Applicable only to students admitted during the 2010-2011 academic year.

Comparative Literature

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

The Department of Comparative Literature offers the Master of Arts (M.A.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Comparative Literature.

Admission

Program Name

Comparative Literature

Address

350B Humanities Bldg
Box 951536
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1536 

Phone

(310) 825-7650 

Email

vcarrillo@humnet.ucla.edu  

Leading to the degree of

M.A., Ph.D.

The Comparative Literature department admits only applicants whose objective is the Ph.D. 

Admission Limited to

Fall 

Deadline to apply

December 1st 

GRE (General and/or Subject), TWE

GRE: General 

Letters of Recommendation 

3 

Other Requirements

In addition to the University’s minimum requirements and those listed above, all applicants are expected to submit a statement of purpose and a writing sample.

A bachelor’s degree in literature, ancient or modern, is preferred, with a grade point average of at least 3.4 in upper division literature courses. Literary proficiency in one foreign language and at least an elementary knowledge of a second one are expected.

Care should be taken with the statement of purpose and the writing sample, since the quality of thought and argument these exhibit weigh significantly in admissions decisions. 

Master’s Degree

Advising

See under Doctoral Degree.

Areas of Study

During the first two years of study toward the Ph.D. degree, each student’s study plan combines the work in the major and minor literatures by focusing on a defined area in which these literatures may be explored. The area may be a literary period such as Romanticism, a genre such as the novel, or a theoretical problem.

The major area is that of primary concentration. The student specializes in one historically defined period (such as medieval, Renaissance and baroque, neoclassicism and 18th century, Romanticism to modern), but a general knowledge of the major area is a prerequisite for the specialization.

In the minor literature, the student focuses on a period comparable to the area of specialization in the major literature, although the student may not have as much historical depth and breadth in this area as in the major field.

Foreign Language Requirement

Literary proficiency in the major and minor languages is an essential prerequisite for courses and degrees in Comparative Literature. Students should be able to take graduate courses conducted in the languages of their specialization, speak the major foreign language adequately, and read literary texts in that language with literary proficiency (in other words, with sensitivity to stylistic nuances).

Before completing the Ph.D. degree, students must demonstrate knowledge of two foreign languages. Proficiency in one language must be certified by completing two or more upper division and/or graduate literature courses in the appropriate language department. Students must prove more than elementary language competency in order to take these courses. The second language requirement may be satisfied by completion of one upper division literature class. For students who are not planning to pursue doctoral research and writing immediately, but who wish to receive the M.A. degree, the second language requirement may be fulfilled by either completion of two years of language course work, or by one upper division literature course. In rare cases where sufficient courses are not available, students may substitute a translation examination administered by a departmental faculty member in place of coursework. In such cases, departmental approval is required.

Course Requirements

During the first year of study, students are required to complete Comparative Literature 200A and 200B.  During the first two years of study, students are required to complete 11 additional letter-graded courses, the minimum also required for the master’s degree, as follows:

(1) Five graduate courses in comparative literature: Comparative Literature 200A and 200B; one course whose primary focus is theory; two courses that deal with primary texts in a comparative context (courses on genre, period, or a special topic that examines primary texts).

(2) Five courses (a minimum of three must be graduate courses; the other two may be upper division) in the major literature.

(3) Three courses, at least one of which must be graduate, in the minor literature. Periods, genres, or problems in the minor literature which lend themselves to comparison with similar elements in the major literature should be studied.

In general, the department discourages the use of 500-series (independent study) courses toward the requirements for the degree. However, of the above required courses, it is possible in certain instances for eight units to be from the 500-series courses. If these were used, courses 596 or 597 could be applied toward the minimum course requirement, but only one of the 596 courses could be applied toward the graduate course requirement. Students should consult with the Director of Graduate Studies to determine if this usage is acceptable.

Teaching Experience

Although teaching experience is not required, students may have the opportunity to serve as a teaching assistant after spending at least one year in the program. Teaching assistantships are not automatically offered to students but are awarded on the basis of merit.

