Applicable only to students admitted during the 2014-2015 academic year.
History
College of Letters and Science
Graduate Degrees
The Department of History offers the Master of Arts (M.A.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in History.
Admissions Requirements
Master’s Degree
Advising
See under Doctoral Degree.
Areas of Study
The comprehensive examination covers one of the following fields: (1) ancient (includes ancient Middle East) and late antiquity); (2) medieval; (3) European history, ca 1450 to present (also includes British history, Jewish, Russian, East Central and Southeast European history); (4) Africa; (5) Middle East (includes Armenia); (6) South and Southeast Asia; (7) China; (8) Japan; (9) Latin America; (10) U.S.; (11) history of science; (12) Jewish history; (13) special fields (students in the history of religions or history of Christianity are normally examined in one of the above fields).
Foreign Language Requirement
A reading knowledge of one foreign language approved by the department is required for the M.A degree. It is recommended that this requirement be met in the first year of graduate work, except for students in the European field, who should meet this requirement during the first quarter of graduate work. Students of U.S., Middle East and African history may take a departmental translation examination in French, Spanish, or German. Students of European history must take a departmental translation examination in French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, German, or Russian, preferably during the first quarter of graduate work, as noted above, but no later than the beginning of the sixth quarter of full-time study. Students of Chinese history must have a minimum of three years of Chinese. Students of Japanese history must have a minimum of three years of Japanese. For other languages, students arrange to take a language examination administered by a faculty member in the History department or a foreign language department at UCLA; certification of competence is made in accord with the standards of the language department faculty. Departmental foreign language examinations are administered during the Fall and Spring quarters.
Course Requirements
The department requires a minimum (and prefers a maximum) of nine upper division and graduate courses in history, at least six of which must be graduate courses. The six graduate courses must include at least one continuing two- or three-quarter research seminar which must include the preparation of a substantial research paper. All entering students are required to take History 204, the departmental seminar on historiography.
For students in U.S. history, the minimum of nine courses must all be at the 200 level, including History 246A-246B-246C, at least two continuing two-quarter seminars, one seminar in another field in this department, and one graduate level course in another department. U.S. History students also have to take History 204, the departmental seminar on historiography.
Students in African history must take History 275 and at least one continuing two- or three-quarter seminar.
Students in the history of science must take two two-quarter research seminars, and must complete History 200O twice.
Students in Chinese history must complete at least one two-quarter research seminar, History 282A-282B, in the major field.
Students in Jewish history must complete the following: three seminars in cognate fields within the department; at least one continuing two- or three-quarter research seminar in the Jewish history field, including preparation of a substantial research paper; and one graduate seminar with at least one faculty member in the Jewish field other than the student’s primary adviser.
Students in Medieval history must take History 200C or its equivalent, and must complete at least one continuing two-quarter research seminar which must include preparation of a substantial research paper.
Students of Latin American history must complete a two-quarter research seminar (History 266, 267, 268). The completion of two graduate seminars in the same subfield (colonial or modern) may be applied to satisfy the two-quarter research requirement if a relevant two-quarter seminar has not been offered during a student’s term of pre-candidacy (i.e., within two to three years).
Students of Middle East history must complete one continuing two- or three-quarter seminar, and two of the following seminars: Historiography of the Pre-Modern Middle East, Historiography of the Early-Modern Middle East, and Historiography of the Modern Middle East.
Students in South and Southeast Asian history must complete one two-quarter research seminar.
For students in fields other than U.S. history, only one 500-series course may be applied toward both the total course requirement and the minimum six graduate (200-series) course requirement. This may be either four units of 596 or four units of 597. History 495 and courses in the 300 series are not applicable toward course requirements.
Teaching Experience
Not required.
Field Experience
Not required.
