Applicable only to students admitted during the 2020-2021 academic year.

French and Francophone Studies

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

The Department of French and Francophone Studies offers the Master of Arts (M.A.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in French and Francophone Studies.

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

See under Doctoral Degree.

Areas of Study

French and Francophone Literatures.

Foreign Language Requirement

During the first two years of study, students are expected to make satisfactory progress toward fulfillment of the first foreign language requirement for the doctoral degree (listed under Doctoral Degree). Students who decide not to pursue the doctoral degree and to leave the graduate program must have completed the first foreign language requirement in order to receive the M.A. degree.

Course Requirements

During the first two years of study toward the doctoral degree, students must complete a total of 13 courses (52 units) taken for a letter grade from French 200 to 296, and 1 professionalization course, ELTS 200, for S/U. These 14 fulfill the course requirements for the master’s degree. First year: students should be enrolled in a total of nine (9) courses: three (3) courses per quarter of which at least two (2) must be from departmental offerings. Second year: students should be enrolled in a total of four (4) courses of which at least three (3) must be from departmental offerings: one (1) course in the Fall in addition to the Teaching Apprentice Practicum, two (2) in the Winter, and one (1) in the Spring. No courses in the 500 series may be applied toward the course requirements for the master’s degree.

Although all students are admitted directly into the doctoral program, those who decide not to pursue the doctoral degree and to leave the graduate program must have completed the 13-course requirement above in order to receive the M.A. degree.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

The capstone requirement is met through two reviews, assessing academic performance and other evidence of professional promise. The first review, taken in the third quarter, is meant to be advisory in nature. Students are evaluated by the faculty and are provided with suggestions through a follow-up departmental written evaluation. The second review  occurs in the sixth quarter and is conducted by a departmental review committee.  This committee is appointed each year by the Chair and consists of three to four departmental faculty members, including the Director of Graduate Studies ex officio, and endeavors to reflect as broadly as possible the department’s faculty expertise. The review is based on two components:

1. An expanded paper term paper.  The student must select a course paper by the end of the fifth quarter and write an expanded version in consultation with a departmental faculty member of her/his choice. The student should enroll for this purpose in a two to four-unit individual preparation course (FR597), usually (though not necessarily) with the faculty member for whose course the paper was initially written. The paper must be 20-25 pages in length, written in French, include additional research, and be approved for submission by the consulting faculty member. This must be submitted to the DGS by week 8 of the Spring quarter.

2. The oral review is conducted by the departmental review committee. This one-hour review is designed to gauge the student’s general literary knowledge and is based on a reading list of works from the Middle Ages to the contemporary period selected by the faculty. This list is available on the department’s website and in person from the Student Affairs Officer (SAO). The intellectual orientation of the oral review is guided by problematics/thematics/questions developed by the student in consultation with the DGS, and takes the form of a one page single-spaced abstract written in French to be submitted to the DGS no later than the Friday of week 2 of the Winter quarter of the second year.

During a departmental meeting scheduled within two weeks of the oral review, the departmental review committee discusses the performance of individual students with the faculty as a whole. The faculty also share their views on each student’s overall progress in the program and preparedness for further advanced study. Following deliberation, the DGS meets with students individually and presents them with an oral evaluation of their progress, and subsequently with an official departmental review letter. Students who have obtained a satisfactory review will be invited to continue in the Ph.D. program in French and Francophone Studies.

Students who elect not to continue with advanced doctoral research at this juncture are responsible for contacting the DGS and SAO in order to petition for the M.A. degree. This should be done as early as possible after completion of the oral review. Eligibility for the M.A. degree is contingent on having satisfactorily completed the sixth quarter review, a minimum of thirteen (13) graduate courses with a grade of B or above, and the first foreign language requirement.

Thesis Plan

None.

Time-to-Degree

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.A.	6	6	7

Doctoral Degree

Advising

The department is committed to providing an individualized advising structure that is directed toward their individual needs and interests. Students are strongly encouraged to take full advantage of the available guidance.

The Director of Graduate Studies is the principal contact person who advises graduate students in the planning of their individual courses of study and in the completion of degree requirements in a timely fashion. At the beginning of each quarter, all graduate students who have not yet formed a doctoral guidance committee (discussed under Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations) are required to consult with the Director before enrolling in courses.

