Program Requirements for Spanish and Portuguese (Spanish)

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

Spanish and Portuguese

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

The Department of Spanish and Portuguese offers the Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Spanish, the Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Portuguese, and the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Hispanic Languages and Literatures.

Spanish

Admission

Program Name

Spanish

Address

5310 Rolfe Hall
Box 951532
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1532

Phone

(310) 825-1036

Email

gtovar@humnet.ucla.edu

Leading to the degree of

M.A.
Only applicants whose objective is the Ph.D. in Hispanic Languages and Literatures can be considered.

Admission Limited to

Fall

Deadline to apply

December 31st

GRE (General and/or Subject), TWE

GRE: General

Letters of Recommendation

Other Requirements

In addition to the University’s minimum requirements and those listed above, all applicants are expected to submit a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from a recognized university, a statement of purpose, and a writing sample. Applicants with a bachelor’s degree in a field other than Spanish but who have substantial coursework and/or preparation in the field may also be considered for admission by the graduate affairs committee. If the committee deems that some area of the applicant’s preparation in language or literature needs to be strengthened, it may require that one or more complementary courses be taken.

Master’s Degree

Advising

New and continuing students in the M.A. program are advised by the Director of Graduate Studies. During this preliminary (M.A.) stage of the graduate program, the student’s choice of concentration is provisional. The Director of Graduate Studies is responsible for planning, in consultation with the student, a study program and for a periodic review of the student’s progress.

Areas of Study

The department offers two areas of concentration for the M.A. degree in Spanish: A) literature; B) linguistics.

Foreign Language Requirement

All candidates for the M.A. degree in Spanish are required to study a language other than English or Spanish. The requirement may be fulfilled by 1) passing a University reading examination in the language; or 2) passing a University course of at least level 3.

Course Requirements

Eleven courses, nine of which must be graduate level, are required for the M.A. degree. Spanish 495 may count as one of the eleven courses but may not replace one of the graduate courses. One course may be taken in another department with the approval of the graduate adviser. Spanish 596 may be taken only once; courses 597 and 598 do not count toward the degree.

Students choose a concentration from the following options: (A) literature; (B) linguistics.

Option A Literature: Students who choose the literature concentration are required to take Spanish M201A and at least one course in each of the following areas: (1) medieval Spanish literature; (2) Golden Age Spanish literature; (3) 18th and 19th century Spanish literature; (4) 20th century Spanish literature; (5) Colonial or 19th century Spanish American literature; (6) 20th century Spanish American literature; (7) Chicano literature; (8) 20th century Latin American literature, including Brazilian. The remaining courses may be taken in any area offered by the department. Courses are selected in consultation with the graduate adviser, who considers the student’s interests as well as the necessary preparation for the comprehensive examination.

Option B Linguistics: Students who choose the linguistics concentration are required to take one upper division or graduate course in literature offered by the department and ten elective courses to be selected in consultation with the graduate adviser, who considers the student’s interests as well as the necessary preparation for the comprehensive examination.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

(A) Literature: The comprehensive examination in literature consists of a four-hour examination in peninsular Spanish literature and a four-hour examination in Latin American literature. The examination is based on a reading list provided by the department when the student enters the program.

(B) Linguistics: The comprehensive examination in Spanish linguistics consists of four two-hour examinations. Students choose four examination areas from the following: (1) Spanish syntax; (2) Portuguese syntax; (3) Spanish phonetics and morphology; (4) Spanish diachronic and synchronic language variation; (5) Spanish/Spanish-American literature; (6) Luso-Brazilian literature. The examination is based on reading lists for the individual examination areas chosen by the student. Reading lists are provided by departmental faculty members when the examination areas are chosen.

The M.A. program in Spanish is the first phase of the doctoral program in Hispanic Languages and Literatures. When the student has completed all requirements for the M.A. degree, the examination committee will meet to evaluate the student by considering the following: (1) one writing sample in Spanish; (2) results of the comprehensive examination; (3) coursework.

A recommendation is made by the committee at a general department meeting. The department decides whether: a) the student has earned a terminal M.A. degree (that is, the student may not proceed to the doctoral program); b) the student has earned the M.A. degree and may proceed to the second phase of the Ph.D. program.

The comprehensive examinations in literature and linguistics are administered only in Spring Quarter.

Students holding an M.A. degree in a subject area other than Spanish must take the comprehensive examination and present a writing sample to their committee. Students may petition for up to eight graduate courses used for the master’s degree to count toward the Ph.D. 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.

In lieu of taking the comprehensive examination, students in either concentration may seek permission to present a thesis for the M.A. degree. Students must first complete five graduate courses, one of which must be a seminar. In order to endorse the petition, the graduate adviser and the guidance committee need to find evidence of exceptional ability and promise in term papers and coursework.

Time-to-Degree

Full-time students (three courses per quarter) with no deficiencies upon entrance should complete the coursework and the comprehensive examination within four quarters of admission. Teaching assistants and students with deficiencies at entrance require longer. Students who are not appointed as teaching assistants are expected to complete seven courses for each three-quarter period; students appointed as teaching assistants are expected to complete five courses for each three-quarter period.

Program Requirements for Near Eastern Languages and Cultures

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

Near Eastern Languages and Cultures

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

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

Admission

Program Name

Near Eastern Languages and Cultures

Address

378 Humanities Building
Box 951511
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1511

Phone

(310) 825-4165

Email

nreast@humnet.ucla.edu

Leading to the degree of

M.A., Ph.D.

Admission Limited to

Fall, Winter, Spring

Deadline to apply

December 1st

GRE (General and/or Subject), TWE

GRE: General

Letters of Recommendation

Other Requirements

In addition to the University’s minimum requirements and those listed above, all applicants are expected to submit a statement of purpose, and recent term paper (strongly recommended).