Comprehensive Examination Plan
The department follows the comprehensive examination plan. Individual fields specify the fulfillment of the examination requirement by (1) a three-hour written examination designed to assess the candidate’s ability to synthesize a broad field of knowledge; or (2) the submission of three essays written for at least two different professors as part of the candidate’s program of study. At least two of these papers must have been submitted for graduate courses in the 200 series. In addition, some fields have examination formats that differ from the above, and specify dates when the examinations are given, as follows:
The U.S. field requires students to achieve a satisfactory pass of the doctoral written qualifying examination following 12 months in academic residence. Students who fail the examination may retake it once by petition when it is offered again at the beginning of the next Fall Quarter.
The European field requires a three part comprehensive examination to be completed at the end of the student’s fifth quarter.
The China field requires students to be examined in three fields including two China fields and one field outside of history. The three exams should be taken within approximately 10 days to two weeks of each other. The oral qualifying examination will focus on questions relating to the dissertation prospectus. All committee members will be present.
The African field requires a four-hour comprehensive examination to be completed in May of the second year of study. Students entering the program with an M.A. degree must complete the examination by May of the first year or second year of study. Students entering with an M.A. in African Studies or African History are exempt from this examination requirement.
The History of Science field requires students to achieve a satisfactory pass in the doctoral written qualifying examination administered at the end of the sixth quarter of study.
The Medieval field requires two three-hour written examinations in the student’s primary field and an oral examination in the minor fields and on the prospectus.
The Middle East field requires students to achieve a satisfactory pass of the doctoral written qualifying examination.
The comprehensive examination, regardless of format, is graded (1) pass to continue for the Ph.D.; (2) pass, subject to reevaluation for continuance for the Ph.D.; (3) terminal M.A. pass; or (4) fail. In cases where the M.A. degree is awarded with pass subject to reevaluation, the field M.A. committee conducts a special reevaluation of the candidate’s progress after no more than three additional quarters of study.
All students must file a petition for advancement to candidacy with the Graduate Office within the first two weeks of the quarter in which they expect to receive their master’s degree.
Thesis Plan
None.
Time-to-Degree
Completion of the requirements for the master’s degree is designed to meet requirements for admission to the department’s doctoral program. Students are advised to complete the requirements within six quarters of full-time study. The department will recommend to the Graduate Division that students who do not complete the requirements for the master’s degree within six quarters be terminated from graduate study, unless, by petition, the Graduate Affairs Committee grants an extension of time.
Doctoral Degree
Advising
Entering students must select and submit the name of a faculty adviser to the graduate adviser by the end of the sixth week of the first quarter. Students are expected to meet with the adviser no less than two times a quarter during the first year. By the end of six quarters, students must submit the name of a dissertation chair and committee members to the graduate counselor. During the third year, students are expected to maintain contact (at least two times during the quarter) with the dissertation chair and all committee members, including the faculty member from the outside field. Upon advancing to candidacy, students are expected to maintain contact (at least three times during the year) with the dissertation chair. Failure to maintain contact with the dissertation chair and committee members will result in departmental probationary status and may result in a recommendation for termination of graduate study. The department’s graduate adviser, a full-time staff member, monitors the progress of students in their programs. Students are encouraged to consult the graduate adviser about requirements and procedures for progress toward the Ph.D. degree.
There is a departmental Graduate Affairs Committee, consisting of five faculty members and one graduate student, all appointed by the chair of the department, which reviews and makes recommendations regarding all doctoral programs and any petitions in request of exceptions from the regular program requirements. The vice chair for graduate affairs is an ex officio member of this committee and channels all petitions and programs for review to the committee. The student’s committee chair is normally consulted about petitions and exceptions.
The following evaluation procedures determine whether continuing students may proceed to the Ph.D. degree:
Students who enter the graduate program with a B.A. degree: an evaluation comparable to the M.A. comprehensive examination must occur within the period of six quarters.
Students who enter with a master’s degree from another department: an evaluation must be completed by the end of three quarters of study in the History Department in order to determine whether or not they are permitted to continue toward the Ph.D. This evaluation is conducted in the same manner as described under the M.A. program.