Students who have established a doctoral guidance committee are advised by the chair of their committee. All students are required to meet with their adviser each quarter to have their program of study approved.

Matriculating students first enter the two-year phase of the doctoral program. Following the sixth-quarter review, a faculty review committee decides on whether to recommend students for admission into the second phase of the doctoral program.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

French and Francophone Literatures.

Foreign Language Requirement

Doctoral candidates are expected to satisfy foreign language and interdisciplinary requirements relevant to their dissertation research. Methods of fulfillment must be discussed beforehand with the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS). The two requirements are outlined as follows:

1. The first requirement is a foreign language, other than French, in which the student demonstrates an advanced level of proficiency by (a) satisfactory completion of a departmental translation or reading exam; (b) placing into level 4 on a departmental language placement examination; (c) completing level 3 (or the equivalent of one year) in a language with a grade of B+ or better; (d) passing, with a grade of B+ or better, one upper-division or graduate course offered by another language department.

2. The second requirement may be fulfilled by: (a) taking two courses in an intellectual discipline pertinent to the dissertation project, of which at least one must be a graduate course in another department and (with permission of the DGS) one may be an upper division course, with a grade of B+ or better (these two courses do not necessarily have to be taken within one department or program); (b) demonstrating a proficiency in a second foreign language in ways described for the first foreign language requirement. Alternatively, passing a graduate reading course (courses designated 2G) with a grade of B+ or better satisfies the second foreign language requirement.

We encourage students to go beyond these minimum requirements, depending on their research interests.

Students must complete the language/interdisciplinary requirements before nominating a doctoral committee and taking the qualifying examinations.

Course Requirements

Course work required for the first two years of doctoral study is listed under Master’s Degree. For the third and fourth years of study, students are expected to complete the following course requirements: a minimum of three graduate courses in the department taken for a letter grade; complete the language/interdisciplinary requirement; and complete the doctoral written qualifying examinations.

Teaching Experience

Although teaching experience is not required, the department provides all graduate students with the opportunity to teach language courses. All teaching assistants are required to complete French and Francophone Studies 495.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

All committee nominations and reconstitutions adhere to the Minimum Standards for Doctoral Committee Constitution.

Students select a doctoral guidance committee no later than the seventh quarter of study and the committee must include three members from the department and one faculty from outside the department. The guidance committee is composed of a chair, generally in the proposed period of specialization, and at least one other faculty member in the department. The committee directs the student up to the doctoral qualifying examinations. Once established, the doctoral guidance committee holds a meeting during which the student proposes a general topic for the dissertation. The student follows the guidance committee’s suggestions for possible additional course work.

Doctoral qualifying examinations take place in two stages:

Stage 1: By the seventh quarters of study, students must consult with their doctoral guidance committee on the preparation of the written qualifying examination, which takes place in the ninth quarter of study. The written qualifying examination consists of two parts. The first part covers the literary history related to the proposed dissertation topic. The second part consists of critical theory relevant to the proposed dissertation topic. Each examination is based on an individual reading list of approximately 15 works, established by the examiner and the candidate. These two four-hour examinations are to be taken within one week and are administered by the guidance committee. A student may attempt one or both parts of this examination a maximum of two times.

Stage 2: The University Oral Qualifying Examination, which takes place in the quarter following the written examination or in the 11th quarter of study, may be taken only after completion of course and language requirements, successful passing of the written examinations, and submission of a dissertation proposal. Prior to this examination, two more members are added to the guidance committee, one from the department, and one from another department. This nominated committee is then submitted to the Graduate Division

Prior to taking the University Oral Qualifying Examination, students submit a dissertation prospectus to every member of the doctoral committee. The prospectus is a descriptive text of approximately 20-30 pages outlining the nature, scope, and significance of the proposed dissertation topic, plus a bibliography. For the preparation of the prospectus, students work in close consultation with the doctoral committee chair. Students are responsible for submitting the prospectus to the committee members within a time frame that is satisfactory to the committee for administering the examination. This two-hour oral examination includes a review and discussion of the dissertation prospectus.

