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Instructions for Scheduling Oral Examination

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Instructions for Scheduling Oral Exams

Students are expected to file a Statement of Plans for the Oral Examination form in the first few weeks of the term in which the exam will be taken. The form is available here.  After completing all course and language requirements and passing the oral exams, students receive the degree of Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.). Many universities do not offer the M.Phil., which simply signifies that a student has reached the stage widely known as A.B.D. (“all but dissertation”). Once a student has successfully passed the oral examination, the Graduate Administrator will submit the application for M. Phil to the GSAS. Note important deadlines for the Mphil on this page: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/gsas/sub/dissertation/forms/dates/1112mphil.html

1) The student is responsible for scheduling a date with their Orals committee. Student should first check with the Graduate Administrator before scheduling Orals.

2) If the student is unable to resolve a mutual Orals date with the committee, then the student should speak with Sharee  M. Nash, Graduate Administrator, who will then take responsibility for organizing a date with the committee.

3) Once a date has been set, Sharee  M. Nash, Graduate Administrator, will find a location, send out a formal announcement of the date to the committee, and prepare Orals paperwork to be delivered to the chair of the committee the day before the defense is to take place. Ms. Nash will send out a reminder to committee members and the student two days before the scheduled exam.

4) After the defense, the Oral examination paperwork should be returned to Sharee  M. Nash, Graduate Administrator, who will then document the results and file the application for the degree of M.Phil with Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

5) Upon successful defense of the Oral exam, the student should see the Graduate Administrator to request that their name be placed on the roster for a post-MPhil study space in Butler Library.