All students must present to the Graduate Affairs Committee a field approval form signed by the faculty member who has agreed to support their work for the Ph.D., and in accord with the following schedule: by the end of the seventh quarter or earlier for those who enter with only a B.A. degree, and by the end of the third quarter or earlier for those entering with an M.A. degree from another department. Students who do not meet the time limits for proceeding to the Ph.D. degree are subject to dismissal.
An annual review of all graduate students is made each Spring Quarter by the Graduate Affairs Committee. Letters are written to those students with program or grade-point deficiencies or other academic problems.
Major Fields or Subdisciplines
Ancient Greece; ancient Rome; medieval constitutional and legal; medieval social and economic; medieval ecclesiastical and religious; medieval intellectual and cultural (specialists in medieval history may offer no more than two of these fields in medieval history); Byzantine; Russia since 800; East Central and Southeast Europe since ca 1450; England prior to 1485; Britain since ca 1450; European Colonialism and Imperialism; ancient Middle East; the Middle East, 500 to 1300; the Middle East 1300-1700; the Middle East since 1700; Armenian; survey of African history; topics in African history (preferably on a regional basis); history of science since ca 1450; Europe, Renaissance/Reformation; Europe, Reformation to the French Revolution; Germany since ca 1450; France since ca 1450; Italy since ca 1450; Spain and Portugal since ca 1450; Europe since 1740; European socioeconomic history since ca 1450; European intellectual and cultural history since ca 1450; European Women’s history since ca; 1450,, The Netherlands since ca; 1450; China 900 to 1800; China since 1800; early modern Japan; modern Japan; pre-modern Korea; modern Korea; South Asia; Southeast Asia; Latin America, 1492 to 1830; Latin America since 1830; Latin America and globalization; history of religions; Jewish history; history of Christianity; comparative history; U.S.: (1) mastery of the general field of U.S. history sufficient to teach a college-level survey course and (2) a specialized field chosen from the following: Afro-American, American diplomatic, American West, American Indian, Asian American, California, history of the South, Civil War and Reconstruction, Colonial, cultural, economic, immigration, intellectual, Jeffersonian and Jackson Ian America (1800 to 1850), labor, Mexican-American, social, the new nation (1763 to 1800), 20th century, urban, women’s history. Both the general and a specialized field must be offered by specialists in United States history and only two fields in United States history are permitted. Either field (1 or 2 or both) may be chosen as minor fields for the Ph.D.
Comparative history Ph.D. students may choose comparative history as one of their four fields. This means choosing one topic across three existing Ph.D. fields. The topic should be chosen with the help of the student’s Ph.D. advisers; among possible topics are labor history, women’s history, history of religions, economic history, and many others. The geographical/temporal fields covered may correspond to some or all of the student’s other three Ph.D. fields. The comparative field is more intensive and involves genuine comparisons. It is highly recommended (and comparative chairs may require) that those majoring in a Western field choose one non-Western field and vice versa. Two or three professors may, if needed, supervise a comparative program, and may help examine the candidate either on the orals or by written examination.
Students in the history of science program are examined in three distinct fields: core field, field specific to research, and a field outside the history of science.
Foreign Language Requirement
A reading knowledge of the languages listed below for the major fields is required. If only two languages are listed for the field, students must demonstrate competence by passing examinations administered by the department, for certain fields, or by the appropriate language department. Students in U.S., Middle East and African history may use departmental examinations in French, Spanish, or German. Students in European history must take departmental translation examinations. In cases where the field deems it appropriate, coursework or alternate languages may be used to fulfill the language requirements, subject to the approval of the field coordinator and faculty adviser. For a third or fourth language, evidence of competence satisfactory to the chair of the doctoral committee is considered acceptable.
No oral qualifying examination for the Ph.D. degree may be scheduled until students have passed an examination in at least two foreign languages, except for students in U.S. history, who are required to demonstrate competency in only one foreign language.
