Faculty Advisor

A primary and secondary faculty advisor will be assigned before the start of the first quarter of study. Students may select alternative advisors if such change is academically appropriate and the new advisors agree to the change. The Faculty Advisors will oversee the selection of courses for at least the first year of study. Once a Supervisory Committee has been established, the committee will guide course selection and oversee the research for and writing of the Doctoral Dissertation .

Minimal Course/Credit Requirements:

• Ph.D. students must complete at least 60 credits of coursework and at least 27 Dissertation (WOMEN 800).
• Coursework credits must include 15 credits of Core Seminars in Women Studies (WOMEN 501, 502, and 503).
• An additional 45 credits will be earned in 400 or 500 level courses in your area of concentration and should include at least 10 credits in Women Studies Seminars. (Under unusual circumstances an additional 5 credits in courses outside the department made be used to meet this requirement. The procedures to petition such a substitution are noted below.) These courses should provide a comprehensive and cohesive coverage of the area of concentration and are to be selected in consultation with your Faculty Advisor or Supervisory Committee. A written coursework plan should be included in the student's Annual Plan which is filed with the Graduate Program Coordinator, the Director of Graduate Training at the start of each Fall quarter. Coursework plans can be modified and resubmitted at any time with the approval of your Faculty Advisor or Supervisory Committee.
• At least half of your coursework must be in courses 500 or above.
• You must have at least 18 graded credits of course work (400 or 500 level courses only) at the U.W. which averaged to at least 3.0.
• Major area courses must individually have a grade of 2.7 or above.
• Minimum of 27 dissertation credits (800), taken over a period of at least three quarters, at least one of which follows the General Examination.

How to request to replace departmental requirement of 10 credits of WS courses with credits from another department

It may be possible under exceptional circumstances to substitute up to 5 credits from another department for one of the required 10 credits of Women Studies graduate courses if no equivalent course is available in the Women Studies department. Permission will be granted only in cases where the substituted course of study is directly relevant to the student's course of study and has substantial feminist content.

The petitioner must provide the following materials to the Graduate Committee:

• A written statement explaining the rationale behind the request and the course's relevance to the student's research.
• A copy of the syllabus for the course the student is seeking to substitute
• A WS faculty member who teaches related courses must assess the
• syllabus and agree that the course offers material not in any similar WS course.

Ph.D. students are expected to demonstrate proficiency in a language or language(s) relevant to their area of specialization. Please consult your Faculty Advisor or Supervisory Committee to determine what language is best suited to your area of study. If students have not established foreign-language competency before entering the graduate program, they are urged to do so as soon as possible in their graduate careers. Begin this discussion with your faculty advisor as soon as you enter the program. Courses taken to fulfill the language requirement do NOT count toward the Women Studies Ph.D. The Language Requirement must be completed prior to the General Exam.

Research Methods Requirement

Ph.D. students are expected to demonstrate strength in at least two research methodologies, in addition to taking WOMEN 503. Before completing the Final Examination, the student must provide a statement, signed by the committee Chair, that s/he has achieved this proficiency.

Your Supervisory Committee works with you to plan your graduate training, and it conducts the General Examination and the Final Examination (Dissertation Defense). Much of the structure and function of this committee is determined by the Graduate School and not by the Department. Details on the Graduate School rules can be found at: http://www.grad.washington.edu/Acad/gsmemos/gsmemo13.htm

1. Composition of the Supervisory Committee:

The Supervisory Committee will consist of at least three, with a maximum of five, voting members, and a GSR.

1. Chair of the Supervisory Committee:

   1. The Chair of the Supervisory Committee must be a Women Studies Core Faculty member who is a member of the Graduate Faculty and approved to Chair Supervisory committees.

   2. Under exceptional circumstances, a student may petition the department Graduate Committee to have an adjunct faculty member (who is a member of the Graduate Faculty and approved to Chair Supervisory committees) chair her/his committee. This petition should take the form of a letter to the committee indicating why the Adjunct Faculty member is the best choice to chair the student's supervisory committee. A letter of agreement from the prospective chair should also be submitted.

   3. Not all faculty members are appointed to the Graduate Faculty and not all members of the Graduate Faculty are approved to Chair a supervisory committee. You can check whether a faculty member's Graduate Faculty status at: http://www.grad.washington.edu/gradfac/

2. Additional Committee Members:

   1. General Considerations:

      1. You need at least two committee members in addition to the chair and GSR but it is better to have three or four to assure a quorum at all formal committee meetings. A quorum is comprised of at least four members of the committee, including the chair, the GSR, and at least two other voting members.Typically, committee members must be individuals who have been appointed to the Graduate Faculty (Check to web site at : http://www.grad.washington.edu/gradfac/ to be sure that the people you select are on the Graduate Faculty.) One exception to this rule is allowed, i. e., one, but not more than one, committee member may be someone who is not on the Graduate Faculty.