Advancement to Candidacy

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

Doctoral Dissertation

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

Final Oral Examination (Defense of 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 following norms and maximums, including time to degree for the M.A. degree, are enforced by the Director of Graduate Studies and the Graduate Policy Committee:

Degree Progress	Norm	Maximum
M.A.	Six quarters	Seven quarters
Ph.D. Oral Qualifying Examination	10 quarters	12 quarters
Ph.D. Dissertation	18 quarters	27 quarters
Total Graduate Study	18 quarters	27 quarters

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	9	18	27

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

A student who fails to meet the above requirements may be recommended for academic disqualification from 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 academic disqualification of graduate students, including the appeal procedure, are outlined in Standards and Procedures for Graduate Study at UCLA.

Special Departmental or Program Policy

A recommendation for academic disqualification is made by the Director of Graduate Studies and the Graduate Policy Committee. A student may appeal a recommendation for academic disqualification to the departmental chair.

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2021-2022 academic year.

French and Francophone Studies

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

The Department of French and Francophone Studies offers the Master of Arts (M.A.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in French and Francophone Studies.

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

See under Doctoral Degree.

Areas of Study

French and Francophone Literatures.

Foreign Language Requirement

During the first two years of study, students are expected to make satisfactory progress toward fulfillment of the first foreign language requirement for the doctoral degree (listed under Doctoral Degree). Students who decide not to pursue the doctoral degree and to leave the graduate program must have completed the first foreign language requirement in order to receive the M.A. degree.

Course Requirements

During the first two years of study toward the doctoral degree, students must complete a total of 13 courses (52 units) taken for a letter grade from French 200 to 296, and 1 professionalization course, ELTS 200, for S/U. These 14 fulfill the course requirements for the master’s degree. First year: students should be enrolled in a total of nine (9) courses: three (3) courses per quarter of which at least two (2) must be from departmental offerings. Second year: students should be enrolled in a total of four (4) courses of which at least three (3) must be from departmental offerings: one (1) course in the Fall in addition to the Teaching Apprentice Practicum, two (2) in the Winter, and one (1) in the Spring. No courses in the 500 series may be applied toward the course requirements for the master’s degree.

Although all students are admitted directly into the doctoral program, those who decide not to pursue the doctoral degree and to leave the graduate program must have completed the 13-course requirement above in order to receive the M.A. degree.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

The capstone requirement is met through two reviews, assessing academic performance and other evidence of professional promise. The first review, taken in the third quarter, is meant to be advisory in nature. Students are evaluated by the faculty and are provided with suggestions through a follow-up departmental written evaluation. The second review  occurs in the sixth quarter and is conducted by a departmental review committee.  This committee is appointed each year by the Chair and consists of three to four departmental faculty members, including the Director of Graduate Studies ex officio, and endeavors to reflect as broadly as possible the department’s faculty expertise. The review is based on two components:

1. An expanded paper term paper.  The student must select a course paper by the end of the fifth quarter and write an expanded version in consultation with a departmental faculty member of her/his choice. The student should enroll for this purpose in a two to four-unit individual preparation course (FR597), usually (though not necessarily) with the faculty member for whose course the paper was initially written. The paper must be 20-25 pages in length, written in French, include additional research, and be approved for submission by the consulting faculty member. This must be submitted to the DGS by week 8 of the Spring quarter.

2. The oral review is conducted by the departmental review committee. This one-hour review is designed to gauge the student’s general literary knowledge and is based on a reading list of works from the Middle Ages to the contemporary period selected by the faculty. This list is available on the department’s website and in person from the Student Affairs Officer (SAO). The intellectual orientation of the oral review is guided by problematics/thematics/questions developed by the student in consultation with the DGS, and takes the form of a one page single-spaced abstract written in French to be submitted to the DGS no later than the Friday of week 2 of the Winter quarter of the second year.

During a departmental meeting scheduled within two weeks of the oral review, the departmental review committee discusses the performance of individual students with the faculty as a whole. The faculty also share their views on each student’s overall progress in the program and preparedness for further advanced study. Following deliberation, the DGS meets with students individually and presents them with an oral evaluation of their progress, and subsequently with an official departmental review letter. Students who have obtained a satisfactory review will be invited to continue in the Ph.D. program in French and Francophone Studies.

