Program Requirements for Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2014-2015 academic year.

Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

The Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology offers the Master of Arts (M.A.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology.

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

See under Doctoral Degree.

Areas of Study

See under Doctoral Degree.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

The program consists of at least nine courses in graduate standing, of which at least five must be graduate-level (200-series) courses. The remainder may be courses in the 100, 200, or 500 series. No more than two 596 courses (eight units) may be applied toward the nine courses required for the degree; only one 596 course (four units) may be applied toward the minimum graduate course requirement. Courses graded S/U may be not be applied toward the minimum requirement unless these courses are not offered for a grade. Specific course requirements are established for each student by the guidance committee.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

The departmental written qualifying examination for the Ph.D. degree, or its equivalent as determined by the Graduate Adviser, serves as the comprehensive examination for the M.A. degree.

Thesis Plan

Every master’s degree thesis plan requires the completion of an approved thesis that demonstrates the student’s ability to perform original, independent research.

A thesis reporting the results of an original investigation, prepared in accord with University format requirements available on the Graduate Division website, is presented to and approved by the master’s thesis committee of three faculty members. Before beginning work on the thesis, students must obtain approval of the subject and general plan from the faculty members concerned and from the thesis committee.

Time-to-Degree

The department rarely awards the master’s degree except in instances where the student is unable to complete the requirements for the doctorate.

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Students are advised by the appropriate Home Area Director. The Cell & Developmental Biology Home Area Director also is available to assist students with University and departmental requirements. All academic affairs for Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology students are coordinated by the Cell & Developmental Biology Home Area Director, who is assisted by the administrative staff of the Molecular Biology IDP Graduate Affairs Office.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Specific fields of emphasis in the department naturally reflect the research foci of the faculty. The research foci of MCDB faculty are reflected through the following Home Areas:

1) Cell and Developmental Biology (Molecular Biology IDP)

2) Gene Regulation (Molecular Biology IDP)

3) Genetics and Genomics (Human Genetics Ph.D. Program)

4) Bioinformatics (Bioinformatics IDP)

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Students are required to enroll full time in a minimum of 12 units each quarter. In addition to basic course requirements, all students are required to take Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology 296 and 596 or 599 each quarter. The majority of the didactic course requirements for molecular biology, cell biology, and research ethics are completed during the first year of study. Students, in consultation with their dissertation adviser, may elect to take additional graduate courses or seminars in a particular area of specialization.

All graduate students in the department are required to complete the teaching assistant training courses, Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology 495, either before or during their first quarter as a Teaching Assistant.

Teaching Experience

The department considers teaching experience to be an integral part of the graduate program. Students are expected to complete a minimum of two quarters as a teaching assistant in departmentally approved courses. In general, students serve as teaching assistants for one quarter in the second year and for one quarter in the third year. If students fail to follow this schedule and as a result fall behind in meeting this requirement, the Graduate Adviser may arbitrarily assign them to a course.

Advanced students, such as participants in the STAR or MSTP programs, may be exempted from the teaching requirement.

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.

The written and oral qualifying examinations should be completed and passed by the end of Fall Quarter of the third year of graduate study. The written qualifying examination must be passed before the University Oral Qualifying Examination can be taken. Students are advanced to candidacy upon successful completion of the written and oral qualifying examinations.

Written qualifying examination. Students must formally constitute and meet with their doctoral committee. The purpose of the meeting is for the committee to evaluate the student’s understanding of the rationale and background for the proposed dissertation research and to provide feedback to the student on its feasibility and experimental strategy. Students prepare a written description of the scientific background of the dissertation research project, the specific aims of the project, preliminary findings, and an experimental plan for addressing the specific aims. This dissertation proposal has a maximum length of 10 pages, excluding references, and is submitted to the students’ doctoral committee in advance of the examination. The examination also consists of an oral presentation of the proposal by the student to the doctoral committee.

