Ph.D. Requirements

General Timeline

One of the keys to successfully managing graduate school is long-term planning. It is important that students have a clear idea of exactly what needs to be done and by when in order to finish their degrees in a timely fashion. The following timeline gives a good idea of what a typical graduate student career should look like from year 1 to year 4, when the dissertation prospectus is approved. (Course offerings may vary slightly).

Note that students are required to register for a minimum of 12 units each semester, and therefore may register for additional JSP seminars...

Ph.D. Dissertation

Once students advance to candidacy, they come under the jurisdiction of the Graduate Council, rather than that of the Jurisprudence and Social Policy Ph.D. program, and are governed by a variety of policies intended to ensure their completion of the doctoral degree.

JSP INFORMATION ON FILING YOUR...

Qualifying Exam

The Ph.D. Qualifying Examination represents the final hurdle prior to a student being “advanced to candidacy” and embarking on his or her doctoral dissertation.

The organization and composition of the qualifying exam are governed by Graduate Division rules and requirements

JSP INFORMATION ON SCHEDULING QE AND...

Core Requirements

During their first 2-3 years of study, JSP students undertake an ambitious program of seminars and related courses. It is during this time that students complete most of the Program’s pre-dissertation requirements and prepare their two fields of specialization.

Coursework:

JSP Orientation Seminar

3 JSP “Foundation” Seminars

2 Additional JSP Seminars

Statistics Course + Research Design (Methods) Course

1 Law Doctrinal Course...

Advising and Evaluation

Graduate Advisor

The Graduate Advisor (also known as the Head Graduate Advisor) is appointed by the Dean of the Graduate Division to interpret and enforce campus and program requirements for graduate degrees. The Graduate Adviser routinely signs numerous forms and petitions that accompany student life at U.C. Berkeley. Even more important, the Graduate Adviser helps advise and monitor each student’s progress through to the qualifying exam. Students seeking advice about the program’s requirements, or exemptions from particular provisions, generally need to consult the...