Students who elect not to continue with advanced doctoral research at this juncture are responsible for contacting the DGS and SAO in order to petition for the M.A. degree. This should be done as early as possible after completion of the oral review. Eligibility for the M.A. degree is contingent on having satisfactorily completed the sixth quarter review, a minimum of thirteen (13) graduate courses with a grade of B or above, and the first foreign language requirement.

Thesis Plan

None.

Time-to-Degree

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.A.	6	6	7

Doctoral Degree

Advising

The department is committed to providing an individualized advising structure that is directed toward their individual needs and interests. Students are strongly encouraged to take full advantage of the available guidance.

The Director of Graduate Studies is the principal contact person who advises graduate students in the planning of their individual courses of study and in the completion of degree requirements in a timely fashion. At the beginning of each quarter, all graduate students who have not yet formed a doctoral guidance committee (discussed under Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations) are required to consult with the Director before enrolling in courses.

Students who have established a doctoral guidance committee are advised by the chair of their committee. All students are required to meet with their adviser each quarter to have their program of study approved.

Matriculating students first enter the two-year phase of the doctoral program. Following the sixth-quarter review, a faculty review committee decides on whether to recommend students for admission into the second phase of the doctoral program.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

French and Francophone Literatures.

Foreign Language Requirement

Doctoral candidates are expected to satisfy foreign language and interdisciplinary requirements relevant to their dissertation research. Methods of fulfillment must be discussed beforehand with the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS). The two requirements are outlined as follows:

1. The first requirement is a foreign language, other than French, in which the student demonstrates an advanced level of proficiency by (a) satisfactory completion of a departmental translation or reading exam; (b) placing into level 4 on a departmental language placement examination; (c) completing level 3 (or the equivalent of one year) in a language with a grade of B+ or better; (d) passing, with a grade of B+ or better, one upper-division or graduate course offered by another language department.

2. The second requirement may be fulfilled by: (a) taking two courses in an intellectual discipline pertinent to the dissertation project, of which at least one must be a graduate course in another department and (with permission of the DGS) one may be an upper division course, with a grade of B+ or better (these two courses do not necessarily have to be taken within one department or program); (b) demonstrating a proficiency in a second foreign language in ways described for the first foreign language requirement. Alternatively, passing a graduate reading course (courses designated 2G) with a grade of B+ or better satisfies the second foreign language requirement.

We encourage students to go beyond these minimum requirements, depending on their research interests.

Students must complete the language/interdisciplinary requirements before nominating a doctoral committee and taking the qualifying examinations.

Course Requirements

Course work required for the first two years of doctoral study is listed under Master’s Degree. For the third and fourth years of study, students are expected to complete the following course requirements: a minimum of three graduate courses in the department taken for a letter grade; complete the language/interdisciplinary requirement; and complete the doctoral written qualifying examinations.

Teaching Experience

Although teaching experience is not required, the department provides all graduate students with the opportunity to teach language courses. All teaching assistants are required to complete French and Francophone Studies 495.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

All committee nominations and reconstitutions adhere to the Minimum Standards for Doctoral Committee Constitution.

Students select a doctoral guidance committee no later than the seventh quarter of study and the committee must include three members from the department and one faculty from outside the department. The guidance committee is composed of a chair, generally in the proposed period of specialization, and at least one other faculty member in the department. The committee directs the student up to the doctoral qualifying examinations. Once established, the doctoral guidance committee holds a meeting during which the student proposes a general topic for the dissertation. The student follows the guidance committee’s suggestions for possible additional course work.

Doctoral qualifying examinations take place in two stages:

Stage 1: By the seventh quarters of study, students must consult with their doctoral guidance committee on the preparation of the written qualifying examination, which takes place in the ninth quarter of study. The written qualifying examination consists of two parts. The first part covers the literary history related to the proposed dissertation topic. The second part consists of critical theory relevant to the proposed dissertation topic. Each examination is based on an individual reading list of approximately 15 works, established by the examiner and the candidate. These two four-hour examinations are to be taken within one week and are administered by the guidance committee. A student may attempt one or both parts of this examination a maximum of two times.