M.A.: A bachelor’s degree or the equivalent in the language area chosen for the degree. As a rule, applicants selected for admission have a grade-point average of at least 3.25 and competitive GRE scores. The GRE must be taken within 24 months prior to the date of the application.

Ph.D.: A master’s degree or the equivalent in the applicant’s field (the master’s degree need not have been completed at UCLA). As a rule, applicants selected for admission have a grade-point average of at least 3.25. The GRE must be taken within 24 months prior to the date of the application.

Master’s Degree

Advising

Students are assigned a guidance committee composed of an adviser and at least two other faculty members whose interests touch on their area of specialization. The adviser is named by the chair to serve on the student’s guidance committee.

New students should make an advising appointment at the beginning of their first quarter. During this appointment, students and their advisers agree on a study list and their future program. In each subsequent quarter, it is the student’s responsibility to discuss their plans for that quarter with their adviser and obtain approval for their study list. If a student wishes to make changes in the study list after it is approved by the graduate adviser, the changes must be approved by the department chair or the graduate adviser before the student accesses the online enrollment system. Departmental policy requires the signature of the chair or the graduate adviser for approval of all petitions.

Areas of Study

Major fields of specialization are ancient Near Eastern civilizations, Arabic, Armenian, Hebrew, Iranian, Semitics, and Turkic. Students may concentrate on either language or literature in their selected field but are required to do work in both. In the field of ancient Near Eastern civilizations, the department also offers an archaeology emphasis.

Foreign Language Requirement

Students are required to pass an examination in one major modern European language other than English by the beginning of their fourth quarter in residence. Students in the master’s degree program specializing in Arabic study an Arabic dialect rather than a major modern European language. The choice of the language is determined in consultation with their adviser. Students may satisfy this requirement by one of the following methods: (1) a departmentally-administered examination with a minimum grade of B; or (2) two years of language instruction at a UC campus, with a grade of B or better. If students intend to continue toward the Ph.D. degree, it is strongly recommended that they acquire knowledge of a second major European language other than English while still a candidate for the M.A. degree.

Course Requirements

A minimum of nine upper division and graduate courses is required, of which at least six must be at the graduate level. Students are required to take one quarter of Near Eastern Languages 200.

In general, students choosing either the language, literature, or archaeology option are required to study two Near Eastern languages, one of which is considered the major language. Students in Semitics or in Old Iranian study three languages.

In ancient Near Eastern civilizations, students may choose as their major language any of the following: ancient Egyptian (including Coptic), Akkadian, Aramaic (including Syriac), Hebrew (with Ugaritic and Phoenician), or Old Persian. For the second language, any of the above or Hittite or Sumerian may be chosen.

Students in Hebrew choose Hebrew and another Semitic language. In Turkic, either two Turkic languages or Turkish and a second culturally related language may be chosen. In Arabic, Armenian and Iranian (modern), a major language and a second culturally related language are chosen.

Students in Semitics are required to study three Near Eastern languages, at least two of which should be Semitic (the third may be Hittite or Sumerian). In Old Iranian, Persian, Sanskrit, and Old and Middle Iranian are studied.

Twelve units of course 596 may be applied toward the total course requirement; eight units may be applied toward the minimum graduate course requirement.

Teaching Experience

Not required but recommended.

Field Experience

Not required.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

In general, students are required to take written final comprehensive examinations in their major and minor languages, as well as the history and literature of their major field. Further details can be found in the departmental Guide to Graduate Studies, available in the department.

Thesis Plan

None.

Time-to-Degree

From graduate admission to conferral of the degree – six quarters.

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Foreign Language Requirement

Two modern major European languages other than English are required. The choice of languages must be approved by the adviser, who may also require additional language skills in modern and/or ancient languages if such skills are needed for scholarly work in the area of the student’s interest. The requirement is fulfilled by one of the following options: (1) a departmentally-administered examination with a minimum grade of B; or (2) two years of language instruction at a UC campus, with a grade of B or better.

Course Requirements

Students who choose a language emphasis for the Ph.D. degree are required to add a third Near Eastern language to the two that are required for the M.A. degree.

Students are required to achieve high competence in two of their languages and to familiarize themselves with the cultural backgrounds of each of the languages chosen. For language options, students should see the M.A. requirements section. Students are also expected to take the equivalent of one year of general linguistics. Those students studying Semitics or Old Iranian study three languages.

If the literature option is chosen, the student is required to achieve high competence in two Near Eastern languages and their literatures. For language options, students should see the M.A. requirements section. Students are required to familiarize themselves, through appropriate coursework, with the history of the cultural area, and the methods of literary research and the history of literary criticism.

If the archaeology emphasis in the ancient Near Eastern civilizations specialization is chosen, students are required to achieve high competence in two ancient Near Eastern languages and must be well-versed both in the history of the cultural area and in archaeological methodologies. For language options, students should see the M.A. requirements section.

Further details about the choice of languages and examination requirements may be found in the departmental Guide to Graduate Study, available in the department.

Teaching Experience

Not required but recommended.

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.

Written qualifying examinations must be passed before the formation of a doctoral committee. Candidates in languages are examined in three Near Eastern languages and the literary and historical background of at least two of them. Candidates in literature are examined in the literatures written in two languages within the cultural area of concentration and the historical and cultural background of these languages, with emphasis on one of them. Candidates in ancient Near Eastern civilizations are examined in two ancient languages and in the history and archaeology of the major areas of the ancient Near East.

Following successful completion of the course and language requirements and the written qualifying examinations, students are required to form a doctoral committee and take the University Oral Qualifying Examination.

Advancement to Candidacy

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

Doctoral Dissertation

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

Final Oral Examination (Defense of the Dissertation)

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

Time-to-Degree

Ph.D. students are expected to respect the following normative guidelines in carrying out their program:

(1) From admission to the Ph.D. program (i.e., after obtaining the M.A. degree) to the written qualifying examinations – six quarters.

(2) From written qualifying examinations to the oral qualifying examination and approval of the dissertation prospectus – two quarters.

