either of two ways: (1) By taking an examination administered by program faculty consisting of a text of approximately 350-500 words which the student is expected to translate in 90 minutes. A dictionary may be used for that translation. (2) By completing an appropriate proficiency course (707) with a grade of A- or better. The logic proficiency is met by earning a grade of A- or better on the final examination in Philosophy 121 or 122. A letter from the instructor of the proficiency course (or faculty supervisor if a graduate student) is required attesting to the final grade.

Students with a native language other than English will be considered to have met one foreign language proficiency requirement. They are expected to maintain graduate level proficiency in English.

Students who have taught an appropriate logic course may be judged to have satisfied the logic proficiency requirement based on submission of the syllabus for the course taught.

One proficiency requirement must be fulfilled by the end of the semester in which the student takes the MA Comprehensive/PhD Qualifying Examination or undergoes the formal review of the student's proposed plan of study. All proficiency requirements must be satisfied before the PhD Comprehensive Examination can be taken.

Progress toward the degree is based on fulfillment of academic objectives according to the schedule listed under Course of Study, fulfillment of instructional achievements where appropriate, and the fulfillment of professional expectations. These are defined here and in the program brochure. Formal review of each student's progress toward the degree is carried out as indicated here. Some of these requirements are based on Graduate School rules. PIC itself insists on timely completion of degree requirements.

Students who fail to make satisfactory progress toward the degree (FMSPD) are required to notify their advisers and mentors and the PIC director, so as to receive assistance, and may be assessed penalties ranging from changed priorities for funding to dismissal from the program.

All issues involving FMSPD must be resolved in writing before students take their PhD comprehensive examinations. Students who have outstanding requirements at the time they submit comprehensive examination proposals to the PIC director are considered FMSPD. Students who do not take their comprehensive examinations within four semesters of completing the MACPQE or formal review of their proposed plan of study are considered FMSPD with penalties. Students who fail to complete examination and other scheduled requirements at the specified time are considered FMSPD with penalties.

Mentors and advisers are responsible for working with the PIC director to ensure the implementation of these provisions.

No student is allowed to have an incompletes (I) or withdrawals (W) by November 1st in the Fall or April 1st in the Spring. Incompletes are due by noon on the day specified. If the university is closed on the day specified, work is due on the last day before that date on which the university is open. The University is open during all vacations except from Christmas to New Year's and national holiday observances. Copies of work handed in within a week of the deadline must be provided to the PIC Director of Graduate Studies at the time it is handed in, if necessary in a sealed envelope. A withdrawal (W) is considered outstanding if it reduces the credits for the semester to less than full time (9 or 12 credits as relevant).

Students with an I or W will not receive funding the following semester and will have funding canceled if it has been offered to them. They are considered FMSPD with penalties (see Progress Toward the Degree). If students have handed in the work, they must submit a reminder note of the deadline to the teacher of the course before the deadline, with copies to their adviser and the PIC director. A student's advisory committee may recommend that the program committee cease to count a W toward FMSPD, at a time the student is not FMSPD. However, according to Graduate School rules, a student who earned a W in a course paid for by a tuition scholarship and whose enrollment consequently fell below full time status may not be offered funding until that issue is resolved with the Graduate School.

Students are required to complete all registration requirements by the end of the third week of the semester. Otherwise they will be considered FMSPD with penalties likely, and are required to notify the PIC director of the problem and to eliminate it within one week or to face penalties. New students will receive assistance when they encounter bureaucratic difficulties with registration.

Students are responsible for keeping their adviser and the PIC director informed of their FMSPD in a timely fashion. Advisors are responsible for helping students resolve their FMSPD and for keeping the PIC Director of Graduate Studies informed of progress to that end.

Students who are FMSPD with penalties twice before completing their degree requirements, even in a single semester, face dismissal from the program.

Students are not required but are expected to participate in the PIC proseminar and program meetings. Registration in the PIC proseminar (PIC 592) is frequently a convenience for students enrolled for 9 hours full time. Currently, the proseminar and program meetings are scheduled approximately every week throughout the academic year. The proseminar meets to consider the work of PIC faculty, students, and campus visitors; program meetings take up issues of policy and implementation as well as issues pertaining to students' professional development (e.g. applying for teaching posts, grants, conferences) and the work carried on in the PIC program (e.g. teaching and assisting in courses, examinations).