African history: One African language and at least one European or other African language needed for the student’s research and approved by the chair of the doctoral committee.
Ancient history: French, German, Latin, and Greek.
Ancient Middle East history: French, German, and two ancient languages, one of which should be Akkadian, Egyptian, or Hebrew. The other ancient language may be Sumerian, Hittite, Ugaritic, Phoenician, Aramaic, Greek, or Latin, depending on individual programs. It is expected that the ancient languages, with all attendant problems of philological and textual criticism, will normally constitute the fourth field of the doctoral examination.
Chinese history: (1) for the M.A. degree, a minimum of three years of Chinese; (2) for the Ph.D. degree, four years of Chinese and three years of Japanese. In certain cases, reading knowledge of another language also may be required. Admission to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree in the Chinese field requires the completion of a research seminar in the major field. Students are advised that successful completion of this seminar usually requires the equivalent of at least four years of superior college-level language work in Chinese.
European history (modern): Students must demonstrate proficiency in two foreign languages prior to advancement to candidacy. Proficiency in foreign languages is to be determined by successful completion of a departmental language examination. Exceptions to this rule must be approved by the faculty adviser, the field coordinator, and the vice chair of graduate affairs. For those working on (1) Europe: French and German, either of which can be replaced by another language deemed necessary for research; (2) Russian or East European history: Russian plus German or French, any of which can be replaced by another language deemed necessary for research. All substitutions must be approved via petition by the faculty adviser, the field coordinator, and the vice chair for graduate affairs.
Japanese history: (1) for the M.A. degree, three years of Japanese are required; (2) for the Ph.D. degree, four years of Japanese (or its equivalent); demonstrated ability in specialized Japanese sufficient to master source material appropriate to the research specialization (possibly including Kanbun, sorobun, and/or bungotai); secondary language proficiency in either another language or in premodern Japanese. Admission to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree in the Japanese field requires the completion of a research seminar in the major field. Students are advised that successful completion of this seminar usually requires the equivalent of at least four years of superior college-level language work in Japanese.
Jewish history: Students must pass departmental examinations in at least two foreign languages which are to be determined in consultation with the student’s adviser. Students should consult with their primary adviser in the first year of graduate study to determine the course of language preparation most suitable to their research interests.
Latin American history: Students in the Latin American field should demonstrate fluency in Spanish or Portuguese and proficiency in a second language, including Spanish, Portuguese, French, or an indigenous language, such as Nahuatl or Quechua, in accordance with the student’s particular research interests.
Medieval history: All medievalists must have an excellent command of Latin, French, and/or German, as well as any other modern and medieval languages necessary for their particular areas of research. Prior to taking the University Oral Qualifying Examination, students must have completed field requirements in three languages. Completion of these requirements may be met in one of the following ways: (1) Students may complete six quarters (or four semesters) of the language with a B or better; (2) Students may complete a Department of History examination in modern languages set by a member of the medieval field. All students taking this examination are given the same two passages to translate, one to be translated with the assistance of a dictionary and one without a dictionary. Satisfactory translation of both is necessary to pass the examination; (3) Students may complete language examinations set by the relevant language department (including the Latin examination given by the Department of Classic for its graduate students); (4) The Latin requirement can be satisfied by completion of two quarters of medieval Latin at the 100-series course level.
Middle East history: Students must pass departmental language examinations in two middle Eastern languages, and one European language other than English, prior to advancement to candidacy. These languages should be germane to the student’s present and future research interests and are chosen in consultation with the student’s adviser. Students specializing in Armenian history must demonstrate competency in Armenian, French, and at least one other language germane to the student’s present and future research interests and chosen in consultation with the student’s faculty adviser.
History of Science: Prior to advancement to candidacy, students must demonstrate proficiency in two foreign languages. Students must consult with their faculty advisers to settle on the languages most necessary for their research and training in the field. Students planning to write dissertations on U.S. topics may petition to waive the requirement for a second foreign language if they can show that the dissertation would benefit from such language proficiency.