(3) From the oral qualifying examination to the conferral of the Ph.D. degree – six quarters.

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 standards reasons outlined above, a student may specifically be recommended for termination because of: (1) a terminal master’s degree recommendation from the student’s master’s committee; (2) inadequate scholarship as recommended by the Graduate Committee; or (3) inadequate progress toward the degree as recommended by the departmental section in the student’s specialization.

In all cases, the student’s academic progress is discussed in depth by the departmental section that made the recommendation. A recommendation for termination is forwarded to the departmental chair for review and decision. The student is notified of a recommendation for termination in writing.

A student may appeal a recommendation for termination by stating the reasons in writing to the departmental chair. The chair transmits the appeal to the student’s departmental section for consideration.

Program Requirements for Comparative Literature

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2012-2013 academic year.

Comparative Literature

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

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

Admission

Program Name

Comparative Literature

Address

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

Phone

(310) 825-7650

Email

vcarrillo@humnet.ucla.edu

Leading to the degree of

M.A., Ph.D.

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

Admission Limited to

Fall

Deadline to apply

December 1st

GRE (General and/or Subject)

GRE: General

Letters of Recommendation

Other Requirements

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

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

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

Master’s Degree

Advising

Since the program only admits students to the Ph.D. program, please consult the requirements for the doctoral degree.

Areas of Study

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

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

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

Foreign Language Requirement

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

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

Course Requirements

A minimum of 16 letter-graded seminar courses (and one pedagogy course taken at UCLA) are required for the Ph.D. degree, distributed as follows:

Comparative Literature 200A and 200B, five additional Comparative Literature graduate courses, six graduate courses in the major literature, three graduate courses in the minor literature/field, and Comparative Literature 495, the teaching practicum course.

Students admitted from graduate programs elsewhere may petition to use up to three courses not used toward a previous degree to count toward the course requirements for this degree.

All coursework must be completed by the end of the third year. The recommended schedule is as follows:

First year: Two seminars in the first quarter, followed by a three seminar load for the following two quarters, in addition to any language work required and Comparative Literature 495 that is taken in Spring Quarter.

Second year: For all teaching graduate students, the recommended course load, excluding language coursework, is two seminars per quarter. Altogether, a minimum of 13 seminars should be completed by the end of the second year and before the second year review.

Third year: Students should ideally take seminars only in Fall Quarter and complete coursework no later than Winter Quarter of the third year to ensure enough time for preparing their reading lists and Ph.D. examinations.

Graduate Summer Research Mentor coursework cannot be counted toward graduate degree requirements.

Under special circumstances student may petition for an exception to apply 500-series coursework toward the graduate degree requirements.

Teaching Experience

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

Field Experience

Not required.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

See under Doctoral Degree.

Thesis Plan

None.

Time-to-Degree

See under Doctoral Degree.

Doctoral Degree

Advising

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

First Stage Evaluation

Students in the Department of Comparative Literature are required to have a Second Year Review by the end of their second year or, at the latest, by the fall quarter of the third year. Prior to the review students must complete all the course work for the first two years (altogether, a minimum of 13 seminars) and show significant advance in fulfilling their language requirements. The requirements for at least one of the two foreign languages must be completed prior to the review.

At the date set for the review (students are required to coordinate the review in advance); students shall meet with a committee of three faculty members (one of which must be the Director of Graduate Studies and at least one other must be from Comparative Literature) to review progress toward the degree and plan the remaining course work required for the Ph.D. All students are required to choose two of their strongest seminar papers, carefully revise them and circulate them among the review committee in advance. The papers shall serve as writing samples that will be discussed during the review. If successful , at the end of the review, students are granted an MA, which is required before they can move ahead towards completing the Ph.D. program.

In cases in which the review committee determines that it is necessary, an MA exam would be added as a pre-condition for receiving the MA and continuing in the Ph.D. program. In such cases a date will be set for the MA exam, which will then be read by the three members of the review committee. At that point the review committee may approve the student’s continual study in the Ph.D. program or grant the student a terminal MA. Upon receiving a terminal MA degree, the student may not continue his/her studies in the Ph.D. program.

The MA exam (offered only upon the recommendation of the Second Year review Committee) is made of 2 written exams, each limited to 3 hours. Part one includes a critical theory reading list based on the readings included 200A and 200B (modifications may be made with the approval of DGS). Part two would be based on a literary field and must include texts in at least two languages). Both exams can be taken in the same day or in separate times within the frame of one week.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

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

Foreign Language Requirement

In addition to the course requirements for the major and minor fields, students must have literary proficiency in at least two foreign languages before taking the qualifying examination, to be demonstrated either by completion of upper division or graduate courses in the language, or, rarely, by examination. Additional details on fulfilling the requirement are included under Master’s Degree. A reading knowledge of a third foreign language is strongly recommended. A classical language is usually necessary for anyone majoring in a period prior to the 19th century.

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

Course Requirements

See above.

Teaching Experience

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

Qualifying Examination

There is a two-section qualifying examination for which the student prepares reading lists for one major literature and one minor literature/field. The examination consists of written and oral sections. All coursework and language requirements must be completed before the examination takes place. In rare cases that require approval from the Director of Graduate Studies, students may take their examinations during the quarter in which they are complete their coursework. All reading lists must be approved by the field examiners and the graduate adviser by the end of the quarter preceding that in which the examination is given. It is the student’s responsibility to constitute an examining committee, of which two members must be from the department, in the quarter preceding that in which the examination is given.

The examination consists of a written part comprised of a 72-hour take home examination in the major and minor fields based on a reading list of 50 works in the major field and 25 works in the minor field; 15-20 percent of these lists will be theoretical works related to each field. In rare cases that require approval from the Director of Graduate Studies, students may substitute an on-campus examination of shorter duration for the 72-hour take home examination. The major reading list must cover a vast range of genres and periods over at least 150 years or more, depending on the particular field.