The PIC conference is held annually at the end of April, with participants from around the United States and the world. The conference is organized and implemented in all its aspects by the PIC Student Association (PICSA), in consultation with the Program Director and faculty. PIC students working on dissertations are invited to read a paper at the conference. PIC graduates are invited to return to participate. Local participants are expected to participate fully at the conference in a professional manner as if they were coming from outside the campus.

PIC maintains a research center for interdisciplinary studies in philosophy, interpretation, and culture. PIC faculty, other university faculty, participants from other universities and elsewhere, advanced PIC students, and PIC graduates all participate in center workshops and other activities.

Students are strongly advised to plan to study abroad for a year to strengthen their areas of specialization and language proficiencies. Students are also encouraged to apply for grants to support such study abroad.

Virtually all students in the PIC program will hold a teaching assistantship or another teaching position at some time. Typically, assistants are assigned to teach discussion sections in a lecture- discussion course during their first two years of graduate study, and teach their own courses after completing two years of graduate study, though in some cases a shorter apprenticeship as a teaching assistant is acceptable. All PIC students who teach their own courses must have served an apprenticeship of at least one semester as a TA at Binghamton or have taught their own course, at Binghamton or elsewhere, and must have either entered with an MA or have passed the PIC MACPQE. All courses taught by graduate students are subject to minimal enrollment conditions established by the Office of the Dean. One assistantship is supported by the journal International Studies in Philosophy. Graduate students who are interested in being assigned to editorial duties should make their interests known.

Teaching assistantship funding carries a stipend, a tuition scholarship, and provides health insurance on application under the GSEU contract, including the possibility of continuing coverage after the semester in question by paying individual premiums. Adjunct and lecture-causal funding carries the same stipend and, in most cases a tuition scholarship that must be applied for before the beginning of each semester except when such funds are depleted, mostly in the Spring semester. Adjunct and lecture-casual funding does not carry a comparable health insurance program, though students may purchase modest health insurance through the university.

Assistantship duties vary from course to course, but an assistant should expect to spend from 18-20 hours per week averaged over the semester. This includes attendance at every lecture (two hours per week), two hourly discussion sections, and at least two office hours per week. These responsibilities are strictly required of each teaching assistant. In addition, assistants may expect to spend six to eight hours of preparation and 90 hours of grading, averaged over the semester, though different assignments will cause these figures to vary. This means that graduate students with assistantship duties may expect to spend approximately 60-65 hours per week on their graduate study. Regrettably, many new assistants find it necessary to spend more time than expected on their duties. When this is a function of undergraduate course requirements, it should be reported to the PIC Director of Graduate Studies. We are interested in ensuring that our graduate assistants are not overloaded to the point that their performance as graduate students suffers. The program has attempted to reduce the workload in discussion sections over the past few years, but there is strong pressure to keep classes open for undergraduates.

Advanced graduate students are expected to teach their own introductory courses, with appropriately varied workload expectations, normally with enrollments of 20-35, depending on requirements. Each such student is required to have a teaching mentor to assist with problems and evaluation. Students teaching their own courses are expected to have their courses formally evaluated by their students and teaching mentor. They are also expected to submit course proposals through their teaching mentor for review and approval, for each semester and the summer. Student are permitted to teach courses of their own only if they have assisted in a lecture course with discussion sections for at least one semester.

Faculty mentors are expected to work closely with the student in preparing and teaching the course, to help the student deal with problems, and to help the student justify the course if questions arise. Teaching mentors need not be members of the Department of Philosophy.

Courses are scheduled during the summer session and are typically taught by advanced graduate students. Proposals are solicited each Fall, and must be reviewed and approved by the student's teaching mentor.

Qualified advanced students are recommended to the Graduate School for dissertation-year fellowships, normally during the fifth year. Fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis, and are not guaranteed. Nor is every ABD guaranteed nomination by the program for a fellowship. PIC prefers not to place PIC students in competition with each other, and encourages students to build strong dossiers to compete with students elsewhere on campus. Currently, PIC gives preference to students who have completed part of their dissertation.