University Oral Qualifying Examination. This examination is chaired by an MCDB doctoral committee member other than the student’s adviser, and is conducted by the doctoral committee. The thesis adviser serves on the doctoral committee and votes, but does not participate verbally. The examination focuses on the discussion and defense of an original written research proposal, as well as on general biological questions. The topic of the original research proposal requires advance approval of the student’s doctoral committee, and may not be the anticipated dissertation research topic, or an active or anticipated research project in the laboratory of the student’s adviser. Exclusive of their doctoral committee members, students are free to consult with other individuals in formulating proposed research. The research proposal must be written according to the NIH grant application format, with a maximum length of 10 pages, excluding references. The student’s oral presentation and examination are expected to demonstrate: (1) a scholarly understanding of the background of the research proposal; (2) well-designed and testable aims; (3) a critical understanding of the technical applications to be employed in the proposed research; and (4) an understanding of potential experimental outcomes and their interpretation. This examination is graded Pass, Conditional Pass, or Fail. If the doctoral committee decides that the examination reflects performance below the expected mastery of graduate-level content, the committee may vote to give the student a Conditional Pass. At the committee’s discretion, a student who receives Conditional Pass will be required to modify or re-write their research proposal, so as to bring it up to required standards. In the case of a Conditional Pass, the student will be permitted to seek the advice of their committee in modifying or re-writing the proposal. Any required re-write or modification will be submitted to, and reviewed by the doctoral committee. The signed Report on the Oral Qualifying Examination & Request for Advancement to Candidacy will be retained in the Graduate Student Affairs Office until the student has satisfied the doctoral committee’s request for revision or re-write.

Midstream seminar. The midstream seminar is meant to occur halfway between the University Oral Qualifying Examination and the final oral examination (defense of the dissertation), but in no case later than the beginning of the fifth year of doctoral study. Students who are in the program longer than five years must meet with their committee once each year.

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 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

Normal progress from matriculation to conferral of the degree is five to six academic years (15 to 18 quarters).

Coursework, laboratory rotations, and choice of faculty adviser should be completed by the end of the first year.

The written qualifying examination should be completed by June of the second year in graduate study.

The University Oral Qualifying Examination and advancement to candidacy should be completed no later than January 1 of the third year in graduate study. Failure to attain candidacy status at this time without a specific exception granted by the chair of the departmental Graduate Committee will be grounds for the recommendation of termination of the student’s graduate study.

The midstream seminar should be completed in the fourth year of study.

The dissertation and final oral examination (defense of the dissertation) should be completed during the fifth year of study, and no later than the sixth year of study.

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

In addition to the standard reasons outlined above, a student may be recommended for termination for unsatisfactory performance as determined by the advisory committee, failure to pass all areas of the departmental written qualifying examination, failure to pass the master’s comprehensive examination, failure to maintain a provisional or personal adviser (Ph.D. students) or failure to complete the master’s degree within six terms, or failure to complete the doctoral dissertation within eighteen terms of academic residence (see Time-to-Degree). A student may appeal a recommendation for termination to the appropriate subgroup or the departmental chair.

Program Requirements for Asian Languages and Cultures

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2014-2015 academic year.

Asian Languages and Cultures

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

The Department of Asian Languages and Cultures offers the Master of Arts (M.A.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in East Asian Languages and Cultures.

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

Upon admission students are assigned interim faculty advisers by the Director of Graduate Studies in conjunction with faculty in the students’ field, with whom they consult in the initial stages of coursework. Students later choose a thesis adviser based on their area of interest. Students are required to meet with their graduate advisers at least once every quarter to establish their study program and check their progress. The Director of Graduate Studies is also available to meet with students on a regular basis or when necessary. The department evaluates student performance on an annual basis and students are expected to meet with their advisers to address their performance. After the annual evaluation, students are sent a letter that outlines the results of the evaluation.

Areas of Study

The department recognizes six areas of specialization at the M.A. level: Chinese literary and cultural studies, Japanese literary and cultural studies, Korean literary and cultural studies, Buddhist studies, East Asian linguistics, and cultural and comparative studies, designed to allow students with a primary focus on China, Japan, or Korea to incorporate comparative and interdisciplinary interests and studies in intellectual and cultural history. Students should consult with an appropriate faculty member to determine whether the department offers training in their specific area.