Stage 2: The University Oral Qualifying Examination, which takes place in the quarter following the written examination or in the 11th quarter of study, may be taken only after completion of course and language requirements, successful passing of the written examinations, and submission of a dissertation proposal. Prior to this examination, two more members are added to the guidance committee, one from the department, and one from another department. This nominated committee is then submitted to the Graduate Division

Prior to taking the University Oral Qualifying Examination, students submit a dissertation prospectus to every member of the doctoral committee. The prospectus is a descriptive text of approximately 20-30 pages outlining the nature, scope, and significance of the proposed dissertation topic, plus a bibliography. For the preparation of the prospectus, students work in close consultation with the doctoral committee chair. Students are responsible for submitting the prospectus to the committee members within a time frame that is satisfactory to the committee for administering the examination. This two-hour oral examination includes a review and discussion of the dissertation prospectus.

Advancement to Candidacy

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

Doctoral Dissertation

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

Final Oral Examination (Defense of 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 following norms and maximums, including time to degree for the M.A. degree, are enforced by the Director of Graduate Studies and the Graduate Policy Committee:

Degree Progress	Norm	Maximum
M.A.	Six quarters	Seven quarters
Ph.D. Oral Qualifying Examination	10 quarters	12 quarters
Ph.D. Dissertation	18 quarters	27 quarters
Total Graduate Study	18 quarters	27 quarters

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	9	18	27

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

A student who fails to meet the above requirements may be recommended for academic disqualification from 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 academic disqualification of graduate students, including the appeal procedure, are outlined in Standards and Procedures for Graduate Study at UCLA.

Special Departmental or Program Policy

A recommendation for academic disqualification is made by the Director of Graduate Studies and the Graduate Policy Committee. A student may appeal a recommendation for academic disqualification to the departmental chair.

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2017-2018 academic year.

French and Francophone Studies

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

The Department of French and Francophone Studies offers the Master of Arts (M.A.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in French and Francophone Studies.

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

See under Doctoral Degree.

Areas of Study

French and Francophone Literatures.

Foreign Language Requirement

During the first two years of study, students are expected to make satisfactory progress toward fulfillment of the first foreign language requirement for the doctoral degree (listed under Doctoral Degree). Students who decide not to pursue the doctoral degree and to leave the graduate program must have completed the first foreign language requirement in order to receive the M.A. degree.

Course Requirements

During the first two years of study toward the doctoral degree, students must complete a total of 12 courses (48 units) taken for a letter grade in the department, including French and Francophone Studies 200 which should be taken as early as possible. These 12 courses fulfill the course requirements for the master’s degree. Nine (36 units) of the 12 courses must be at the graduate level. No courses in the 500 series may be applied toward the course requirements for the master’s degree.

Students are required to consult with the graduate adviser to ensure full historical coverage of French literature. More information on course requirements is listed under Doctoral Degree.

Although all students are admitted directly into the doctoral program, those who decide not to pursue the doctoral degree and to leave the graduate program must have completed the 12-course requirement above in order to receive the M.A. degree.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

The capstone requirement is met through two reviews, assessing academic performance and other evidence of professional promise. The first review, taken in the third quarter, is meant to be advisory in nature. Students are evaluated by the faculty whose courses they have taken and are provided with suggestions through a follow-up departmental written evaluation. The second review is taken in the sixth quarter and is conducted by a departmental review committee. The second review is based on the following four components:

1. A submission of three papers written for courses taken during the six quarters and their respective evaluations.

2. An expanded version of one of the three papers provided by the student prior to the review.

3. A two- to three-page, single-spaced self-statement outlining the student’s progress and direction of future study.

4. An oral examination.

Following the second review, students are provided with the committee’s written evaluation which may include a recommendation for continuation and suggestions for future work toward the Ph.D. degree. Students who decide not to pursue the doctoral degree and to leave the graduate program must contact the graduate adviser and make arrangements for the M.A. degree as early as possible, but no later than the second week of the sixth quarter. Students will receive the M.A. degree if they have passed the sixth quarter review and have satisfactorily completed the course, language, and residency requirements as outlined above.

Thesis Plan

None.

Time-to-Degree

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.A.	6	6	7

Doctoral Degree

Advising

The department is concerned that students receive advising that is directed toward their individual needs and interests. Students are strongly encouraged to take full advantage of the available guidance and to participate in the department’s intellectual life.