Field Experience

Not required.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

Students who plan not to pursue doctoral research and writing immediately may choose to take an oral examination in conjunction with the second year review (see Doctoral Degree, Advising) and thereby fulfill the master’s comprehensive examination requirement and receive the M.A. degree. This two-hour oral examination entails the discussion of two seminar papers with three faculty members.  The examination is given between the seventh and tenth weeks of the Spring Quarter. The examination committee includes one of the graduate advisers from Comparative Literature and at least one other Comparative Literature faculty member. The student is responsible for contacting the graduate adviser to make arrangements for the examination as early as possible, but no later than the third week of the quarter. If the student passes the examination and has satisfactorily completed the 12-course, foreign language, grade and residency requirements, the M.A. degree is awarded. 

Thesis Plan

None.

Time-to-Degree

See under Doctoral Degree.

Doctoral Degree

Advising

The graduate adviser may be contacted at the departmental office. Students should meet at least quarterly with the adviser before the second year review, and once a year thereafter. Student records are reviewed on a regular basis by the core department faculty. Students whose grade-point average falls below 3.4 are sent a warning by the chair and may be placed on departmental academic probation.

First Stage Evaluation

At the end of the second year there is a meeting with the student and three faculty members to assess progress. This early review takes places between the seventh and tenth week of the Spring Quarter. The review committee includes the graduate adviser from Comparative Literature and at least one other Comparative Literature faculty member. The student is responsible for contacting the graduate adviser to make arrangements for the review, as early as possible in the quarter but not later than the third week. Students should have an idea of who the chair of their doctoral examination committee will be by the end of the second year at the time of the second year review. Students who enter the program with an M.A. degree may petition the Director of Graduate Studies for an extension of this deadline.  The purpose of identifying the doctoral examination committee chair by the end of the second year is to allow a year for the student to work with the chair to assemble the lists and the committee for the examinations, as outlined below.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

During the third and fourth years of study, the study plan combines the work in a major and minor  field by focusing on a limited area in which these fields may be explored. These areas may be a literary period or a particular aspect common to several literatures (for example, a genre like tragedy or the novel, or a phenomenon like neoclassicism or the baroque). They may also concern a critical or theoretical problem, involving analyses of styles or modes of interpretation; comparisons of classical and modern genres and themes; questions about the artistic process in different art forms; or problems in literary aesthetics or epistemology. The minor field can be a second literature as described above, or another discipline such as art history, film or gender studies, but in all cases knowledge of the relevant language(s) and literature(s) must be demonstrated. Students must obtain the approval of their major and minor fields by the Director of Graduate Studies.

Foreign Language Requirement

In addition to the course requirements for the major and minor fields, students must have literary proficiency in at least two foreign languages before taking the qualifying examination, to be demonstrated either by completion of upper division or graduate courses in the language, or, rarely, by examination. Additional details on fulfilling the requirement are included under Master’s Degree. A reading knowledge of a third foreign language is strongly recommended. It is also recommended that two of the three languages offered for the Ph.D. be from different language groups (i.e., Romance and Germanic, English and Slavic, Chinese and Arabic). A classical language is usually necessary for anyone majoring in a period prior to the 19th century.

Students who select a non-literary minor must still meet the requirements indicated above. For example, a student who selects French (major) and film (minor) as the areas of specialization is expected to demonstrate literature reading proficiency in another foreign language, for example, Spanish, Arabic, etc.

Course Requirements

For the first and second years of study, see under Master’s Degree.

For the third and fourth years of study, students are expected to complete the following course requirements: two courses in comparative literature; two to three courses in the major literature; two to three courses in the minor; and one course in the second foreign language if recommended by the adviser.

Teaching Experience

Although teaching experience is not required, students may have the opportunity to serve as a teaching assistant after spending at least one year in the program. Teaching assistantships are not automatically offered to students but are awarded on the basis of merit.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

Academic Senate regulations require all doctoral students to complete and pass University written and oral qualifying examinations prior to doctoral advancement to candidacy. Also, under Senate regulations the University oral qualifying examination is open only to the student and appointed members of the doctoral committee. In addition to University requirements, some graduate programs have other pre-candidacy examination requirements. What follows in this section is how students are required to fulfill all of these requirements for this doctoral program.