Foreign Language Requirement

During the first two years of residency, students at the M.A. degree level are required to have developed proficiency in relevant languages equivalent to the proficiency gained through completing a B.A. degree in their subject.

Students in Chinese literary and cultural studies must demonstrate competence in modern Chinese (equivalent to successful completion of Chinese 101B) and in classical Chinese (equivalent to completion of Chinese 110C).

Students in Japanese literary and cultural studies must demonstrate competence in modern Japanese (equivalent to successful completion of Japanese 101B) and in classical Japanese (equivalent to completion of Japanese 110).

Students in Korean literary and cultural studies must demonstrate competence in modern Korean (equivalent to successful completion of Korean 101C) and in classical Chinese (equivalent to completion of Chinese 110C).

Students in Buddhist studies must demonstrate competence in at least one of the canonical languages of Buddhism, e.g., Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Sanskrit, or Tibetan (equivalent to successful completion of a fourth-year course).

Students in East Asian linguistics must demonstrate competence in modern Chinese, Japanese, or Korean (equivalent to successful completion of Chinese 101B, Japanese 101B, or Korean 101B).

Students in cultural and comparative studies must fulfill the language requirements appropriate to their national focus, e.g., competence in modern and classical Chinese for students focusing on China, competence in modern Korean and classical Chinese for students focusing on Korea, and so forth.

Course Requirements

Nine courses are required for the degree, six of which must be graduate courses. In addition, students in the following fields must take the specified courses as part of their nine-course requirement.

Students in Chinese literary and cultural studies must take two courses from Chinese 200A-200B-200C.

Students in Japanese literary and cultural studies must take two Japanese Studies seminars, each from a different instructor.

Students in Korean literary and cultural studies must take Korean 200.

Students in Buddhist studies must take either Asian 201 or the 200 course(s) that most closely corresponds to their major canonical language.

Students in East Asian linguistics must take either Asian 200 or Asian 202.

Students in cultural and comparative studies must take the 200 course corresponding most closely to their national focus.

In exceptional cases and with the approval of their faculty adviser and the Director of Graduate Studies, students may substitute a similar bibliography/research methods course offered in another department or a specialized bibliography/research methods course supervised by a departmental faculty member.

Students in Chinese and Japanese are further required to take at least one graduate-level course (not a 200 course) employing material in classical Chinese or classical Japanese respectively. Course requirements for students in cultural and comparative studies are identical to those for their chosen area of national focus.

Students must take at least one seminar in each of their three comprehensive examination fields.

With the consent of the department, up to three courses taken outside the department (for which S/U grading is acceptable) may be applied toward the nine-course requirement. No more than two courses in the 500 series may apply toward the divisional minimum of nine courses required for a master’s degree, and only one of these two courses may be counted toward the minimum of six graduate courses required for the degree. Seminars taught as two-quarter sequences (e.g., Asian 220A-220B) are counted as two courses.

Courses used to meet the language requirements and admission standards do not apply toward the master’s degree course requirements. International students may also be required to take English as a Second Language 33A, 33B, 33C, 34, 36, or other English as a Second Language courses; these courses do not apply toward master’s degree course requirements.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

Students, in consultation with their faculty adviser, must determine their three comprehensive examination fields. Students then must take at least one seminar in each of their three comprehensive examination fields. The comprehensive examination consists of the submission of three seminar research papers and evaluation of them by the ad hoc committee chaired by the candidate’s principal adviser, and an oral examination based on those papers. The committee must be formally approved by the Director of Graduate Studies or the chair before the circulation of the seminar papers and the oral examination. A translation examination in the student’s language of specialization must also be taken unless the student has taken courses to fulfill the language requirement or has demonstrated proficiency. The evaluation of the three seminar papers by the ad hoc committee and of the oral examination based on the papers determines whether students are admitted to the Ph.D. program.

Thesis Plan

None.

Time-to-Degree

Students who are admitted to graduate status with no deficiencies in prior coursework and who carry a standard course load should be able to obtain the degree after six quarters.