The Director of Graduate Studies is the principal contact person who advises graduate students in the planning of their individual courses of study and in the completion of degree requirements in a timely fashion. At the beginning of each quarter, all graduate students who have not yet formed a doctoral guidance committee (discussed under Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations) are required to consult with the Director before enrolling in courses.

Students who have established a doctoral guidance committee are advised by the chair of their committee. All students are required to meet with their adviser each quarter to have their program of study approved.

Matriculating students first enter the two-year phase of the doctoral program. Following the sixth-quarter review, a faculty review committee decides on whether to recommend students for admission into the second phase of the doctoral program.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

French and Francophone Literatures.

Foreign Language Requirement

Doctoral candidates are expected to satisfy foreign language and interdisciplinary requirements relevant to their dissertation research. Methods of fulfillment must be discussed beforehand with the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS). The two requirements are outlined as follows:

1. The first requirement is a foreign language, other than French, in which the student demonstrates an advanced level of proficiency by (a) satisfactory completion of a departmental translation or reading exam; (b) placing into level 4 on a departmental language placement examination; (c) completing level 3 (or the equivalent of one year) in a language with a grade of B+; (d) passing, with a grade of B or better, one upper-division or graduate course offered by another language department.

2. The second requirement may be fulfilled by: (a) taking two courses in an intellectual discipline pertinent to the dissertation project, of which at least one must be a graduate course in another department and (with permission of the DGS) one may be an upper division course, with a grade of B or better (these two courses do not necessarily have to be taken within one department or program); (b) demonstrating a proficiency in a second foreign language in ways described for the first foreign language requirement. Alternatively, passing a graduate reading course (courses designated 2G) with a grade of B or better satisfies the second foreign language requirement.

We encourage students to go beyond these minimum requirements, depending on their research interests.

Students must complete the language/interdisciplinary requirements before nominating a doctoral committee and taking the qualifying examinations.

Course Requirements

Course work required for the first two years of doctoral study is listed under Master’s Degree. For the third and fourth years of study, students are expected to complete the following course requirements: a minimum of three graduate courses in the department taken for a letter grade; additional courses in the department if recommended by the adviser; and two or more graduate courses outside of the department as recommended by the adviser (these courses may be used to fulfill the language/interdisciplinary requirement).

Teaching Experience

Although teaching experience is not required, the department provides all graduate students with the opportunity to teach language courses. All teaching assistants are required to complete French and Francophone Studies 495.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

All committee nominations and reconstitutions adhere to the Minimum Standards for Doctoral Committee Constitution.

Students select a doctoral guidance committee no later than the eighth quarter of study. The guidance committee is composed of a chair, generally in the proposed period of specialization, and at least one other faculty member in the department. The committee directs the student up to the doctoral qualifying examinations. Once established, the doctoral guidance committee holds a meeting during which the student proposes a general topic for the dissertation. The student follows the guidance committee’s suggestions for possible additional course work.

Doctoral qualifying examinations take place in two stages:

Stage 1: By the ninth quarters of study, students must consult with their doctoral guidance committee on the preparation of the written qualifying examination, which takes place in the 11th quarter of study. The written qualifying examination consists of two parts. The first part covers the literary history related to the proposed dissertation topic. The second part consists of critical theory relevant to the proposed dissertation topic. Each examination is based on an individual reading list of approximately 15 works, established by the examiner and the candidate. These two four-hour examinations are to be taken within one week and are administered by the guidance committee. A student may attempt one or both parts of this examination a maximum of two times.

Stage 2: The University Oral Qualifying Examination, which takes place in the quarter following the written examination or in the 12th quarter of study, may be taken only after completion of course and language requirements, successful passing of the written examinations, and submission of a dissertation proposal. Prior to this examination, two more members are added to the guidance committee, one from the department, and one from another department. This nominated committee is then submitted to the Graduate Division for formal appointment and becomes the doctoral committee that administers the examination.

Prior to taking the University Oral Qualifying Examination, students submit a dissertation prospectus to every member of the doctoral committee. The prospectus is a descriptive text of approximately 20-30 pages outlining the nature, scope, and significance of the proposed dissertation topic, plus a bibliography. For the preparation of the prospectus, students work in close consultation with the doctoral committee chair. Students are responsible for submitting the prospectus to the committee members within a time frame that is satisfactory to the committee for administering the examination. This two-hour oral examination includes a review and discussion of the dissertation prospectus.

