CBFE Milestones
Working with the student, the advisor determines if and when the student is prepared to complete each of five program “milestones”:
1. Qualifying Exam
2. Field Paper
3. Dissertation Proposal
4. Teaching Experience (mentored teaching or other experiences)
5. Dissertation Defense
The table below shows a typical progression for a four-year program. This is a pathway that is feasible for most students but may not fit every student’s academic and personal circumstances.
Typical Pathway for Four Year Program
| FIRST YEAR: Theory Development; Intro to Methods; Explore Research Interests; Professionalization | ||
| Fall Term | Spring Term | Summer |
| Courses & Electives: Mix of substantive and methods
TA Professionalization: Attend workshops, meet speakers, read journals and books Meet with advisors and faculty Complete IRB Training |
Courses & Electives: Mix of substantive and methods
TA Professionalization: Attend workshops, meet speakers, read journals and books Meet with advisors and faculty Complete initial IDP |
Pre-dissertation research Additional methods training Work on papers
Read journals and books Qual exam |
| SECOND YEAR: Deeper Methods Training; Prepare Research Papers; Professionalization | ||
| Fall Term | Spring Term | |
| Methods and substantive courses TA
Attend workshops, meet speakers, read journals and books Identify primary advisor |
Methods and substantive courses
TA Workshop/Speakers/reading Continue to meet with faculty Field Paper Completed |
Submit Field or other paper to journal/conference
Pre-dissertation research Develop dissertation ideas Optional Internship |
| THIRD YEAR: Develop and Defend Dissertation Proposal; Develop Research Portfolio; Prepare for Job Market | ||
| Fall Term | Spring Term | Summer |
| Teaching Fellowship
Attend conferences Meet with advisors and faculty |
Teaching Fellowship
Defend proposal Professionalization Present paper at conference |
Dissertation Research
Submit papers for publication Develop JMP (job market paper) Practice job Talk Optional Internship / Field Placement |
| FOURTH YEAR: Dissertation research; Present at conferences; Get job, Defense Dissertation and Graduate | ||
| Fall Term | Spring Term | Summer |
| Dissertation Research RA / PA Attend conferences Job Market Talks |
Dissertation Defense
Job Market Talks Attend conference and workshops |
Submit papers
Deposit Dissertation |
The use of independent studies for field papers and dissertation related preparation allows both faculty and students a mechanism to track progress and obtain credit for work being completed. Prerequisite Undergraduate Courses (UW or equivalent):
- Calculus
- Intermediate Microeconomics
- Introductory Statistics
- Intermediate Statistics
Consumer Science Courses
Theory Courses for Qualifying Exam:
- CS 888: Advanced Consumer Behavior
- CS 930: Family Policy
- CS 901: Causal Methods
Other Courses:
- CS 901: Experimental Approaches
- CS 901: Special Topics
- CS 999: Independent Study (Field Paper, Other)
SoHE Courses (as offered)
- InterHE 801: Human Ecology Theories and Perspectives
- CSCS 801: Proseminar-Engaged Scholarship
- InterHE: 793 Research Methods
Statistics
Courses should include a computer and data analysis components. Students who have completed one of these or equivalent courses must, in consultation with their adviser, select a more advanced statistics course appropriate to their background and expected research. Examples include:
- AAE 636: Applied Econometric Analysis I
- AAE 637: Applied Econometric Analysis II (as offered)
- ECON 705: Econometrics II
- ECON 705: Econometrics II
- ECON 706: Econometrics III
- ED PSYCH 960: Structural Equation Modeling
- SOC 756: Demography
Research Methods
These courses focus on research methodology and data acquisition. Course components should include research design, survey research methods, or qualitative research. Students may select courses that are consistent with intended thesis methodologies, in consultation with advisor. Examples include:
- AAE 875: Applied Econometrics using Replication
- ED PSYCH 711: (a) Graphical Models for Causal Inference or (b) Quasi-Experimental Design
- ED PSYCH 760: Statistical Methods Applied to Education I
- ED PSYCH 762: Experimental Design
- ED PSYCH 773: Scaling, Factor, and Cluster Analysis
- ED PSYCH 960: Structural Equation Modeling
- ED PSYCH 964: Hierarchical Linear Modeling
- SOC 751: Survey Design (and/or 752)
Field Breadth / Application
Examples include:
- AAE 635: Applied Micro Theory
- CES/SOC 977: Spatial Sociology Seminar § MKT 971 Seminar in Consumer Behavior
- MKT 972: Marketing Seminar
- PA 871: Program Evaluation (or equivalent applied)
- PA 883: Social Welfare Policy
- POLI SCI 917: Dynamic Analysis (Time Series Modeling in Politics)
- PSYCH 703: Social Psychology Seminar
- PSYCH 930: Social Psychology Seminar
- RMI Risk/Uncertainty (or equivalent)
- SOC WORK 950: Proseminar in Comparative Family Policy
Note: courses and course offerings frequently change. Please consult with faculty and existing students when selecting courses to determine which courses are a good fit. You should plan to meet with faculty before registering for classes each term.