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Upon admission students are assigned interim faculty advisers by the Director of Graduate Studies in conjunction with faculty in the students’ field, with whom they consult in the initial stages of coursework. Students then choose a dissertation adviser based on their area of interest. Students are required to meet with their graduate advisers at least once every quarter to establish their study program and check their progress. The Director of Graduate Studies is also available to meet with students on a regular basis or when necessary. The department evaluates student performance on an annual basis and students are expected to meet with their advisers to address their performance. After the annual evaluation, students are sent a letter that outlines the results of the evaluation.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

The department recognizes six areas of specialization at the Ph.D. level: Chinese literary and cultural studies, Japanese literary and cultural studies, Korean literary and cultural studies, Buddhist studies, East Asian linguistics, and cultural and comparative studies. Students should consult with an appropriate faculty member to determine whether the department offers training in their specific area.

Foreign Language Requirement

In addition to completing the foreign language requirement for the M.A. degree, students at the Ph.D. level must fulfill an additional requirement. This may be fulfilled either by completing a total of three years of study of language(s) outside of the focus language, or by passing a written translation examination, administered by the faculty in the language field with the approval of the student’s adviser and the Director of Graduate Studies, demonstrating the equivalent of language study.

Students in Chinese and Korean literary and cultural studies must complete either (a) nine quarters (three years) of coursework in a second Asian language or (b) six quarters (two years) of coursework in a second Asian language and three quarters (one year) of coursework in a European language or a translation examination in a European language demonstrating one year of proficiency. Students may choose to take a translation examination in a second Asian language to demonstrate proficiency at the second or third year level. The specific language or languages used to fulfill the requirement is determined through consultation with the student’s faculty advisory committee.

Students in Japanese literary and cultural studies must demonstrate advanced competence in modern Japanese. They must also complete at least three years of training in classical and/or modern East Asian languages other than modern Japanese. Students can take three years of a modern language (complete Korean 100C or Chinese 100C), or combine one year of a modern language with two years of a classical language (Japanese 110A, 110B, 249, Chinese 110A, 110B, 110C) or two years of a modern language with one year of a classical language (Japanese 110A, 110B, 249, or Chinese 110A, 110B, 110C). The particular combination of languages is flexible but should be chosen in consultation with and approved by the student’s advisor. Students may also satisfy one year of the language requirements by demonstrating reading proficiency in a non-East Asian language relevant to their research. Students can also fulfill the language requirements by taking the necessary placement exams.

Students in Buddhist studies must complete either (a) nine quarters (three years) of coursework in a Buddhist canonical language other than their language of primary focus or (b) six quarters (two years) of coursework in a Buddhist canonical language other than their language of primary focus and French or German 3 or a translation examination in French or German demonstrating one year of proficiency. Students may choose to take a translation examination in a Buddhist canonical language other than their language of primary focus to demonstrate proficiency at the second or third year level.

Students in East Asian linguistics must complete a total of nine quarters (three years) of coursework in Asian languages, including introductory language courses and/or courses on the structures of Asian languages.

Students in cultural and comparative studies must complete the language requirement for their chosen area of national focus.

With the approval of their faculty adviser and the Director of Graduate Studies, in some cases students may be permitted to fulfill the foreign language requirement through alternative programs of study.

Course Requirements

A minimum of five graduate courses (not including courses taken to meet the language requirements) beyond the M.A. degree is required for the Ph.D. degree. In addition, students in the following fields must take the specified courses as part of their five-course requirement.

Students in Chinese literary and cultural studies must take one additional course from Chinese 200A-200B-200C (beyond courses used to fulfill the M.A. degree requirement).

Students in Japanese literary and cultural studies must take two Japanese Studies seminars (unless they have already taken these seminars to fulfill the M.A. degree requirement at this university).

Students in Korean literary and cultural studies must take Korean 215.

Students in Buddhist studies must take one additional course, either Asian 201 or the 200 course(s) that most closely corresponds to either their major canonical language or a second canonical language.

Students in cultural and comparative studies must take Asian 210.