Written examinations consist of one long or two shorter questions for the major field examination and one question for the minor field. Altogether students are expected to produce about 25-30 page answers during the 72-hour examination period and they may not include in these pages any excerpts of previously written seminar papers.

An oral examination follows the written examination, no later than two weeks after the submission of the written portion. It is the student’s responsibility to constitute a three-member faculty committee that includes the faculty member who wrote the major examination and at least two faculty members from the department.

Second Stage Evaluation

After completion of the written and oral examinations, students enroll in a 597 course with their major adviser to begin work on the dissertation prospectus. This 35- to 50-page prospectus includes a substantial bibliography, a review of the relevant secondary literature, and a critical or theoretical perspective. Students should nominate their examination committee (which is normally the Ph.D. committee) at least two months in advance of the prospectus defense. This examination/doctoral committee is composed of three faculty members from the department and one faculty member from outside of the department. The University Oral Qualifying Examination is a two-hour examination that is based primarily on a defense of the prospectus.

Following advancement to candidacy and the completion of the dissertation, the student’s decision to file the dissertation must first be approved by the chair of the doctoral committee. The Director of Graduate Studies and all certifying members of the doctoral committee must be notified of the student’s plan to file the dissertation, and the final draft of the dissertation must be submitted to these members for review no later than two months prior to the planned date of filing to allow sufficient time for any needed final revisions.

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 the Dissertation)

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

Time-to-Degree

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

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

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

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

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

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

Special Departmental or Program Policy

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

Program Requirements for Statistics

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2012-2013 academic year.

Statistics

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

The Department of Statistics offers the Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Statistics.

Admission

Program Name

Statistics

Address

8125 Math Sciences
Box 951554
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1554

Phone

(310) 206-3742

Email

glenda@stat.ucla.edu

Leading to the degree of

M.S., Ph.D.

Admission Limited to

Fall

Deadline to apply

Ph.D.: December 15th
M.S. February 1st

GRE (General and/or Subject)

GRE: General

Letters of Recommendation

3, that emphasize the applicant’s level of preparation for graduate study in Statistics

Other Requirements

In addition to the University’s minimum requirements and those listed above, all applicants are expected to submit the department’s application found on the departmental website.

A bachelor’s degree in statistics is not required for the M.S. or Ph.D. programs, but applicants should have taken at least 12 quarter courses (or eight semester courses) in substantial upper division quantitative work, including, but not limited to, courses in statistics, mathematics, computer science, and electrical engineering.

M.S.: Applicants must have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.2 in upper division courses.

Ph.D.: For direct admission to the doctoral program, a grade-point average of at least 3.5 must be presented. Applicants who have already obtained a master’s degree must have maintained an average of better than 3.5 in graduate study.

Master’s Degree

Advising

The vice chair for graduate studies is the chief graduate adviser and heads a committee of faculty advisers who may serve as academic advisers. The research interests of the members of this committee span most of the major areas of statistics. During their first quarter in the program students are required to meet with an academic adviser who assists them in planning a reasonable course of study. In addition, the academic adviser is responsible for monitoring the student’s degree progress and approving the study list each quarter. After the student identifies a thesis topic, the chair of the thesis committee becomes the student’s academic adviser.

Continuing students should meet with either the vice chair for graduate studies or their academic adviser at least once each quarter and a record of this interview is placed in the student’s academic file. Each spring a committee consisting of all regular departmental faculty meet to evaluate the progress of all enrolled M.S. degree students. This committee decides if students are making satisfactory progress, and if not offers specific recommendations to correct the situation. For students who have begun thesis work, the determination of satisfactory progress is typically delegated to the academic adviser. Students who are found to be consistently performing unsatisfactorily may be recommended for termination by a vote of this committee.

Areas of Study

The strengths of current and prospective faculty dictate the specific fields of emphasis in the department: applied multivariate analysis; bioinformatics; computational and computer-intensive statistics; computer vision; pattern recognition; machine learning; and social statistics.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Forty-four units of coursework are required for the M.S. degree, of which at least 32 units must be graduate courses, while the remaining 12 units may be approved upper division courses. With consent of either the vice chair for graduate studies or their academic adviser, students may take up to 20 units of the required 44 units in other departments provided that these courses are in professional or scientific fields closely related to research in statistics. All courses must be passed with the grade of B or better and students must maintain an overall grade-point average of 3.0 or better. Students may enroll in Statistics 596 any number of times and may apply up to eight units of 596 courses toward the 44-unit requirement for the M.S.degree, provided a B- or better (not the grade of S) is received in these courses. Students are required to enroll in Statistics 290 each quarter, and are strongly encouraged to take Statistics 200A-200B-200C, 201A-201B-201C, and 202A-202B-202C in their first year..

Students with gaps in their previous training are allowed to take, with the approval of their academic adviser, undergraduate courses offered by the department. However, Statistics 100A-100B-100C, 110A-110B, 120A-120B, and 161 may not be applied toward course requirements for a graduate degree in the department. Students who need a basic refresher course are encouraged to take Statistic 100A-100B (not 110A-110B).

Teaching Experience

Not required. Students who wish to serve as teaching assistants in the department must have taken or be currently enrolled in Statistics 495A-495B-495C.

Field Experience

Not required.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

This plan is not available to terminal master’s degree students. The comprehensive examination plan is available to doctoral students who obtain the M.S. degree on the way to the Ph.D. degree. Students fulfill the comprehensive examination requirement by passing two of three sections of the written qualifying examination for the Ph.D. 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.

This plan is for terminal master’s degree students only. Students must find a thesis adviser, who approves the topic and form of the thesis. Students must nominate a thesis committee consisting of the adviser and at least two other faculty members who are eligible to serve on thesis committees, and the committee must be appointed by the Graduate Division. The final thesis must be approved by the thesis committee.

Time-to-Degree

Students are expected to complete the requirements for the M.S. degree within six quarters of full-time study.