The PIC program offers sessions on teaching philosophy each semester. In addition, many lecturers hold regular meetings with their assistants and are available for discussions concerning course problems. Students may expect regular support and guidance from the course lecturer. They should have no hesitation in seeking the lecturer out where necessary.

Assistants are expected to attend all lectures and to hold regular office hours, in addition to meeting 2-3 discussion sections per week. Assistants are also expected to read the course assignments, to do background preparation where necessary, and to grade the written assignments in the course. The lecturer must be notified wherever an assistant is unable to fulfill any of the responsibilities listed.

Assistants are encouraged to request specific course assignments. However, actual assignments must depend on departmental needs. Requests for TA or course assignments by students on PIC funding should be sent to the PIC Director of Graduate Studies, who will foward them to the appropriate host department or program.

Assistantships are renewed on the basis of written evaluations concerning past performance as teaching assistants and on the basis of academic evaluations assessing progress toward the degree (incompletes, proficiencies fulfilled, and grades).

Lecturers are asked to provide a written evaluation of each assistant's performance and to maintain adequate supervision to provide such an evaluation. This evaluation is utilized in deliberations concerning assistantship renewals.

The maximum period of eligibility for support for MA students is two years. The maximum period of eligibility for support for PhD students is four years after the BA degree, three years after the MA degree. All students are required to take the PhD Qualifying Examination, even those admitted with MA degrees. For students with an MA, formal review of the proposed plan of study is the basis for determining such students' coursework remaining for the degree. Students admitted with an MA degree judged to need additional course work will be given program backing in considering extensions in the period of eligibility for support.

Students who are admitted with funding and who continue to make satisfactory progress toward the degree may expect renewal of their assistantships for three years when admitted with a BA degree, two years when admitted with an MA or the equivalent. They may also be recommended, if qualified, for a dissertation- year fellowship.

Graduate students are members of the Graduate Student Organization, and may receive funds from that organization if they organize and elect officers.

Requests for substitutions in degree requirements are considered upon petition by the PIC Director of Graduate Studies, taking into account the student's program of specialization. Petitions for variations in other program regulations and procedures are considered and approved where appropriate.

Requests for assistantship assignments and for other considerations associated with assistantships (office assignments, building keys, etc.) should be directed to the PIC Director of Graduate Studies. Such requests will be carefully considered, but the program may not be able to satisfy them all.

Students in PIC are members of a professional environment. Students are expected to respond in a timely way to requests from faculty members, the Graduate School, and program officers, to make requests and to decline offers in writing, and to provide clear indications of their professional intentions.

This section contains guidelines for students to follow in knowing and meeting the requirements of the PIC program. The guidelines summarize the program requirements, but do not replace the formal wording in the PIC brochure and the rest of this Handbook.

The general guideline of guidelines is to know and conform to all guidelines that apply to you. If you have questions, see your adviser and the PIC director.

1. Know the Calendar and the requirements listed. No additional reminders will be sent for items listed on the Calendar.

2. You are required to have an adviser from the PIC faculty. Choose an adviser or have one chosen for you. Meet with your adviser at the very beginning of each semester, including your very first semester.

5. Be aware of the rules on incompletes and withdrawals, registration requirements, and the advising requirement. You must conform to these requirements to make satisfactory progress toward the degree. Address all questions concerning explanation and interpretation of rules and regulations of the program and the graduate school to the PIC Director of Graduate Studies. No one else, neither your adviser nor the PIC secretary, can modify or interpret program requirements.

Continuing students, including those who have completed course requirements, are expected to advance register as follows: (1) see your adviser; (2) before the end of advance registration register on line and give tentative list of courses to your adviser and to the PIC Director of Graduate Studies; (3) the PIC program secretary will complete all registrations that require their input; (4) students are strongly encouraged to complete all advance registration requirements before the end of the semester. For further information see Progress Toward the Degree.