Students entering the program with an M.A. degree in a different field, or in the same field but from another institution, must meet the standards of the department’s M.A. coursework in addition to fulfilling Ph.D. course requirements. Students who have not fulfilled the 200-series course requirements and/or the language requirements for the department’s M.A. degree must do so for the Ph.D. program. Students in Chinese literary and cultural studies and Japanese literary and cultural studies must take at least one graduate-level course (not a 200 course) employing materials in classical Chinese or classical Japanese respectively, if they have not already fulfilled this requirement within the department.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

Students must take written qualifying examinations as follows:

Chinese literary and cultural studies: (1) a general examination in Chinese literature; (2) examinations in two approved fields which must be chosen from at least two of the following groups: (a) Chinese poetry, Chinese fiction and drama, and modern Chinese literature; (b) ancient Chinese civilization, Chinese Buddhism, another field of Chinese thought or Chinese linguistics; (c) an outside field from within the department; or (d) a field offered in another department or interdepartmental program.

Japanese literary and cultural studies: (1) a general examination in Japanese literature; (2) examinations in two approved fields which must be chosen from at least two of the following groups: (a) ancient, medieval, early modern, or modern Japanese literature; (b) Japanese Buddhism, another field of Japanese thought, or Japanese linguistics; (c) an outside field from within the department; or (d) a field offered in another department or interdepartmental program.

Korean literary and cultural studies: (1) a general examination in Korean literature; (2) examinations in three approved fields which must be chosen from at least two of the following groups: (a) Korean poetry, Korean fiction, modern Korean literature; (b) Korean Buddhism, Korean Christianity, Korean thought, or Korean linguistics; (c) an outside field from within the department; or (d) a field offered in another department or interdepartmental program.

Buddhist studies: (1) a general examination in the major field; (2) an examination in an approved subfield within the major field; (3) a general examination in another approved field inside or outside the department.

East Asian linguistics: in lieu of written examinations, students submit two publishable papers in different areas or fields of linguistics, to be approved by a doctoral guidance committee. The papers may be revised or extended seminar papers but must be prepared after admission to the Ph.D. program.

Cultural and comparative studies: examinations in four fields selected in consultation with the student’s academic adviser, including at least two fields within the department and at least one with a comparative or theoretical focus. These four fields must be selected so that at least two are from the student’s primary language area and two from a specific discipline.

Once all language and course requirements are satisfied, the qualifying examinations may be taken. All examinations must be completed within a four-week period. With the consent of the department, the examinations may be repeated only once.

At the time of the written examinations, students select a doctoral committee for appointment by the Graduate Division; the chair of this committee serves as the student’s dissertation adviser. Students must pass the University Oral Qualifying Examination on the dissertation proposal within six months after the written examinations. Students must submit the dissertation proposal to the doctoral committee at least three weeks prior to the scheduled date of the oral defense. With the department’s consent, the examination may be repeated only once.

Advancement to Candidacy

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

Doctoral Dissertation

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

Students Who Enter the Program with the Bachelor’s Degree

Students who enter the doctoral program at the master’s degree level are expected to complete the program within seven years. These students must complete the requirements for the master’s degree by the end of their second year. Upon receipt of the master’s degree, students are expected to advance to doctoral candidacy within two years or by the end of their fourth year in the program. After advancement to doctoral candidacy, students are expected to complete the doctoral degree program within three years.

Students Who Enter the Program with the Master’s Degree

Students who enter the doctoral program with a master’s degree completed at another university are expected to complete the requirements for the doctoral degree within five years. Students must advance to doctoral candidacy within three years. Students with master’s degree who are unable to advance to doctoral candidacy by the end of the third year may petition for an additional quarter(s) with the support of their advisers. After advancement to doctoral candidacy, students are expected to complete the doctoral degree program within two years.

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

Special Departmental or Program Policy

All cases of recommendation for termination are made through departmental vote.

Program Requirements for Germanic Languages

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2014-2015 academic year.

Germanic Languages

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

The Department of Germanic Languages offers the Master of Arts (M.A.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Germanic Languages, and the Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Scandinavian (see Scandinavian Section in Program Requirements).