South and Southeast Asian history: Students must pass reading comprehension examinations in two relevant languages prior to advancement to candidacy. Competency is required in at least one language of the country or cultural area under study. Qualifying languages to fulfill these requirements are chosen with the approval of the student’s adviser.
U.S. history: One modern foreign language to be fulfilled through a departmental language examination.
Except in the fields of African, Asian, British, and U.S. history, reading knowledge of an appropriate language is usually required for admission to all graduate seminars.
Course Requirements
Candidates for the Ph.D. degree must meet the special requirements for admission to the doctoral program detailed under Admission. Additionally, doctoral students must (1) demonstrate a command of good English, spoken and written; (2) demonstrate the ability to read at least two foreign languages, except in the U.S. field where only one foreign language is required, as detailed under Foreign Language Requirement and in the Medieval field in which three languages are required; (3) demonstrate an acquaintance with general history; (4) complete History 204; and (5) complete at least one continuing two- or three-quarter seminar which must include the preparation of a substantial research paper (two continuing two-quarter seminars are required for students in European history, History of Science and U.S. history).
All students must write a dissertation prospectus (for credit under History 596 or 597) which is expected to contain (1) a full statement of the dissertation topic; (2) a historiographical discussion of the literature bearing on the topic; (3) a statement of the methodology to be employed; and (4) a survey of the sources sufficient to demonstrate the viability of the topic. The prospectus must be submitted in writing to the dissertation adviser for approval prior to the oral part of the qualifying examinations. After approval, a copy of the prospectus is given to each member of the examining committee.
The following coursework is required in specific fields: (1) U.S. history — History 246A-246B-246C, one graduate seminar in another field in the department, and one graduate level course in another department; (2) European history — History 204; (3) African history — History 275; (4) Chinese history — two research seminars, History 282A-282B; (5) Middle East history — two of the following seminars: Historiography of the Pre-Modern Middle East, Historiography of the Early-Modern Middle East, and Historiography of the Modern Middle East; (6) History of Science — History 200O twice (in the fall quarters of the first and second years); (7) Jewish history — three seminars in cognate fields within the department, at least one continuing two- or three-quarter research paper, and one graduate seminar with at least one faculty member in the Jewish field other than the student’s primary adviser.
Students who are admitted with subject deficiencies must complete courses in addition to those required for the degree program.
Members of doctoral committees may require that individual students complete additional courses that they deem necessary for preparation for the qualifying examinations. Courses taken to fulfill M.A. degree requirements may be used to satisfy Ph.D. degree requirements.
Teaching Experience
The department cannot provide teaching experience for all Ph.D. candidates and therefore does not require it for the degree. However, students should be able to demonstrate the ability to give instruction in their field.
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.
All Fields
Students with outstanding Incomplete grades may not be permitted to sit for the written and oral qualifying examinations. The written qualifying examination must be passed before the oral qualifying examination can be taken. Students must begin the written qualifying examinations no later than the end of the ninth quarter of graduate study. To be eligible to sit for their qualifying examinations, student must have completed all their coursework and language requirements.
In the written and oral qualifying examinations students are expected to demonstrate not only a mastery of their special subject, but also an extensive knowledge covering the wider field of historical knowledge; in addition, they must demonstrate an ability to correlate historical data and to explain their significance. Therefore these examinations are designed to test not just factual knowledge, but also power of historical analysis and synthesis, critical ability, and capacity for reflective thinking. Knowledge of the history of any area includes a solid understanding of its historiography and bibliography, its geography, and its political, cultural, economic, and other historical aspects.