7. If you are a full-time student, plan to take three four- credit courses each semester, regardless of Graduate School rules. You may be required to petition to do so. If you wish for any reason to take fewer than three four-credit courses in a given semester (or two plus meeting a proficiency requirement), speak to your adviser and the PIC director. If you are a part-time student, speak to your adviser and the PIC director about your program of study.

Before you have completed all your course requirements, you must be enrolled for 12 credits (before completing 24 credits) or 9 credits (after completing 24 credits). After you have completed all your course requirements, you must enroll in either Phil 698 (before taking your comprehensive examinations) or Phil 699 (after passing your comprehensive examinations), and you must submit a full-time status form. You may be considered a full time student with only one credit of 698 or 699 plus the full-time status form. Current Graduate School rules require that funded students must be enrolled for fewer than 6 credits to be considered full time with the full-time status form. Otherwise they must be enrolled for the full number of credits required.

8. Register for proseminar (Phil 592) each semester. If you are a full-time student on support taking 9 credits without 592, or if enrolling in 592 would cost you tuition funds or fees, speak to the PIC Director of Graduate Studies.

Attend all proseminars and program meetings. Notify the PIC director and your adviser of scheduling conflicts.

10. Read and follow the guidelines on the MA Comprehensive/PhD Qualifying Examination and proposed plan of study.

11. Satisfy at least one proficiency requirement in your first year. Discuss proficiency requirements with your adviser.

12. Plan to attend teaching programs and orientations run by the Graduate School. Think about preparing dossiers for campus awards.

13. If current regulations and requirements interfere with your course of study, consider petitioning the PIC Director of Graduate Studies to make exceptions in your case. Discuss your petition in advance with your adviser and the PIC Director of Graduate Studies.

14. Obtain a copy of the Graduate School Handbook on line. Read the sections relevant to your status as a graduate student. This will become far more relevant as you complete your studies.

15. Fill out a Declaration of Candidacy form in any semester when you plan to receive a degree, and submit it to the PIC Director of Graduate Studies, who will review your status and file the forms necessary for the degree.

17. Keep the office apprised of your current mail address, telephone number, and email address. This information is made available by the office only to PIC faculty.

1. You are required to have a teaching mentor. Choose a mentor with the mentor's agreement. Notify the PIC director of your choice as soon as possible. Engage in all teaching activities and course planning in close contact with your mentor.

2. If you will be teaching your own course, choose your mentor at the time you begin planning the course. Submit your course proposal and syllabus signed by your mentor to the PIC Director.

3. If you are assisting in a lecture-discussion course, the lecturer may serve as your teaching mentor. If you foresee the possibility of conflict with the lecturer, choose another mentor.

4. Discuss your teaching plans with your mentor. Keep your mentor apprised of difficulties and successes in teaching. Arrange for your mentor to write letters in support of your teaching for awards and placement.

5. Know when course schedules are due for the following semester. Submit course proposals through your mentor, discussed in advance with and approved by your mentor, to the PIC director. If you will be a teaching assistant and have strong preferences concerning your assignment, or foresee conflicts, speak to your mentor and the PIC director. You and your mentor are responsible for notifying the PIC director of matters that may influence your professional responsibilities.

6. Hold office hours and make yourself accessible to students during the semester and especially at the end of the semester. A university rule requires you to be available for 72 hours after submission of final grades.

7. Bring questions and suggestions concerning teaching to your mentors and discuss bringing some of them up at a program meeting.

8. Expect to work 18-20 hours per week on your teaching duties, averaged over the semester. Some weeks will require much greater effort; some much less.

9. If you are assisting in a lecture-discussion course, attend all the lectures in the course, meet your discussion sections, and hold at least two office hours per week. Additional duties may be defined for your course by the lecturer. Only illness and professional responsibilities are acceptable reasons for departure from these expectations, and you must notify the lecturer and the PIC office in advance or as soon after as possible and must make arrangements with the lecturer to make up the absences.

10. You should expect to spend from 18-20 hours per week averaged over the semester. This includes attendance at every lecture (two hours per week), two hourly discussion sections, and at least two office hours per week. In addition, you may expect to spend six to eight hours of preparation and 90 hours of grading, averaged over the semester, though different assignments will cause these figures to vary. This means that you may expect to spend approximately 60-65 hours per week on your graduate study.