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

The departmental graduate advisers evaluate student preparation for the M.A. program, and assess progress toward the degree. They advise students on planning their studies, course selection and preparation for the M.A. examinations. The advisers meet with students at least once every quarter and maintain records of these interviews. In addition to the regular advisers, students who choose the M.A. thesis plan are guided by the thesis adviser and other members of their thesis committee.

Areas of Study

There are three M.A. plans that differ with respect to course requirements and comprehensive examinations. Plan A is for students who plan to terminate their studies with the M.A. degree and an instructional credential. Plan B is for students whose main interests are in literature, culture, or German studies and who plan to proceed toward the Ph.D. degree. Plan C is for students whose main interests are in German linguistics and who plan to proceed toward the Ph.D. degree.

Foreign Language Requirement

A reading knowledge of a language other than German or English must be demonstrated before the chair can approve the master’s advancement to candidacy petition. This requirement can be fulfilled by receiving a grade of B or better in Dutch 120 and Dutch 131 or in one of these courses: Dutch 103C, French 1G, French 2G, Yiddish 101C, the fifth quarter course in the chosen language or an upper division literature course in which texts are read in the chosen language. Students also may fulfill the foreign language requirement by demonstrating to the satisfaction of the Director of Graduate Studies that equivalent requirements were met at another post-secondary institution or in some other way. The choice of language and the means of fulfillment of the requirement must be agreed upon in advance by the student and the Director.

Course Requirements

Plan A requires a minimum of nine upper division and graduate courses, of which at least six courses must be graduate level (200- or 500-series). In addition, German 155, and 140 (or equivalent) are required. Undergraduate credit for these courses is applicable in satisfaction of these requirements as long as the courses are taken while in graduate status.

Plan B requires a minimum of nine upper division and graduate courses, of which at least six courses must be graduate level (200- or 500-series). One seminar must be included. The departmental core curriculum must be fulfilled in the first year of study. In the first year incoming M.A. students are obliged to complete at least one course in the each of the following areas: (a) literature and culture before 1700; (b) literature and culture after 1700; (c) critical theory; (d) German linguistics. In each case courses meeting the requirement for the area are designated yearly in departmental course listings. Eligible courses in literature cover a substantial historical period, movement, or topic. Eligible courses in Germanic linguistics might be in the area of history and structure of the language, or theory.

In addition, all students are required to take the German 495 teaching practicum in the first quarter of teaching.

Plan C requires a minimum of nine upper division and graduate courses beyond the language requirements, of which at least six courses must be graduate level (200- or 500-series) and of which up to four courses may be from other departments in a relevant area (e.g., linguistics, applied linguistics, Indo-European linguistics, Romance linguistics). German 217, C238, and one seminar must be included. Students in Plan C are required to fulfill a modified version of the departmental core curriculum that requires them to take designated courses meeting the requirements in two of the following areas: (a) literature and culture before 1700; (b) literature and culture after 1700; (c) critical theory.

Students in Plans A and B may take German 596 twice before the M.A. degree requirements are completed; however, only one 596 course may be counted toward the degree requirements, including the graduate course requirement. Students in Plan C and allied fields may take German 596 twice (eight units) for degree credit; four units of this credit may be applied toward the graduate course requirement. Students may enroll in up to 12 units of German 597 or 598 but not before the quarter in which the course requirements are fulfilled. German 597 and 598 may not be applied toward course requirements for the master’s degree.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

Examinations are offered each quarter, beginning with the written part during the fifth week of each quarter. Under exceptional circumstances, the chair of the department will receive petitions for M.A. examinations during the summer recess.

One examination committee is appointed for each quarter. The members of the committee administer the written and oral examinations.

Students in Plans A and B select two out of six possible areas of concentration on which to be examined: (1) German literature and culture after 1700; (2) German literature and culture before 1700; (3) history and structure of Germanic languages; (4) Dutch or Afrikaans literature and culture; (5) old Norse literature and culture; (6) critical theory and intellectual history.

For Plan A, students must choose history and structure of Germanic languages as one area of study.

Students select a primary concentration on which they are examined for three hours. They also select a secondary concentration on which they are examined for two hours.

