#  Student Checklist 

 



 This is the unofficial list of what actually happens, year by year, in the life of a PhD student in Celtic at Harvard.

###  First Year

- undertake course work, including medieval and modern Celtic language courses as appropriate
- work toward fulfilling the language requirements in Latin, French and German
- become familiar with the major resources in Celtic studies—bibliographies, dictionaries, databases and journals—and read broadly in the field
- plan summer language study or research
- study calls for papers and think about developing a paper into a conference presentation
- in spring, join Colloquium organizers to review paper proposals and begin planning program for October

###  Second Year

- continue course work, including medieval and modern Celtic language courses as appropriate
- complete language requirements in Latin, French and German
- plan summer language study or research
- deliver at least one conference paper
- assist third-year students with organization of the Harvard Celtic Colloquium; in spring, issue the call for papers and review proposals
- seek and arrange teaching for third year
- first semester: read more widely in the areas that interest you most as these emerge from course work, research for papers, and general reading; begin to define four or five areas, including at least both of Welsh and Irish, as well as other Celtic languages, or other disciplines, for your general exam in third year
- second semester: assemble a committee of three (normally) members of the faculty for your General Exam and consult with them as you develop reading lists in each of your four or five Generals areas; start (continue) reading

###  Third Year

- course work is optional
- teach, and arrange teaching for fourth year
- schedule General Exam, to be taken within the first semester
- take principal responsibility for Harvard Celtic Colloquium
- plan summer language study or research
- spring: review submissions to PHCC and begin the editorial process
- deliver at least one conference paper
- spring: consult with advisor as you formulate a dissertation topic and prepare the prospectus, to be submitted before the fall semester of your fourth year begins.

###  Fourth Year

- teach
- begin work on dissertation, remembering that you need drafts of two chapters in order to apply for the Dissertation Completion Fellowship
- apply as appropriate for fellowships to support your dissertation work in the fifth year
- plan summer language study or research
- deliver at least one conference paper and/or revise a paper for publication
- participate in GSAS workshops on professional development and the job search

###  Fifth Year and Beyond

- your dissertation is your primary responsibility
- continue to participate in conferences and to submit work for publication
- continue to participate in GSAS workshops on professional development and the job search