The following are departmental guidelines for candidates for the PhD degree in literature, though ultimately everything must be approved by the graduate advisor, these requirements are in addition to the M.A. requirements:

1. A minimum of 20 credits beyond the M.A. degree, including at least two seminars. In ordinary circumstances, graduate students entering the program with a B.A. will be required to take the M.A. before they can proceed to the Ph.D.;
   
2. A Ph.D. minor of 10-12 credits in another field;
   
3. Scand St. 407 and Scand St. 408: Old Norse I and II;
   
4. Either minimal satisfactory competence (e.g., an ETS score of 525) in German and another research language approved by the department,
   OR advanced competency (e.g., an ETS score of 675) in German or another research language approved by the department;
   
5. Detailed knowledge of the literature of one Scandinavian country
   AND general knowledge of the literature of the other Scandinavian countries;
   
6. Familiarity with the history and structure of the Scandinavian languages;
   
7. Orientation in the history and institutions of the Scandinavian countries;
   
8. A written preliminary examination taken no later than one year before the student expects to receive the degree;
   
9. A dissertation