11. Follow the guidelines listed here for summer courses as well as during the academic year.

Guidelines for Preparation for the MA Comprehensive/PhD Qualifying Examination (MACPQE)

2. Take courses that will prepare you for the written and oral part of the examination. You should have completed nine courses before you take the examination. You should have satisfied at least one proficiency requirement before you take the examination. You are required to have satisfied at least one proficiency requirement by the end of the semester in which you take the examination.

3. Begin thinking about your examination at the end of your second semester (if entering the program with a BA degree), immediately upon entry with an MA degree.

4. During the September before you will take the MACPQE, speak to various faculty members. Choose a chair of your oral examination committee by the end of October, in consultation with the faculty member involved. Discuss the other members of your committee with your chair.

5. Submit a draft of your examination reading list by the end of October to your chair. Plan a schedule to submit a revised list to the other members of your committee.

6. Submit the final examination reading list, approved and signed by every member of your committee, to the PIC Director of Graduate Studies by November 15th.

7. Prepare a 10-15 minute statement to present at the beginning or your oral examination updating the focus and orientation of your examination.

8. Meet with your committee as a whole before the examination, or if that is not possible, speak to each member of the committee to be sure that everyone is clear about the option you have chosen a four hour examination or a 24 hour take home examination and the expectations and procedures related to your choice.

9. If you and your committee plan to follow the alternate procedure, make sure to schedule a meeting with the members of your committee to discuss and develop the proposal, including the reading list, thematic description, and alernative examination procedures, approved and signed by every member of your committee.

10. If you entered with an MA, develop a detailed plan of study with a bibliography, choose a committee and committee chair, and begin to schedule your discussion with your committee before March 1st. You must meet with your committee or as many members as possible during the first week of March, and are expected to hold a formal review with your committee before the end of March. Funding offers for the following year will not be made until you have completed this formal review.

Guidelines for Completion of Requirements and Preparation for the PhD Examinations

1. Complete all course work (56 credits) and proficiency requirements (three foreign languages or two plus logic). Choose an advisory committee immediately after passing the MACPQE and discuss completion of your requirements the year before you complete the requirements. If you enter with an MA, discuss your remaining requirements with your advisory committee and get formal approval from the PIC director for the remaining requirements on your checksheet.

Each examination committee is composed of at least two members of the PIC faculty, plus additional faculty members from inside or outside the program where appropriate.

3. Discuss and decide with your advisory committee whether you will take the comprehensive examinations or the field paper plus oral examination.

4. Discuss when you plan to take your examinations with your adviser, and tasks remaining. Choose the chair of your examination committee, in consultation with the faculty member involved.

a. Start to prepare your reading lists one full semester in advance of the semester in which you plan to take the examination. Consult with all the members of your committee, and others, one full semester in advance.

b. Submit your reading lists, approved by every member of your examination committee, to the PIC Director of Graduate Studies at least one month in advance of taking the examinations. You should have no remaining requirements at the time you submit your reading lists. The plan for the examination including the reading lists must be approved by the student's examination committee before the examination is scheduled.

c. Discuss the dates of the examination with every member of your committee. Arrange with the chair of your committee to schedule the examination. Review your requirements with the PIC Director of Graduate Studies or make sure that the chair of your committee reviews your entire record to ensure that you have completed all requirements other than the examination and dissertation, and sends a note to this effect to the PIC Director of Graduate Studies before the examination is scheduled.

d. By the time you take the examination, you should have completed all requirements other than the examination and dissertation. You should know the rules and schedules for dissertation-year funding and other fifth-year funding on campus. You should be writing papers for conferences and seeking publication. You should submit a proposal to read a paper at the PIC conference while you are writing your dissertation and before. See Progress Toward the Degree.

a. Start to prepare your bibliography one full semester in advance of the semester in which you plan to begin writing your field paper. Consult with all the members of your committee, and others, one full semester in advance.