First Qualifying Examination

By the ninth quarter students will have 72 hours to complete a take-home examination in the major literature based on a reading list of approximately 50 works, 15 to 20% of which will be theoretical works related to the field. This examination in the major area is meant to demonstrate competence in the broad historical scope of the student’s literature as well as of a more specific period. Therefore, the reading list may be weighted toward a 100-year period but must cover at least 200 years (some areas will be much broader and will need to be established with the student’s major examiner and one of the Comparative Literature graduate advisers) and give some indication of knowledge of the broader history of the major area. Before taking the major written examination, the student also must submit a reading list of approximately 30 works based on the minor area, of which 15 to 20% will be theoretical works that pertain to the topic. The examination lists must be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies at least a quarter before the scheduled examinations. Field changes cannot be made by the student or the supervisor without the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies.

Before the end of the ninth quarter, the student sets up a three-member faculty committee for a follow-up two-hour oral examination that covers the major and minor areas. The committee includes the faculty members who write the major and minor examination questions, and at least two faculty members from Comparative Literature. All faculty examiners must be familiar with both lists and the written examination before conducting the oral examination. A student may attempt one or both parts of this examination a maximum of two times.

Second Stage Evaluation

In the tenth quarter, students enroll in a 597 course with their major adviser to begin work on the dissertation prospectus and to discuss the integration of the major area focus with a comparative literature focus. This 35- to 50-page prospectus, which includes a substantial bibliography, a review of the relevant secondary literature, and a critical or theoretical perspective, must be submitted no later than the sixth week of the twelfth quarter. At the time students submit their prospectus, they must formally nominate a doctoral committee.

Second Qualifying Examination

As early as the end of the eleventh quarter, but no later than the end of the twelfth quarter, students must take a two-hour University Oral Qualifying Examination, which is based primarily on the prospectus.

Advancement to Candidacy

Students are advanced to candidacy and awarded the Candidate in Philosophy (C.Phil.) degree upon successful completion of the written and oral qualifying examinations.

Doctoral Dissertation

Every doctoral degree program requires the completion of an approved dissertation that demonstrates the student’s ability to perform original, independent research and constitutes a distinct contribution to knowledge in the principal field of study.

Final Oral Examination (Defense of the Dissertation)

Not required for all students in the program. The decision as to whether a defense is required is made by the doctoral committee.

Time-to-Degree

Year one: By the end of the third quarter, students must have completed six to eight courses chosen in consultation with the Comparative Literature graduate adviser.

Year two: By the end of the sixth quarter, students must have completed 12 courses chosen in consultation with the graduate adviser and major field adviser.

Year three: By the ninth quarter, students must have completed the written examinations in the major and minor fields and the two-hour oral examination, and must have completed  15 to16 courses.

Year four: By the end of the twelfth quarter, students must have completed 18 to 20 courses chosen in consultation with the graduate adviser and major field adviser, and must have completed the qualifying examinations and been advanced to candidacy.

Years five and six: The dissertation normally takes one to two years to complete.  It must be completed no later than the end of the seventh year or twenty-first quarter.

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

A student who fails to meet the above requirements may be recommended for termination of graduate study. A graduate student may be disqualified from continuing in the graduate program for a variety of reasons. The most common is failure to maintain the minimum cumulative grade point average (3.00) required by the Academic Senate to remain in good standing (some programs require a higher grade point average). Other examples include failure of examinations, lack of timely progress toward the degree and poor performance in core courses. Probationary students (those with cumulative grade point averages below 3.00) are subject to immediate dismissal upon the recommendation of their department. University guidelines governing termination of graduate students, including the appeal procedure, are outlined in Standards and Procedures for Graduate Study at UCLA.

Special Departmental or Program Policy

Students may be recommended for termination if their grade point average falls below a 3.4 for two consecutive terms, failure to progress toward the degree through the completion of five courses per academic year or failure to pass the written or oral qualifying examinations. A student may appeal a recommendation for termination to the program chair who will appoint a committee, which may include the chair, to review the recommendation, and if necessary, meet with the student. The chair makes a final decision based on the committee’s report.