      2. In every case, committee members should be individuals capable of guiding your studies to best prepare you for your career goals.

2. When the Committee Chair is a Core WS Faculty Member:

A. If the Chair of the committee is a Women Studies Core Faculty member, it is preferred, but not required, that at least two other committee members be Women Studies Core or Adjunct faculty.

3. When the Committee Chair is a WS Adjunct Faculty Member and the Student has not Completed the General Exam

A. At least two members of the Supervisory Committee must be Women Studies Core Faculty.

4. When the Committee Chair is a WS Adjunct Faculty Member and the Student Has Completed the General Exam

A. At least one member of the Supervisory Committee must be a member of the Women Studies Core Faculty.

5. The Graduate School Representative (GSR)

You will also select a faculty member from outside the department to serve as the GSR on your committee. This person has a series of roles including:

• Representing the broad concerns of the University with respect to high standards of scholarly performance;
• providing for The Graduate School, a non-specialist's view of the quality of the student's work, ensuring that the student's mastery of the subject matter is broad and comprehensive;
• assuring that all procedures are carried out fairly and according to the guidelines of The Graduate School.

A. The Graduate Schools' rules on selecting the GSR can be found at:

http://www.grad.washington.edu/stsv/doccommroles.htm#Graduate%20School%20Representative%20(GSR). Given the fact that many WS faculty have adjunct appointments in other departments and many feminist scholars in other departments have adjunct appointments in Women Studies, selection of a GSR can be difficult. Keep an eye out for a good GSR as you take classes or attend seminars in other departments. Work with your committee chair, other WS faculty and the Director of Graduate Training to locate the right person for your committee. A person who can contribute to the quality of your dissertation work is the ideal.

6. When to Establish Your Supervisory Committee:

Your supervisory committee should be formed as soon as academically reasonable. The Women Studies Department expects its graduate students to form their supervisory committees no later than Fall Quarter of their third year of study.

• The Graduate School requires that the committee be formed at least four months prior to the time the warrant for the General Exam is presented to the Graduate School.
• Prior to the final establishment of your supervisory committee you and your committee chair must sign the "Use of Human and Animal Subjects For UW Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations" form found  at: http://depts.washington.edu/webwomen/GRADUATE%20PROGRAM/human-animal-adivsory-certif.pdf

7. How to Establish your Supervisory Committee:

1. Talk to your advisor(s) to discuss potential committee members. Schedule an appointment with each potential committee member to determine their suitability and willingness to serve on your Supervisory Committee.
2. Get a "Ph.D. Supervisory Committee" form from the Graduate Program Assistant.
3. Each committee member must sign the form indicating their willingness to serve on the committee. The Supervisory Committee Chair, should sign the form twice – once, agreeing to serve on the committee and the second time signifying approval of the entire committee.
4. Return the completed form to the Graduate Program Assistant who will enter the committee request for the Graduate School. Keep a copy for yourself. You, and each of your committee members, will be notified by e-mail from the Graduate School when the committee appointments are officially established.

8. Changing (Reconstituting) Your Committee:

Within reason, it is possible to change the members of your committee. For example, if your dissertation focus changes, a different committee member may be more appropriate. Or a new person may join the faculty who would be an excellent addition to your committee.

If a change is needed, follow the steps outlined below.

1. Meet with your Supervisory Chair, the Director of Graduate Training, or the Department Chair to discuss your decision to make a change with your committee.

2. Prepare a written proposal that states the change(s) to be made and the reasons behind them.

3. Get the signatures of any members who are being added to, or removed from, the committee.

4. Get the signature of the Director of Graduate Training signifying final approval of the changes to be made.

5. Return the form to the Graduate Program Coordinator who will enter the changes electronically and submit the request to the Graduate School. You and all committee members (new and old) will be notified by e-mail from the Graduate School once the changes are official.

9. Meetings with your Supervisory Committee

1. Soon after forming your Supervisory Committee, you should meet with your Committee members to plan any additional course work, readings, and other activities you will do in preparation for your General Examination.

2. The committee will evaluate the written portions of your General Exam and conduct the oral portion of the exam (see General Exam below).

3. The Supervisory Committee guides the preparation of and approves your dissertation proposal.

4. The committee will meet for your Final Examination, during which you will defend your dissertation.

5. Other meetings may be scheduled as you and the chair of your committee deems necessary.