b. Submit the plan for your area(s) of specialization for approval to every member of your examination committee before you begin writing. You should have no remaining requirements at the time you submit your plan. Review your requirements with the PIC Director of Graduate Studies or make sure that the chair of your committee reviews your entire record to ensure that you have completed all requirements other than the examination and dissertation, and sends a note to this effect to the PIC Director of Graduate Studies before the field paper is submitted for approval.

c. Begin writing the field paper in close contact with the members of your committee, especially the chair, and review your bibliography. When feasible, prepare an abstract with a representative bibliography, and submit it with your examination committee's approval to your examination committee for approval.

d. Submit a final copy of your field paper for approval to all the members of your examination committee.

e. After the field paper is approved, discuss the dates of the oral examination with every member of your committee. Arrange with the chair of your committee to schedule the examination.

f. By the time you take the examination, you should have completed all requirements other than the examination and dissertation. You should know the rules and schedules for dissertation-year funding and other fifth-year funding on campus. You should be writing papers for conferences and seeking publication. You should submit a proposal to read a paper at the PIC conference while you are writing your dissertation and before. See Progress Toward the Degree.

5. You will be admitted to candidacy after the comprehensive examination or field paper committee determines that you have passed the comprehensive examination or approves the field paper, and after submitting a dissertation prospectus approved by your dissertation committee.

2. Choose the director of your dissertation committee and, together, plan the other members of the committee.

Each dissertation committee is composed of at least two members of the PIC faculty, plus additional faculty members from inside or outside the program where appropriate.

The director of the dissertation need not be a member of the PIC faculty. At the time of the defense, you will need an outside examiner, a faculty member from outside the PIC program, either elsewhere on campus or from another university. This examiner may be appointed when you become ABD. Discuss this matter with the director of the dissertation committee.

3. Prepare a dissertation prospectus with the director of your dissertation. The prospectus must be approved by every member of your dissertation committee. Plan on at least three drafts and at least two months.

4. Submit your prospectus, signed by the members of your committee, to the PIC Director of Graduate Studies so that you may become ABD.

5. If you would like to be considered for a dissertation- year fellowship, you must submit an approved prospectus together with a curriculum vitae and all relevant supporting materials to the PIC director to the schedule. Letters of recommendation are not required at this stage, but will be needed immediately for those who are nominated.

Students who have received more than four years of university support, from any sources, are normally ineligible for a DYF. Clark fellows receive six years of support, and can write their dissertations during the fifth and sixth year without teaching. As a consequence, Clark fellows are considered for a DYF only under special conditions. Eligibility for further PIC funding expires with receipt of a DYF. Students who are well embarked on their dissertations are stronger candidates for a DYF.

6. The final draft of your dissertation must follow the procedures and format of the Graduate Student Handbook. The program style sheet is the Chicago Manual of Style.

The signatures that follow should give either the complete correct title of the faculty member or, for the PIC program faculty, may be restricted to Philosophy, Interpretation, and Culture. Here is a sample:

Stephen David Ross________________April 10, 2001
Professor of Philosophy and of Philosophy, Interpretation, and Culture and of Comparative Literature

Stephen David Ross________________April 10, 2001
Professor of Philosophy, Interpretation, and Culture

Either is fine but please note that the Philosophy, Interpretation, and Culture title applies only to members of the PIC program faculty. You're welcome to check with them as to how they would prefer to be listed. Appearance is a factor: the first listing above is somewhat crowded, though it may look better on an actual signature page.

The signature page must be signed by all the members of your committee. It does not include the outside examiner's signature though some students prefer to include it.

Formal titles for faculty at Binghamton University are listed in the University Bulletin at the back. We will be glad to give you the complete title when you plan to prepare the signature page. In the case of faculty from outside the university, the title should be listed on the cv, which is now a requirement for their appointment. Check with the PIC office before preparing the signature and title pages.

The final draft must be in the hands of all the members of your dissertation committee and the outside examiner at least four weeks before the scheduled defense. The outside examiner must be nominated to the Graduate School at least one month before receiving the final draft.