Doctoral Degree

Advising

The vice chair for graduate studies is the chief graduate adviser and heads a committee of faculty advisers who may serve as academic advisers. The research interests of the members of this committee span most of the major areas of statistics. During their first quarter in the program students are required to meet with an academic adviser who assists them in planning a reasonable course of study. In addition, the academic adviser is responsible for monitoring the student’s degree progress and approving the study list each quarter. Students are encouraged to begin thinking about their research interests as early as possible. After the student identifies a dissertation topic, the chair of the dissertation committee becomes the student’s academic adviser.

Continuing students should meet with either the vice chair for graduate studies or their academic adviser at least once each quarter and a record of this interview is placed in the student’s academic file. Each spring a committee consisting of all regular departmental faculty meet to evaluate the progress of all enrolled doctoral students. This committee decides if students are making satisfactory progress, and if not offers specific recommendations to correct the situation. For students who have begin dissertation work, the determination of satisfactory progress is typically delegated to the academic adviser. Students who are found to be consistently performing unsatisfactorily may be recommended for termination by a vote of this committee. Doctoral students normally are considered to be making satisfactory progress if they take the written qualifying examination in the summer following their first year of study and the University Oral Qualifying Examination by the end of their second year.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Students are required to pass, with a grade of B- or better, 54 units of approved graduate coursework and to maintain an overall grade-point average of 3.0 or better. At least 40 of these units must be in courses from this department; the remaining units may be from courses in related departments. Students are strongly encouraged to take Statistics 200A-200B-200C, 201A-201B-201C, and 202A-202B-202C. These courses contain core material for the qualifying examination. All doctoral students are required to take Statistics 290, and 296 and/or 596, or 599 during each quarter of enrollment.

Students with gaps in their previous training are allowed to take, with the approval of their academic adviser, undergraduate courses offered by the department. However, Statistics 100A-100B-100C, 110A-110B, 120A-120B, and 161 may not be applied toward course requirements for a graduate degree in the department. Also, for doctoral students Statistics C236 may not be applied toward the course requirements for a graduate degree. Students who need a basic refresher course are encouraged to take Statistics 100A-100B (not 110A-110B).

Teaching Experience

Students are required to complete at least one quarter of service as a teaching assistant for a minimum of 25% time appointment. Students who serve as teaching assistants in the department must have taken or be currently enrolled in Statistics 495A-495B-495C. International students for whom English is a second language must pass either the Test of Spoken English (TSE) or the UCLA Test of Oral Proficiency (TOP) in English before they may serve as teaching assistants.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

Each year the department offers a written qualifying examination that covers material from the core course sequences for applied probability and theoretical statistics, data analysis, and statistical computing (Statistics 200A-200B-200C, 201A-201B-201C, and 202A-202B-202C). The examination is offered toward the end of Summer Session and consists of three separate sections, each related to a different course sequence. Students must select and pass two of the three sections. The choice of the two sections is made by the student and should be based on the student’s ultimate research goals. After passing the written qualifying examination, students select a doctoral committee that administers the University Oral Qualifying Examination, required for advancement to candidacy. Students are encouraged to begin thinking about their research interests as early as possible and to seek out faculty members who might serve on their doctoral committee. Students making satisfactory progress are expected to take the written qualifying examination in the summer following their first year of study and the University Oral Qualifying Examination by the end of their second 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

Final Oral Examination (Defense of Dissertation)

Required for all students in the program.

Time-to-Degree

Students are expected to advance to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree within seven quarters of full-time work. Completion of all degree requirements (including the dissertation) normally takes 15 quarters.

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

Special Departmental or Program Policy

Master’s

A student who does not complete all the requirements for the M.S. degree within seven quarters of full-time study is subject to a recommendation for termination. The graduate vice chair decides in each case whether a recommendation for termination is warranted. A student may appeal a recommendation for termination to the Graduate Studies Committee, which makes the final departmental decision.

Doctoral

A student who does not advance to doctoral candidacy within seven quarters of full-time study is subject to a recommendation for termination. The graduate vice chair informs a student of such a recommendation and the student is asked to submit a written appeal and to solicit letters of support from members of the faculty. The appeal is considered by the Graduate Studies Committee, which makes the final departmental decision.

Program Requirements for Afro-American Studies

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2012-2013 academic year.

Afro-American Studies

Interdepartmental Program
College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

The Afro-American Studies Program offers the Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Afro-American Studies.

Admission

Program Name

Afro-American Studies

Afro-American Studies is an interdepartmental program. Interdepartmental programs provide an integrated curriculum of several disciplines.

Address

160 Haines Hall
Box 951545
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1545

Phone

(310) 825-9821

Email

idpstaff@bunche.ucla.edu

Leading to the degree of

M.A.

Admission Limited to

Fall

Deadline to apply

December 15th

GRE (General and/or Subject)

GRE: General

Letters of Recommendation

Other Requirements

In addition to the University’s minimum requirements and those listed above, all applicants are expected to submit (1) two official (sealed) transcripts from every undergraduate institution attended, and (2) three letters of recommendation, preferably from faculty.

All applicants must also submit (1) a two page statement of purpose describing the applicant’s academic achievements and goals for study at UCLA; (2) a writing sample of approximately six pages; (3) the Diversity Fellowship Application; (4) the Fellowship Application for Entering Graduate Students; (5) a statemetn describing the applicants qualifications for the fellowship(s) selected; (6) a one to two page personal statement describing the applicant’s financial need; (7) the Supplementary Information cover sheet; and (8) an optional resume or other record of accomplishments.

Afro-American Studies, M.A./Law, J.D.

Afro-American Studies and the School of Law offer a four-year, concurrent degree program whereby students pursue the Master of Arts in their first year and the Juris Doctor degrees in the three subsequent years of study. For admission, applicants are required to satisfy the regular admission requirements of both schools, and should, in addition, submit to Afro-American Studies (1) a statement of purpose describing the applicant’s background, proposed program of joint study in African American studies and law and including future career goals; (2) an LSAT score in lieu of the GRE; and (3) written permission to use data from the applicant’s Law School admissions files.