For each examination, one month in advance, students are provided with three broad topics. They are examined on specific questions relating to those topics. The examination in the secondary field follows in the month after the examination in the primary area, and is structured in the same manner.

A one-hour oral examination follows in the week after the completion of the second examination.

For Plan C, the M.A. examination consists of three written examinations of two hours each, followed by a one-hour oral examination. Students are examined in the following areas: one examination on the history of Germanic languages, theory, and historical linguistics; one examination on the structure of German languages, and in theory and synchronic linguistics; one examination on languages and dialects. Students may select one modern language, one philological language, and a third language of their choice. This examination includes translation and parsing. To continue toward the Ph.D. degree, the student must receive a pass with the recommendation to continue.

After the written examinations have been taken, for those in Plan B or Plan C, the M.A. committee decides whether the student may proceed to the oral examination. If the student fails the oral examination, the M.A. committee decides whether the entire examination must be repeated or only the oral portion. The examination may be repeated only once without petition.

If the student applies for the M.A. degree under Plan B (to proceed toward the Ph.D.) and is awarded a terminal M.A. degree, the examinations may be repeated if the student chooses not to have the M.A. degree officially awarded before the reexamination.

Thesis Plan

Every master’s degree thesis plan requires the completion of an approved thesis that demonstrates the student’s ability to perform original, independent research.

In lieu of the written examination requirement, students may submit a thesis. Students in Plan B who elect to submit a thesis must, however, complete a two-hour oral examination in the area of their thesis as well as in two other areas of concentration in order to be approved for further doctoral study. Students in Plan C who elect the thesis option are required to take one two-hour written examination in addition to the thesis.

The following additional rules apply to the thesis option:

(1) The thesis committee must consist of three members, one of whom serves as director. The student selects the director, and the other two members are appointed by the chair in consultation with the student.

(2) No committee member from outside the department is required, except in the case of Plan B. For this plan, one member must be from the related field.

(3) The thesis committee should be established no later than the end of the fourth quarter of the candidate’s graduate studies. At that time, the thesis committee must approve the plan for the thesis in writing and submit a copy to the graduate adviser.

(4) No 598 course is required, although students may take one such course in preparation for the degree.

(5) Candidates who fail the examination may repeat it once without petitioning the department. The examination must be repeated no later than one quarter following the quarter in which the first examination was failed.

(6) The Registrar’s online calendar specifies the date for filing of the final draft of a thesis with the student’s committee and the date on which revised and completed theses must be filed in the library. The examinations must be taken prior to the date on which revised and completed theses must be filed in the library.

Time-to-Degree

The estimated time to the M.A. degree for full-time students with no deficiencies upon admission to graduate status and who are taking a full course load is three to five quarters; estimated time to the degree for teaching assistants is six quarters.

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Students must establish a three-member faculty guidance committee, in consultation with their adviser, no later than one year after completing the M.A. examination (or within one year of admission with an M.A. degree). Students who fail to do so within this time limit are not be eligible for teaching assistantships or fellowships.

The composition of the guidance committee must be filed in writing with the Director of Graduate Studies. Students may ask one member from outside the department to serve on the committee if there is a programmatic need. Any changes in this committee must be approved by the graduate adviser and the faculty concerned, and filed with the Director of Graduate Studies. The director of this committee in most cases is the faculty member with whom the student would like to write her/his dissertation. The director must in all cases be a member of the department.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Not applicable.

Foreign Language Requirement

In addition to the first language requirement for the M.A. degree, doctoral students are required to fulfill a second requirement in one of the following ways: (1) demonstrate a reading knowledge of a second foreign language in accord with the same criteria used for the M.A. foreign language requirement; (2) demonstrate a superior proficiency in the language used for the M.A. degree by receiving a grade of B or better in three upper division or graduate literature courses in which texts are read in that language; (3) demonstrate competence in the discursive rudiments of one other discipline by receiving a grade of B or better in at least three upper division or graduate courses in the history and structure of a discipline relating to the student’s research; (4) demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Director of Graduate Studies that equivalent requirements were met at another post-secondary institution or in some other way. The means of fulfillment of this requirement must be agreed upon in advance by the student and the Director.

