The PhD Seminar provides an opportunity for advanced PhD students to work on their dissertation proposal. The course, which extends over an academic year and meets once every other week, is usually taken in the third year of the PhD program. Admission to this course normally requires that the student has passed at least one field exam.To prepare for the PhD Seminar, students should have a 10-page draft of a proposal approved by their faculty advisor. Students may defend their dissertation proposals while taking the PhD seminar.