Advancement to Candidacy

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

Doctoral Dissertation

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

Final Oral Examination (Defense of 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 following norms and maximums, including time to degree for the M.A. degree, are enforced by the Director of Graduate Studies and the Graduate Policy Committee:

Degree Progress	Norm	Maximum
M.A.	Six quarters	Seven quarters
Ph.D. Oral Qualifying Examination	Nine quarters	12 quarters
Ph.D. Dissertation	18 quarters	27 quarters
Total Graduate Study	18 quarters	27 quarters

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	9	18	27

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

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

Special Departmental or Program Policy

A recommendation for termination is made by the Director of Graduate Studies and the Graduate Policy Committee. A student may appeal a recommendation for termination to the departmental chair.

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2019-2020 academic year.

French and Francophone Studies

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

The Department of French and Francophone Studies offers the Master of Arts (M.A.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in French and Francophone Studies.

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

See under Doctoral Degree.

Areas of Study

French and Francophone Literatures.

Foreign Language Requirement

During the first two years of study, students are expected to make satisfactory progress toward fulfillment of the first foreign language requirement for the doctoral degree (listed under Doctoral Degree). Students who decide not to pursue the doctoral degree and to leave the graduate program must have completed the first foreign language requirement in order to receive the M.A. degree.

Course Requirements

During the first two years of study toward the doctoral degree, students must complete a total of 13 courses (52 units) taken for a letter grade. These 13 courses fulfill the course requirements for the master’s degree. First year: students should be enrolled in a total of nine (9) courses: three (3) courses per quarter of which at least two (2) must be from departmental offerings. Second year: students should be enrolled in a total of four (4) courses of which at least three (3) must be from departmental offerings: one (1) course in the Fall in addition to the Teaching Apprentice Practicum, two (2) in the Winter, and one (1) in the Spring.

No courses in the 500 series may be applied toward the course requirements for the master’s degree.

Although all students are admitted directly into the doctoral program, those who decide not to pursue the doctoral degree and to leave the graduate program must have completed the 13-course requirement above in order to receive the M.A. degree.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

The capstone requirement is met through two reviews, assessing academic performance and other evidence of professional promise. The first review, taken in the third quarter, is meant to be advisory in nature. Students are evaluated by the faculty and are provided with suggestions through a follow-up departmental written evaluation. The second review  occurs in the sixth quarter and is conducted by a departmental review committee.  This committee is appointed each year by the Chair and consists of three to four departmental faculty members, including the Director of Graduate Studies ex officio, and endeavors to reflect as broadly as possible the department’s faculty expertise. The review is based on two components:

1. An expanded paper term paper.  The student must select a course paper by the end of the fifth quarter and write an expanded version in consultation with a departmental faculty member of her/his choice. The student should enroll for this purpose in a two to four-unit individual preparation course (FR597), usually (though not necessarily) with the faculty member for whose course the paper was initially written. The paper must be 20-25 pages in length, written in French, include additional research, and be approved for submission by the consulting faculty member. This must be submitted to the DGS by week 8 of the Spring quarter.

2. The oral review is conducted by the departmental review committee. This one-hour review is designed to gauge the student’s general literary knowledge and is based on a reading list of works from the Middle Ages to the contemporary period selected by the faculty. This list is available on the department’s website and in person from the Student Affairs Officer (SAO). The intellectual orientation of the oral review is guided by problematics/thematics/questions developed by the student in consultation with the DGS, and takes the form of a one page single-spaced abstract written in French to be submitted to the DGS no later than the Friday of week 2 of the Winter quarter of the second year.

During a departmental meeting scheduled within two weeks of the oral review, the departmental review committee discusses the performance of individual students with the faculty as a whole. The faculty also share their views on each student’s overall progress in the program and preparedness for further advanced study. Following deliberation, the DGS meets with students individually and presents them with an oral evaluation of their progress, and subsequently with an official departmental review letter. Students who have obtained a satisfactory review will be invited to continue in the Ph.D. program in French and Francophone Studies.