7. All the members of your committee, including the outside examiner, must approve the dissertation and agree that you have passed before the defense is scheduled. The defense is then a discussion of issues and questions that arise from your dissertation, without the risk that your answers may cause you to fail. This should provide an interesting and productive experience directed toward your future. It does mean that you will have to complete your dissertation to the satisfaction of every member of your committee before the defense can be scheduled.

Discussions are held each year addressing placement activities. The program usually sends faculty to American Philosophical Association meetings who assist students in placement efforts.

Some placement suggestions are listed here. It is never too early to begin thinking about placement.

1. Build a dossier that will distinguish you from the crowd, including (in order of importance):

2. Begin these activities as soon as possible after taking the MA Comprehensive/PhD Qualifying Examination.

a. Campus awards require a comprehensive dossier with extensive materials relevant to the award. For the teaching excellence award: letters from faculty mentors who have supervised the graduate student's teaching; sets of teaching evaluations; letters from students or former students of the graduate instructor; handouts, syllabi, assignments and examinations designed by the instructor as appropriate; statements of teaching goals, approach, and philosophy; and anything else relevant. For the research award: letters from faculty mentors who have directed the student's research, specifying its original contribution to knowledge in the field; offprints of publications or copies of materials submitted by the student; letters from other graduate students regarding program presentations, seminars, etc., given by the nominee; and anything else relevant.

Begin collecting these materials as soon as you begin teaching your own courses. You will find the materials necessary to a campus award, and valuable when you go on the job market. Building such a award dossier will help you in building a placement dossier.

b. Begin responding to Calls for Papers for conferences at which graduate students are encouraged to participate. Speak to your mentors and advisory committees about preparing papers for presentation. Start presenting papers to fellow students on campus, then at conferences. Some of these conferences will publish their proceedings, giving you a refereed publication.

c. Rewrite some of these papers, with your mentors and advisory committees, for publication. Submit to journals or to book collections.

d. Attend the PIC conference and other campus conferences in your areas. Graduate students from elsewhere attending the conference have indicated that they find it immensely helpful and enlightening to watch other graduate students and faculty present papers at such a conference. You will learn the kinds of papers accepted and the strategies expected at such meetings. Begin attending campus conferences immediately, but increase your attendance as you approach the time you will submit papers to other conferences.

3. Join the American Philosophical Association and begin reading Jobs for Philosophers so as to know the specializations listed and emphasized. Also read the Chronicle of Higher Education and Women's Review of Books.

4. Start your placement file at the Career Development Center the year before you go on the job market. Write your vita and cover letters with your advisers. Expect to write several drafts. Build upon the strengths developed in the activities discussed above as well as in your areas of course work, examinations, and dissertation.

a. Your curriculum vitae b. A cover letter, perhaps several cover letters c. A sample of writing, prepared with your mentors d. A dossier related to your teaching abilities, prepared as indicated above

Although all your expenses will usually be covered by a campus inviting you for a campus interview, all other placement activities can be very expensive. For example, travel to APA meetings may cost as much as $500; room and board may cost another $300-400. Each application may cost as much as $5-10, depending on your supporting materials.

7. Keep a current copy of your vita and perhaps your cover letter in your file in the PIC program office. Something may come up where we need to respond to an inquiry on your behalf, and we need current information. Do this as early as you can in your residence here. Also keep us informed of any awards you receive, from on or off campus.

8. It cannot be emphasized too strongly that you will get a job only if you believe you should, that you need to believe and to be able to demonstrate that you can fill the position described (and undescribed), that your interviewers will benefit from hiring you. All of the suggestions in this memo are directed toward building the case that you are an extremely attractive candidate.

9. Work closely with your faculty advisers throughout the placement process. They may be able to help you in ways that neither you nor they anticipate, but only by frequent communication.

10. Talk to students who have already been on the job market. They know things that nobody else knows.

1. Each student chooses an individual student committee (ISC) composed of a minimum of three faculty members to a maximum of four, at least 2 from the PIC faculty, all of whom agree to work together with the student. Committee members may be changed at any time, by the student. Faculty may agree to serve or withdraw from a student's ISC at any time. In both cases, sufficient advance notification must be given to the rest of the committee, the student, and the PIC director to give them time to respond.