Students who specialize in Scandinavian may not use Swedish, Norwegian, or Danish for the second language. Students whose primary field of concentration is Icelandic or Finnish may not use Icelandic or Finnish for this requirement.

Course Requirements

Students must have completed eight graduate courses (at least four in the department) beyond the M.A. degree, three of which must be seminars. If students have already taken a seminar in preparation for their M.A. degree, only two of these eight courses must be seminars.

Students may take German 596 twice before the Ph.D. degree requirements are completed; however, only one 596 course may be counted toward the degree requirements. Students in allied fields may take German 596 more than once for degree credit. Students may enroll in up to 12 units of German 597 but not before the quarter in which the course requirements are fulfilled. German 597 may not be applied toward course requirements for the doctoral degree.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

Students must (1) pass the graduate reading examination in their first foreign language; (2) pass an interdepartmental reading examination either in a second foreign language or in the discursive field of their choice; (3) successfully complete three seminars; (4) pass the qualifying examinations. Upon majority vote of the committee, the written examinations or any of their parts may be repeated once. Initial reading lists should be submitted to all committee members no later than the tenth week of the fourth quarter. A mid-quarter meeting should take place between the student and all committee members in the quarter preceding the quarter in which the written examination is taken. The purpose of this meeting is to finalize the reading lists. No substantial changes should be made to the reading lists after this meeting.

For the written qualifying examinations, students in literature, culture, and German studies are expected to cover six different areas in three examinations, each of which is devoted to two of the six areas they have chosen. The six areas should include one author, one genre, one period, one theoretical or historical problem, and two special topics of their choosing. One examination lasts five hours. The other two examinations last three hours each.

In determining how they will satisfy the six-area requirements, students should keep in mind the structure of the examination: since each examination will cover two areas, the two areas in each examination must make sense together. Regardless of the format chosen, students must take written examinations on campus, no later than the eighth week of the twelfth quarter beyond completion of the B.A. degree (which will normally be the sixth quarter beyond completion of the M.A.) and they must be taken within one week. One week after this examination, students take a one-hour oral examination covering the written material presented.

For the written qualifying examination, students in linguistics complete a three-hour examination in five target languages, and a second three-hour examination in linguistics theory. Students in Old Norse are examined for two hours in language, two hours in theoretical problems of interpretation, and two hours on issues concerning social and historical context. Students in Scandinavian complete a three-hour examination in their major Scandinavian literature, and a second three-hour examination in the other two Scandinavian literatures.

Following successful completion of the written examinations, students in literature, culture and German studies must prepare a dissertation proposal and pass a two-hour University Oral Qualifying Examination. This examination must be taken by the end of the first week of the thirteen quarter of registration beyond the bachelor’s degree. Also, students must take the University Oral Qualifying Examination no later than the end of the first week of the quarter that follows their completion of the written examinations.

Following successful completion of the written examinations, students in linguistics, Old Norse, and Scandinavian take a two-hour University Oral Qualifying Examination.

After passing the written and oral qualifying examinations, students enroll in German 599 or Scandinavian 599 for all subsequent quarters of graduate study.

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

Final Oral Examination (Defense of 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

The estimated time for the Ph.D. degree for full-time students with no deficiencies upon admission to the Ph.D. program and taking a full course load, is 12 quarters (after the M.A. degree).

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

Special Departmental or Program Policy

A student whose grade point average falls below 3.00 for two consecutive terms is ordinarily recommended for termination. Every recommendation to terminate a student for reasons other than failure to maintain a grade point average of 3.00 is discussed and decided upon by the departmental faculty. A student may appeal a recommendation for termination in writing.

A doctoral student who fails any part of the written or oral qualifying examinations and who has exhausted or been denied the opportunity to retake all or part of the examinations is recommended for termination. A doctoral candidate who does not complete the dissertation, including the defense (if required), within five years after passing the qualifying examinations, is subject to termination. A doctoral candidate who does not submit a first draft of the dissertation to the doctoral committee chair within three years after passing the qualifying examinations is subject to termination.

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