In the oral examination, students are examined in four fields, one of which may be an approved field in anthropology, economics, geography, language and literature, philosophy, political science, or other allied subjects. This allied field must be comparable in size and scope to the established fields in history included under Major Fields or Subdisciplines. Students should select the fields in consultation with their adviser and must receive the department’s approval of all four fields no less than one to two months before the written qualifying examination is taken. In the European field, students must choose their four fields by the quarter after they have successfully passed the doctoral written qualifying examination (i.e., normally by the seventh quarter of residency). To obtain approval, students must provide the Graduate Affairs Committee with the name of the faculty member who has agreed to serve as the sponsor of the doctoral work and the details of the proposed program. A full-time graduate student must begin the written qualifying examinations no later than the end of the ninth quarter of graduate work.
The written qualifying examination includes the major field only, except in the Ancient, European, Science and Medieval fields. In African, Ancient, U.S., European, Jewish, Medieval, History of Science, South and Southeast Asia and Middle East history, each field administers a written qualifying examination as outlined below. The oral examination covers all four fields (except for the African field) and is normally held after the written examination. In most fields, the oral examination will be held shortly after the written examination or, at the discretion of the doctoral committee, as late as six months after the written examination. All students must write a dissertation prospectus that must be approved by the doctoral committee chair and given to each member of the doctoral committee prior to the oral qualifying examination. Both the written and oral examinations are to be considered by the committee as a whole in arriving at a judgment of the student’s performance, except in the European field. The written qualifying examination is normally prepared and administered by the chair of the committee and read by the entire committee before the oral qualifying examination, except for the U. S. and European fields, for which separate procedures are outlined below. All students in the European field take the doctoral written qualifying examination during spring break between the fifth and sixth quarters in residence.
Ancient Field
Written Qualifying Examination
Students must take the written qualifying examinations in Greek, Roman, and/or Late Antique history as determined by the Ancient field faculty and any examinations mandated by committee members.
Oral Qualifying Examination
Upon passing the written qualifying examinations, the student must take the oral qualifying examination. The oral qualifying examination has three basic components: (1) a return to issues raised in the written qualifying examinations; (2) an oral examination by the committee members; and (3) a defense of the written doctoral research prospectus.
African Field
Written Qualifying Examination
Students must produce a substantial research paper based, at least in part, on primary sources prior to taking the Ph.D. qualifying examinations. Students must pass an eight-hour written examination to be taken no later than the end of the ninth quarter of the program.
Oral Qualifying Examination
The oral examination must be completed within a period not exceeding six months from the passing of the written examination. The oral qualifying examination has three basic components: (1) a return to issues raised in the written qualifying examinations; (2) an oral examination by the committee members in the two outside fields; and (3) a defense of the written doctoral research prospectus.
U.S. Field
Written Qualifying Examination
Students must take the written qualifying examination following 12 months in academic residence. The written qualifying examination is administered once a year at the beginning of Fall Quarter. Students who fail the examination may retake it once by petition when it is offered again at the beginning of the next Fall Quarter. Students who fail the examination a second time are not permitted to continue in the program.
The examination committee consists of three faculty members who in the previous year taught History 246A-246B-246C. If any of these faculty members are unavailable, preference is given, in replacing such members, to faculty members who have taught History 246A-246B-246C in recent years. The written examination is intended to test a comprehensive broad understanding of American history both before and after the independence of the U.S. All facets of history (political, social, diplomatic, etc.) are included. Therefore, an ability to synthesize factual information, sometimes across long chronological periods, is essential. Knowledge of the scholarly literature and of the principal historiographical controversies arising out of it is tested along with the student’s interpretive capabilities. Passing of the examination implies that the student is qualified, in the judgment of the U.S. field, to teach courses in U.S. history at the college level. Questions related to the planning of such courses may appear on the examination.
Oral Qualifying Examination
Students must complete all prior degree requirements before taking the University Oral Qualifying Examination. Students who have outstanding Incomplete grades are not permitted to take this examination. The examination is normally taken during a student’s third year of study. The examination committee must include four faculty members, including the student’s adviser. Normally two members come from the U.S. field. One member must come from a field in the department other than the U.S. field, and one must come from another department.