Master’s Degree

Advising

The M.A. program is supervised by an interdepartmental faculty committee. Upon admission, students are assigned a faculty adviser, who assists them with the formulation of their program of study for the first year. Students are expected to meet at least quarterly with their academic adviser, usually at the beginning of the quarter to have their enrollment plan approved. At the beginning of the second year in residence, students are expected to nominate a three-person guidance committee which is subject to approval by the interdepartmental committee. The guidance committee, which is usually chaired by the student’s academic adviser, is responsible for supervision, review, and the final recommendation for acceptance of the thesis as partial fulfillment of the M.A. requirements. Students may, however, elect to complete the M.A. degree through the comprehensive examination plan.

Areas of Study

The M.A. in Afro-American Studies is interdepartmental, with formal linkages to other disciplinary departments: Anthropology, English, History, Linguistics, Music, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology. Related courses are also offered in the following schools, departments, and programs: African Studies, Art, Economics, Education, Geography, Information Studies, Latin American Studies, Management, Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Public Health, Social Welfare, Theater, and World Arts and Cultures.

Foreign Language Requirement

Students are required to satisfy the language requirement in one of the following ways: (1) documenting satisfactory completion of two full years of coursework in a foreign language at the undergraduate level, or (2) by successfully passing one UCLA foreign language course (one quarter) with a grade of “C” or better; or by participating in a study abroad program or other pre-approved course or equivalent that provides some exposure to language learning. Students in the M.A. program prior to 2012, but who have yet to complete the degree, may be allowed to complete the program under this language requirement.

Course Requirements

A total of 12 courses are required for the degree. Of that number, only four may be selected from upper division listings; the remaining courses must be selected from graduate listings. The program has a structured core of six required Afro-American Studies courses. Students are required to take one graduate-level course in research methods (for social sciences students) or in critical theory (for humanities students). The methods courses should be selected from the list approved by the interdepartmental degree committee (students may petition to substitute appropriate upper division courses if their outside department’s methods courses are closed to non-majors. At least nine of the twelve required courses should be taken in the first year of study. The second year is devoted to acquiring disciplinary competence in the student’s cognate field, and up to six courses must be selected from that discipline. Eight units of 500-series courses may be applied to either the total course requirement or the minimum graduate course requirement.

Afro-American Studies, M.A./Law, J.D.

For this curriculum, 12 courses are required for the degree, of which eight must be at the graduate level. Only 12 units of Law courses are allowed to be double-counted toward the M.A. degree by petition to the Graduate Division.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

Students may elect to complete the M.A. degree through the comprehensive examination plan. The examination is administered by a committee consisting of at least three faculty members appointed by the program. The examination is offered on a periodic basis.

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.

Students may elect to complete the M.A. degree through the thesis plan. Before beginning work on the thesis, students should consult closely with their academic adviser and the thesis committee.

Time-to-Degree

Approximately six quarters in residence are required from the time of admission to award of the degree. This presumes full-time student status and normal progression through coursework. Students may view more detailed first and second year timelines on the program’s website.

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

Special Departmental or Program Policy

None.

Program Requirements for Applied Linguistics (Teaching English as a Second Language)

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

Applied Linguistics

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

The Department of Applied Linguistics offers the Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Applied Linguistics, the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Applied Linguistics, the Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Teaching English as Second Language, and the Certificate in Teaching English as a Second/Foreign Language.

Teaching English as a Second Language

Admission

Program Name

Teaching English as a Second Language

Address

Program is not accepting applications for 2014-2015

Phone

(310) 825-4631

Email

ngov@humnet.ucla.edu

Leading to the degree of

M.A.

Admission Limited to

Program is not accepting applications for 2011-2012

Master’s Degree

Advising

There is a clearly stated set of course requirements students must fulfill in order to earn the master’s degree. Each individual student’s program is specified in a meeting with the graduate adviser. During the year, students are made aware of their progress in individual courses as the result of midterm and final examinations. At the beginning of each quarter, the graduate adviser reviews the student’s record and advises the student of progress in the program and the remaining requirements that must be met.

Areas of Study

Consult the department.

Foreign Language Requirement

Students whose native language is English, generally use their Fall and Winter quarter electives to acquire or perfect a knowledge of the native language or dialect of the pupils to whom they expect to teach English. This can be done by taking any one of four combinations of two courses: (1) two foreign language courses; (2) one foreign language course plus Linguistics 220 or 225; (3) Applied Linguistics 221 plus an unrestricted elective.

Those who are particularly interested in working with Mexican-American, Asian-American, or American Indian pupils will normally choose the third of these alternatives. When there is doubt as to which language is most appropriate, a non-European language should be selected because of the greater broadening of linguistic horizons that such a selection offers. Foreign language courses that deal with linguistic structure should be selected whenever possible.

Non-native speakers of English, depending on their performance on the University’s English as a Second Language Placement Examination (ESLPE), may be required to take a course to improve their practical command of English.

Exemption from the foreign language requirement may be granted if students can demonstrate a strong need to take other electives and have an unusually extensive background of previous foreign language study. For more information, contact the graduate adviser.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite. Linguistics 20 or its equivalent.

First-Year Curriculum

The typical course of study for the first year of the M.A. program is as follows:

Fall Quarter: Applied Linguistics C210, 265, foreign language requirement or elective (course depends on language requirement plan).

Winter Quarter: Applied Linguistics C216, 220 or 229 or 231, foreign language requirement or elective (course depends on language requirement plan).

Spring Quarter: Applied Linguistics C211, or C212, or C217, or C218A-218B, Linguistics 103 or Applied Linguistics C213.

Exceptions to the above requirements are made only after consultation with the graduate adviser.

