Procedures for Presenting Casebook Proposals

Writing and presenting the proposal provides students the opportunity to define research goals and strategies clearly and to receive criticism and suggestions from a wide range of informed readers. Review by the students' supervising committees is crucial, but review by the Graduate Studies Committee (GSC) is also important. Students are challenged to demonstrate to an audience outside their immediate frames of reference both the project's validity and their own capacity to complete it. The proposal should, therefore, in its form and content, inform its readers about both the specific nature of the project and the quality of its author's thinking.

Preparing the Proposal

After a student has completed all course requirements, she or he will register for HUED 8304, as appropriate, with the faculty member she or he expects to chair the casebook committee to prepare the proposal. Students will continue to register for this credit in the following semesters until the proposal has been accepted by the GSC.

Casebook proposals should be no more than 1500 words, excluding the bibliography. They should include a description of the project, a review of the literature, the proposed methodology, the project's expected contribution to the humanities, and a brief account of the expected course contents. Students should also include a statement of their qualifications and preparation and purpose for the committee. MAT students should also consult the guidelines for the MAT casebook, of which a hard copy is also available in the office of the Associate Dean.

Normally, the three supervising members will be regular members of the Arts and Humanities faculty (tenured or tenure-track, in accordance with University requirements). The student, in consultation with the casebook director, will propose to the committee membership, which should include representatives from at least two of the three major areas of the program. Committee members will confirm their willingness to serve by signing the appropriate document.

Reviewing the Proposal

The GSC will hold regular meetings in the Fall semester and in the Spring semester.

The proposal, signed by the proposed committee members, must be presented to the Associate Dean for distribution to the members of the GSC at least 14 (fourteen) days before the next meeting at which proposals will be reviewed.

After discussion, the GSC will accept or return the proposal. A written decision, detailing the evaluation of the committee, will be sent to both the candidate and the committee chairperson. When a proposal is returned, the GSC will provide the reasons for its decision and suggested revisions.

The GSC's decision to accept or return a proposal will be based on a majority vote (excluding abstentions). Should substantial disagreement arise between the GSC and the proposed supervising committee, the chair of the supervising committee will meet with the GSC to resolve the questions. Should disagreements between the GSC and the proposed supervising committee continue, the position of the Graduate Studies Committee will prevail. Other members of the supervising committee may also attend that meeting.

Normally, the GSC will ratify the proposed membership of the supervising committee. In some cases, it may suggest changes in the proposed membership for the student and supervising professor to consider.

Students whose proposals are returned will be encouraged to revise and resubmit them. They are also encouraged to confer with members of the GSC, their committee, and, if necessary, with the Associate Dean

Any student whose proposal is returned a second time must meet with the Associate Dean to discuss whether he or she wishes to continue in the program. If the student wishes to continue, she or he must submit a revised proposal. If this proposal is not accepted, the GSC may recommend that the student be dropped from the program.

After the Proposal is Accepted

The Associate Dean will forward a copy of the accepted proposal to the Executive Dean for Graduate Studies and Research (in accordance with University requirements).

Students will register for HUED 8304 with the chair person of the supervising committee as required by the catalog. Students will consult regularly with their committees and report on their progress.

Students wishing to change committee membership will petition the GSC, giving the reasons for the proposed change. If membership of the committee changes, students should present to the Associate Dean a new casebook proposal committee form with the signatures of the committee members.