During the examination students are questioned about their dissertation proposal and, in connection with the proposal and their preparation with the members of the examination committee, they also may be questioned on related fields of study. Students either pass or fail the examination. By majority vote of the committee, students who fail the examination may retake it once. Students whose committees do not agree to a repeat of the examination and students who fail the examination a second time are not permitted to continue in the program.
European Field
Written Qualifying Examination
All students in the European field take the doctoral written qualifying examination during spring break between the fifth and sixth quarters in residence. Prior to taking the written qualifying examination, a student must have met the following requirements: passed at least one departmental language examination; completed History 204; completed one two-quarter research seminar; started a second two-quarter research seminar; completed the minimum number of other courses required during the first five quarters; and have secured the agreement of a qualified member of the department in the European field to serve as chair of the doctoral committee. The European written examination is administered once a year in the week prior to the Spring Quarter. Students who fail the examination may petition to retake it in the following Spring Quarter. The examination may be retaken only once. Students who enter with a B.A. degree who fail the doctoral examination will be allowed to complete the M.A. program as outlined in the requirements.
The relevant European faculty who are in residence during the Spring Quarter administers the examination. The examination is divided into the following sections: Europe 1450-1600; Europe 1550-1800; Europe since 1740; European Social and Economic History since 1450; European Intellectual and Cultural History since 1450; Russia since 800; Jewish History; East Central and Southeast Europe since 1450; Germany since 1450; Italy since 1450; Spain and Portugal since 1450, European History of Science since 1450; European Women’s history 1450 to present, Britain since ca. 1450, France since ca 1450, The Low Countries since ca 1450, Colonialism and Imperialism. Students choose three sections in which they are examined.
The examination consists of three parts of four hours each. The examination is intended to test a comprehensive, broad understanding of European history, both of the modern and early modern periods. Different facets of history (political, social, intellectual, etc.) are included. An ability to synthesize factual information, sometimes across long chronological periods is, consequently, essential. Knowledge of the scholarly literature and of the principal historiographical controversies arising out of it is tested, along with interpretive capabilities. Questions relating to the planning of college-level history courses may appear on the examination.
Oral Qualifying Examination
For the University Oral Qualifying Examination, the student must submit four fields that will enhance the scope and quality of the dissertation. Following the written examination, a student may select a comparative field, a field outside Europe and must include a field outside the department. The oral examination concerns the dissertation prospectus and the substantive elements of the four fields as they relate to the prospectus. The oral examination normally takes place at the end of nine quarters of residence but must be taken by the end of the twelfth quarter. The second language examination must be passed before a student takes the oral examination. Students who fail the oral examination must retake it, at a time set by the committee, within six months. Any variance from time limits must be approved by the European field before going to the Graduate Affairs Committee for final approval.
Jewish Field
Written Qualifying Examination
Students must take a written qualifying examination by the end of the third year of study. The written qualifying examination consists of two components: (1) a written examination in the major field, and (2) a two-hour oral examination covering all four fields, to be taken within a week of the written examination.
Oral Qualifying Examination
The University Oral Qualifying Examination, which is a defense of the dissertation prospectus, must be taken within six months of passing the written qualifying examination.
Latin American Field
Written Qualifying Examination
The written qualifying examination is administered by the student’s principal adviser, focusing on the subfield (colonial or modern) in which the student is specializing. The examination normally consists of two broad, substantive questions which do not overlap with content covered in the dissertation prospectus. The written examination should be taken at least one week before the oral examination.
Oral Qualifying Examination
The oral qualifying examination focuses on questions and issues related to the dissertation prospectus, which must be distributed to members of the committee at least two weeks before the date of the examination.
Medieval Field
Written Qualifying Examination
The written examination includes questions set by members of the student’s medieval fields. Students are examined in four fields, including two medieval fields, one historical field outside of medieval history, and one field outside of history.