Of the nine courses required the first year, at least seven must be in Applied Linguistics, English, linguistics, or structure of language courses in language departments.

Successful completion of the above courses qualifies students for a Teaching English as a Second Language Certificate, which is not a California State Instructional Credential.

Second-Year Curriculum

A total of 14 courses is required for the M.A. degree, including a minimum of four 200-series courses. Four of the nine courses taken during the first year (usually Applied Linguistics C216, 220 or 229 or 231, 265, and Linguistics 103 or Applied Linguistics C213) and, in special cases, two of the electives (100 or 200 series only) may be applied toward the University’s nine-course minimum requirement for master’s degrees. This leaves five courses to be completed in consultation with the graduate adviser during the second year.

Once the thesis proposal in course 598 is completed, the student continues to enroll in this course until the thesis is completed, typically by the end of the second year. Only one 598 course may be applied toward the 14-course requirement.

A total of eight units of 500-series courses may be applied toward the 14 courses required for the degree; however, only four units may be used to fulfill the University minimum requirement of five graduate-level courses.

Applied Linguistics 400 is a seminar in which M.A. candidates present and defend the results of their thesis research. Enrollment is required in the Spring Quarter but does not count as one of the 14 courses required for the M.A. degree.

The electives taken during the second year should be selected, in consultation with the faculty M.A. adviser and the chair of the thesis committee, as a sequence of related courses relevant to the student’s thesis topic. Any changes in the program must be approved by both the committee chair and the M.A. adviser.

Teaching Experience

One quarter of supervised teaching is required during the first year unless students have had extensive teaching experience. If this requirement is completed at UCLA in an adult education setting, students will be eligible for the California Adult Education Credential in ESL.

Field Experience

Not required.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

None.

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.

By the end of the fourth quarter, a thesis proposal, signed by two faculty members, is submitted to the faculty. At this time, plans for the thesis are approved and the thesis committee is established. An outside member is required.

Time to Degree

From graduate admission to award of M.A. degree: six quarters, and in some cases, a summer session. Students must complete the degree including the filing of the thesis within three years after beginning the M.A. program. If the degree is not completed within that time period, students must file a petition with the department indicating reasons for extension of time.

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

Special Departmental or Program Policy

The chair makes a recommendation for termination on the recommendation of a departmental committee set up to review the particular circumstances of a given case. The committee includes at least one student. Either the graduate adviser or a member of the faculty may initiate the process by informing the chair of the need to recommend a student for termination. A student may appeal a recommendation for termination to the chair who reconvenes the ad hoc committee to reconsider the matter.

Program Requirements for Germanic Languages

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2010-2011 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).

Admission

Program Name

Germanic Languages

Address

212 Royce Hall
Box 951539
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1539

Phone

(310) 825-3955

Email

allen@humnet.ucla.edu

Leading to the degree of

M.A., Ph.D.

Admission Limited to

Fall, Winter, Spring

Deadline to apply

December 15th

GRE (General and/or Subject), TWE

GRE: General

Letters of Recommendation

Other Requirements

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

M.A.: Although a degree in German, Germanic linguistics, or linguistics with a minor in German is preferred, the department accepts applicants with a variety of undergraduate backgrounds. Applicants with deficiencies in undergraduate preparation are considered but if admitted are required to take remedial courses, as recommended by the graduate adviser.

Ph.D.: An M.A. degree in German or a Germanic Language from an accredited U.S. Institution is required for admission to the doctoral program. Also acceptable are European degrees such as German or Austrian Staatsexam, a German or Austrian Magister, or a Swiss Lizenziat. A German Zwischenprüfung is not acceptable.

Applicants with an M.A. in fields other than German (for example, in Comparative Literature or in Linguistics) are required to pass the written part of the M.A. comprehensive examination in German or Scandinavian, as applicable, within three quarters after admission to the department.

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 one of these courses: Dutch 103A, Dutch 103B, Dutch 103C, Dutch 120, Dutch 131, French 1G, French 2G, Old Norse 151, Old Norse 152, 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 134, and 150 (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.

Program Requirements for Theater (Theater)

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2011-2012 academic year.

Theater

School of Theater, Film, and Television

Graduate Degrees

The Department of Theater offers the Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) and Master of Arts (M.A.) degrees in Theater, and the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Theater and Performance Studies.

Theater

Master’s Degrees

Admission

Program Name

Theater

Address

103 East Melnitz
Box 951622
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1622

Phone

(310) 206-8441

Email

theatergrad@tft.ucla.edu

Leading to the degree of

M.A., M.F.A.,

M.A.: Applicants whose objective is the Ph.D. should see Theater and Performance Studies

Admission Limited to

Fall

Deadline to apply

M.A.: December 10th
M.F.A.: December 1st, except for Acting, which is January 15th to be considered for admission and financial support; late applications may be considered for the M.F.A. Note however that interviews and auditions are conducted in January and February. Please consult the Theater website for schedule and location.

GRE (General and/or Subject)

GRE: Optional

Letters of Recommendation

Consult department for additional information.

Other Requirements

In addition to the University’s minimum requirements and those listed above, all applicants are expected to submit a statement of purpose, departmental application, and materials as indicated below:

M.F.A.:

Interviews and auditions for the M.F.A. program are conducted at various locations around the country in January and February. Details are available on the departmental website.

Acting. Complete resume and audition for the acting committee or its representative

Design for Theater and Entertainment (scenic and production design, costume design, lighting design, and sound design, or production management). Resume and evidence of ability appropriate to the area of emphasis as demonstrated by sketches, renderings, photographs, sound recording, production books, plots, technical papers, reviews, or other exhibits appropriate to the field of study. An interview and presentation of the portfolio are required.

Directing. Resume and evidence of production work, which may include copies of prompt books, photographs, reviews and critical commentaries, and an essay outlining a directorial approach to a selected play. If the review committee requests an interview, applicants are notified of city location and dates at which time a full portfolio may be presented.