2. The examination, written and oral, is administered by the student's ISC, individualized according to the student's project and preparation. The ISC meets as a committee with the student at least once before administering the examination, to establish expectations and procedures.

3. Each student proposes an individual reading list for both the written and oral examinations, approved by the student's ISC. The student includes with the reading list a thematic statement or set of questions, a version of which is presented at the time of the oral examination. A copy of the full proposal signed by each member of the ISC is submitted to the PIC office by the time announced in the PIC calendar.

4. The written examination consists either of a four hour written examination, or of a 24-hour take home examination, to a maximum of 25 typed pages, at the option of the student in consultation with the ISC. The student is expected to answer at least one question from each examiner. The written examination is scheduled during the first week of the Spring semester. The ISC establishes clear expectations and procedures for the written examination with the student and among themselves, depending on the option chosen.

5. The oral examination is scheduled within 10 days of the written examination, for 1 1/2 hours, emphasizing the student's oral thematic presentation. The student is expected to present a 10-15 minute opening statement updating the thematic focus or questions of the examination.

6. On the basis of the MACPQE and a full review of the student's academic performance, the ISC recommends whether the student may continue to the PhD or earn the MA.

7. The MACPQE may be taken once only. It must be passed by all students entering with a BA in order to continue to the PhD.

8. All written examinations and reading lists are to be made available to PIC students and faculty after the examination, creating a pool of reading list proposals and questions.

9. Students entering with an MA choose an ISC following the procedures indicated in item #1 and prepare a proposed plan of study with the committee, including a bibliography, to be discussed with the student at a two-hour formal review before April 15th of the student's second semester of study. This review is the basis of the student's continued program of study to the PhD. The proposed plan of study may be changed at any time with the agreement of the student's ISC, following the procedures indicated in item #1.

10. With the agreement of the student and all members of the ISC, an alternate examination structure may be followed. Some examples are: (a) replacing the written examination with an expanded field proposal together with a two-hour oral examination (akin to the procedure described in #9 for students entering with an MA); (b) basing the written part on one or more papers written by the student, again together with a two-hour oral examination; (c) an expanded written examination together with a brief oral discussion. Other alternatives may be developed. If the alternate procedure is followed, the ISC must meet together with the student to develop and discuss the proposal, and the proposal, including its thematic, structural, and procedural components, must be signed by each member of the ISC and submitted to the PIC office by the time announced in the PIC calendar.

a. PhD Comprehensive Examimation. The PhD comprehensive examination consists of five parts, four written parts, three hours each, one two-hour oral examination. Students are responsible for submitting a proposal for the four- part written examination, approved by their individual student committee (ISC). This proposal should be thematically organized, with considerable flexibility: for example, a single theme divided into four parts; up to four different themes, with an examination for each part; or something in between. Each theme and each part of the examination should be accompanied by a list of authors and texts. The overall configuration of the examination lists should express the student's background and area(s) of specialization in the PIC program. Each written part of the examination is read by at least two members of the ISC. The oral examination is based on the four examination lists and the student's thematic description, emphasizing the student's area(s) of specialization, but may take up any relevant areas of interest.

b. Field Paper plus Oral Examination. A 40- 60 page field paper plus an extensive bibliography defining the student's area(s) of specialization, broadly conceived, with relevant background material, plus a two-hour oral examination based on the student's field paper and proposed area(s) of specialization. The area (or areas) may be a disciplinarily-recognized specialization, or a specialization of similar scale developed by the student and the student's ISC.

Each student chooses an ISC composed of a minimum of three faculty members to a maximum of four, at least 2 from the PIC faculty, all of whom agree to work together with the student. Committee members may be changed at any time, by the student. Faculty may agree to serve or withdraw from a student's ISC at any time. In both cases, sufficient advance notification must be given to the rest of the committee, the student, and the PIC director to give them time to respond.

Students seeking academic positions in philosophy should take care that enough members of the examination and dissertation committees hold berths in philosophy to provide recommendations and support.

The student is admitted to candidacy after the ISC determines that the student has passed the comprehensive examination or approves the field paper, and after submitting a dissertation prospectus approved by the student's ISC.