Qualifying Paper

Overview

The qualifying paper demonstrates the student’s readiness for advanced doctoral study. It is a revised seminar paper roughly 20 pages (5,000 words) in length. The QP should demonstrate the student’s ability to operate within academic research conventions at approximately the level of an MA candidate. Importantly, the qualifying paper is not an MA thesis—it is shorter in length and narrower in scope and typically produced without any research travel or directed research courses (e.g. 503, Thesis). Faculty are advised to consider that these differences limit students’ ability to gather and absorb primary and foreign language secondary sources.

As stated on the department website and in the graduate handbook, the QP:

demonstrates the student’s ability to conduct independent research on a topic in her/his major field. It should show the student’s command of pertinent bibliographical and reference materials as well as her/his ability to critically evaluate and synthesize the current state of research on the subject. [italics added]

Additional guidance on these elements is provided below.

Demonstrates the student’s ability to conduct independent research:

  • The QP should demonstrate that the student can establish a coherent argument that is driven by evidence and engages with previous scholarship.

Shows the student’s command of pertinent bibliographic and reference materials:

  • The bibliography should include and the paper should cite relevant primary and/or secondary sources.
  • Citation and formatting should follow academic conventions (whether MLA, Chicago, APA, or otherwise).

[Shows the student’s] ability to critically evaluate and synthesize the current state of research on the subject:

  • The QP should place the research question and conclusions in the context of the existing discourse; this may take the form of a historiography.

Submitting the QP and the Role of the Second Reader

The student must submit the approved QP to the DGS by the end of Spring term in year 1 (MA-PhD) or 2 (BA-PhD).

It is the major advisor’s responsibility to guide the student so that the QP is submitted before the deadline—ideally it should be given to the second reader no later than week 6 of the term.

Failure to submit the approved QP by the deadline will mean that the student is not making satisfactory progress toward the degree and may result in significant consequences, including dismissal from the program.

Upon submission, the second reader for the QP will be appointed by the DGS in consultation with the DH. Students may suggest a second reader, but assignments are made with an eye toward balancing advising loads.

The DGS will be responsible for sending the QP to the second reader.

While the second reader is invited to evaluate for subject knowledge where possible, the primary responsibility of the second reader is to confirm that the citation and formatting of the QP properly follow the conventions for academic research and writing.

Assessing the QP

Once the QP is submitted, the major advisor and second reader will each submit a written statement of their assessment of its quality and approve or decline to approve the QP on the PhD Qualifying Paper Approval Form.

The QP serves as a checkpoint to assess the student’s readiness to move onto conducting independent dissertation research.

It should be reviewed with the expectation that students will further hone their skill in research, writing, and language.

Major advisors are expected to apprise their students about their assessment of the QP throughout the revision process and up to the point of submission.

If the QP is not approved, the student will not be recommended to proceed in the PhD program but may receive a terminal MA degree by revising and submitting their qualifying papers in accordance with the Graduate School’s standards for an MA thesis and by completing all requirements for the terminal MA degree. In this case, a thesis proposal meeting is not required.