Playwriting. Resume and two examples of creative writing which may include dramatic writing or narrative fiction such as full-length plays, one-act plays, and screenplays. At least one stage play must be included. An interview may be required by the department.

Applicants are advised that all records submitted in support of an application, including creative work (original or otherwise), are not returnable nor is the department responsible for such material.

M.A.

Departmental application, statement of purpose indicating area of interest, and a writing sample are required. In addition, candidates should demonstrate awareness and experience in one of the major fields of theater.

Master of Arts

Advising

In most instances, the chair of the appropriate graduate committee acts as principal adviser to students in the program, although some students may be assigned by the chair to other members of the faculty. Students meet with their adviser for program planning prior to the beginning of each quarter. Students are urged to confer with their adviser as frequently as necessary to discuss academic and curricular issues course substitutions, petitions, and other concerns. Students are also encouraged to confer with the departmental student affairs officer. Assessment of student academic progress in the program is made by the appropriate committee during the final examination week of each quarter.

Areas of Study

The program leads to a general graduate degree in theater, though there are opportunities, through electives and thesis or research paper topics, to stress a particular interest such as design, directing, dramatic writing, performance, or theater history and theory.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Students are required to complete a minimum of 36 units of coursework, 28 units of which must be at the graduate level, with a minimum course load of 12 units each quarter. At least one year of study, leading to the successful completion of either the thesis or comprehensive examination plan, is required. Only eight units of 596 coursework may be applied toward the total course requirement, and only four of these units may be applied toward the minimum graduate course requirement. No 598 coursework may be applied toward the total course requirement. In accord with University policy, students must maintain a 3.0 gradepoint average in all courses and be registered and enrolled unless on official leave of absence.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

Students who select this plan take a written examination that consists of a series of essay questions in their area of study or present a portfolio of other evidence that demonstrates completion of a significant creative project (an original play, director’s notes, or designs that grow out of original research). Students must propose and obtain approval of an area of study that deals with theater research and/or practice and a general plan of investigation from the appropriate graduate committee. An examination committee is formed when students are within one quarter of completion of coursework, at which time they petition to the adviser and committee to advance to candidacy for the master’s degree. Students who fail this examination may retake it once.

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.

Before beginning work on the thesis, students must obtain approval of a subject dealing with the aesthetics, history, techniques, or theoretical analysis of the theater and a general plan of investigation from the appropriate committee. A thesis committee is then formed when students are within one quarter of completing the coursework, at which time they are eligible to advance to candidacy. The student must give the adviser and the committee a prospectus of the thesis and a petition to advance to candidacy for approval. If the thesis fails to pass the committee, the student may present a rewritten version for approval. The number of times a thesis may be presented depends on assessments made by the committee.

Time-to-Degree

Normal progress toward the degree: from graduate admission with no deficiencies to award of the M.A. degree, a minimum time period of three quarters is necessary for completion of the required courses and thesis or comprehensive examination. Maximum residency for the M.A. program is seven quarters.

Master of Fine Arts

Advising

In most instances, the chair of the appropriate graduate committee acts as principal adviser to students in the program, although some students may be assigned by the chair to other members of the faculty. Each program has a specific procedure and calendar for assignment of each student’s committee. Students should consult the adviser for this information.

Students meet with their adviser for program planning prior to the beginning of each quarter and again early in each quarter for formal approval of the study list. Students are urged to confer with their adviser as frequently as necessary to discuss program changes, petitions, and other concerns.

Assessment of student academic progress in the program is made by the appropriate committee during the final examination week of each quarter. The adviser then notifies students of problems, when warranted, in writing and assists in planning a solution. Normally, committee recommendations are referred directly to the chair of the department, though in some instances, special problems may be referred to the faculty for recommendation of action to the chair.

Areas of Study

The areas of specialization for the M.F.A. program are as specified above under the Admission section.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Acting. A total of 23.5 courses (94 units) is required for the degree; of these, 20.5 courses (82 units) must be graduate-level (200- and 400-series) courses. Only 12 units of 596 courses may be applied toward the total number of units for the degree and the minimum graduate course requirement.

Design for Theater and Entertainment (costume design, lighting design, scenic and production design, sound design, or production management). A total of 26 courses (104 units) is required for the degree; of these, 23.5 courses (94 units) must be graduate-level (200- and 400-series) courses. A maximum of 10 units of upper division courses and a maximum of 12 units of 596 courses may be applied toward the total number of units for the degree.

Directing. A total of 26.5 courses (106 units) is required for the degree; of these, 23.5 (94 units) must be graduate-level (200- and 400-series) courses. A maximum of 12 units of upper division courses and a maximum of 12 units of 596 courses may be applied toward the total number of units for the degree.

Playwriting. A total of 23.5 courses (94 units) is required for the degree; of these 20.5 (82 units) must be graduate-level (200- and 400-series) courses. A maximum of 12 units of upper division courses and a maximum of 12 units of 596 courses may be applied toward the total number of units for the degree.

Students are required to enroll in a minimum of 12 units per quarter. Required courses are scheduled to permit completion within a three-year period.

Specific course requirements for each program are available in the Student Services Office.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

For the Design for Theater and Entertainment, Directing, and Playwriting Programs, a professional internship experience associated with a theater, film, television or entertainment company is required.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

The plan is satisfied by fulfilling a series of creative projects appropriate to student specializations. On completion of the final creative project or in the last quarter of residence, whichever is last, students must file for advancement to candidacy. The committee then reviews and evaluates students’ records. Student participation in the final review is at the discretion of the committee. If students fail the review and evaluation of their creative work by the examining committee, they may, with the approval of the department chair, be reexamined.

Thesis Plan

None.

Time-to-Degree

Normal progress toward the degree is for students to be enrolled in their specialized areas for a continuous period until all required courses are completed, typically seven to nine quarters. Maximum residency in these specializations is 12 quarters.

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