Working with your principal advisor, you will define two scholarly fields in which you will be examined. These fields will usually serve two functions: they lay the groundwork for your dissertation research and prepare you to teach on specific topics.
In the Spring Quarter of your second year and Fall of your third year, you will register for VS 298A: Preliminary Exam and complete your exam readings under the direction of an exam supervisor. For each exam reading, you will work in close consultation with your exam supervisor to prepare a reading list of 25-40 books, journal articles, and/or book chapters. During the quarter, you will meet regularly with the exam supervisor to discuss these readings. And at the end of the quarter, you will complete the written portion of the preliminary exam. You will have three hours to complete each written exam, which will generally consist of one or two essay questions. You will write the exam on a university-owned computer in a controlled environment with no access to books, notes, or the internet.