Oral Qualifying Examination
A portion of the oral qualifying examination explores the student’s dissertation prospectus. Committee members may also follow up on the written qualifying examination and pose additional questions to their fields. The oral qualifying examination is usually taken one week following the written qualifying examination.
Middle East Field
Written Qualifying Examination
Students are examined in each of two Middle East fields. One of these is the major field, the other field can be outside of the Middle East with the permission of the chair of the dissertation committee. The major field might be Pre-Modern Middle Easter history, Early Modern Middle Eastern history, Modern Middle Eastern history, or Armenian history.
Oral Qualifying Examination
The oral qualifying examination focuses on questions relating to the dissertation prospectus, which must be distributed to members of the committee at least two weeks before the oral examination.
Science Field
Written Qualifying Examination
Students must take the written qualifying examination in June of the second year of study. Students are examined in three distinct fields: (1) Core field which is a general overview of the history of science, medicine, and technology from the ancients to the present; (2) Specific/major field which is defined by the student in close consultation with relevant faculty members; (3) Field outside the history of science, in an area taught in the other fields of the department. Students should consult with their faculty adviser regarding the outside field.
Oral Qualifying Examination
The oral examination is to be taken as soon after the written examination as possible but not later than the end of the third year of graduate study.
South and Southeast Asia Field
Written Qualifying Examination
Students must take a written examination in three fields of study, chosen in consultation with the student’s adviser and two additional faculty, who will administer the examination.
Oral Qualifying Examination
The examination if normally taken during a student’s third year of study. The examination committee must include four faculty members, including the student’s adviser. Normally two members come from the South and Southeast Asia field. One member must come from a field in the department other than the South and Southeast Asia field, and one must come from another department. During the examination students are questioned about their dissertation proposal and, in connection with the proposal and their preparation with the members of the examination committee, they also may be questioned on related fields of 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
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
Students who enter the program with a bachelor’s degree are expected to complete the Ph.D. within 18 to 21 quarters, depending on the requirements of the specific field. Students who enter the program with a master’s degree are expected to complete the degree within 12 to 15 quarters. The following is a suggested timeline:
End of three quarters: completion of six to nine courses, one foreign language examination.
End of six quarters: completion of master’s coursework, additional language requirements, master’s written examinations, submission of research papers.
End of nine to 12 quarters: completion of additional language requirements as specified by the field, completion of the prospectus and oral examinations.
End of 15 quarters: completion of archival research.
End of 18 to 21 quarters: completion of dissertation writing.
This timeline is a suggested model. Students are encouraged to complete the program in an even shorter time than suggested, if possible. The Graduate Affairs Committee reviews the student’s progress on a regular basis and informs the student if the student fails to make normative time-to-degree progress.
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
A student may be recommended for termination at the end of the first year if the Graduate Affairs Committee determines, after consultation with the faculty in the student’s field of study, that the student does not have the academic qualifications for successfully completing a degree. If a student’s grade point average falls below 3.00 due to Incomplete grades that lapse to F, the student is given the opportunity to remove the F grades within one quarter before action is taken regarding a recommendation for termination.
A student who fails to proceed according to normal progress stipulations, is subject to termination except in cases in which extenuating circumstances prevent the student from meeting specified deadlines.
A doctoral candidate is expected to complete the dissertation no later than 18 quarters from the date of matriculation into the fields of U.S., England or European Colonialism and Imperialism, or within 21 quarters of the date of entry into all other fields. A student may be granted a one year extension of time by petitioning the Graduate Affairs Committee and showing that the dissertation can be completed within one year. Further extensions are considered on an individual basis, taking into consideration the extent and type of research required, availability of source material, and other, sometimes personal, mitigating factors which may cause delays. It is the student’s responsibility to inform both the doctoral chair and the graduate office of
progress (or lack thereof) and estimated completion dates. A student may be recommended for termination after 21 quarters if there has been no communication with the department after the oral qualifying examination.
