PhD Program Plan

I mentioned how FES is quite fond of writing plans to guide your academic studies. If this exercise is done well, it can be very useful. The PhD Handbook outlines the steps towards making the Program Plan (and much more) but, at this point, we would probably find more interesting just to consider the sections of the plan:

• Personal context of inquiry
• Current research interests
• Key terms and definitions
• Tensions and questions related to these interests
• Comprehensive areas with preliminary biblioigraphy
• Timeline
• Potential advisory committee
• Needs

At FES, first-year PhDs do this in the first term of study and it is revised later on. The dissertation proposal is separate (and after the comps). It might sound a bit prescriptive but, as an admirer of plans, checklists and "to do" lists, I think it will be of great help!