Students who elect not to continue with advanced doctoral research at this juncture are responsible for contacting the DGS and SAO in order to petition for the M.A. degree. This should be done as early as possible after completion of the oral review. Eligibility for the M.A. degree is contingent on having satisfactorily completed the sixth quarter review, a minimum of thirteen (13) graduate courses with a grade of B or above, and the first foreign language requirement.

Thesis Plan

None.

Time-to-Degree

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.A.	6	6	7

Doctoral Degree

Advising

The department is committed to providing an individualized advising structure hat is directed toward their individual needs and interests. Students are strongly encouraged to take full advantage of the available guidance.

The Director of Graduate Studies is the principal contact person who advises graduate students in the planning of their individual courses of study and in the completion of degree requirements in a timely fashion. At the beginning of each quarter, all graduate students who have not yet formed a doctoral guidance committee (discussed under Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations) are required to consult with the Director before enrolling in courses.

Students who have established a doctoral guidance committee are advised by the chair of their committee. All students are required to meet with their adviser each quarter to have their program of study approved.

Matriculating students first enter the two-year phase of the doctoral program. Following the sixth-quarter review, a faculty review committee decides on whether to recommend students for admission into the second phase of the doctoral program.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

French and Francophone Literatures.

Foreign Language Requirement

Doctoral candidates are expected to satisfy foreign language and interdisciplinary requirements relevant to their dissertation research. Methods of fulfillment must be discussed beforehand with the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS). The two requirements are outlined as follows:

1. The first requirement is a foreign language, other than French, in which the student demonstrates an advanced level of proficiency by (a) satisfactory completion of a departmental translation or reading exam; (b) placing into level 4 on a departmental language placement examination; (c) completing level 3 (or the equivalent of one year) in a language with a grade of B+ or better; (d) passing, with a grade of B+ or better, one upper-division or graduate course offered by another language department.

2. The second requirement may be fulfilled by: (a) taking two courses in an intellectual discipline pertinent to the dissertation project, of which at least one must be a graduate course in another department and (with permission of the DGS) one may be an upper division course, with a grade of B+ or better (these two courses do not necessarily have to be taken within one department or program); (b) demonstrating a proficiency in a second foreign language in ways described for the first foreign language requirement. Alternatively, passing a graduate reading course (courses designated 2G) with a grade of B+ or better satisfies the second foreign language requirement.

We encourage students to go beyond these minimum requirements, depending on their research interests.

Students must complete the language/interdisciplinary requirements before nominating a doctoral committee and taking the qualifying examinations.

Course Requirements

Course work required for the first two years of doctoral study is listed under Master’s Degree. For the third and fourth years of study, students are expected to complete the following course requirements: a minimum of three graduate courses in the department taken for a letter grade; complete the language/interdisciplinary requirement; and complete the doctoral written qualifying examinations.

Teaching Experience

Although teaching experience is not required, the department provides all graduate students with the opportunity to teach language courses. All teaching assistants are required to complete French and Francophone Studies 495.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

All committee nominations and reconstitutions adhere to the Minimum Standards for Doctoral Committee Constitution.

Students select a doctoral guidance committee no later than the seventh quarter of study. The guidance committee is composed of a chair, generally in the proposed period of specialization, and at least one other faculty member in the department. The committee directs the student up to the doctoral qualifying examinations. Once established, the doctoral guidance committee holds a meeting during which the student proposes a general topic for the dissertation. The student follows the guidance committee’s suggestions for possible additional course work.

Doctoral qualifying examinations take place in two stages:

Stage 1: By the seventh quarters of study, students must consult with their doctoral guidance committee on the preparation of the written qualifying examination, which takes place in the ninth quarter of study. The written qualifying examination consists of two parts. The first part covers the literary history related to the proposed dissertation topic. The second part consists of critical theory relevant to the proposed dissertation topic. Each examination is based on an individual reading list of approximately 15 works, established by the examiner and the candidate. These two four-hour examinations are to be taken within one week and are administered by the guidance committee. A student may attempt one or both parts of this examination a maximum of two times.

Stage 2: The University Oral Qualifying Examination, which takes place in the quarter following the written examination or in the 11th quarter of study, may be taken only after completion of course and language requirements, successful passing of the written examinations, and submission of a dissertation proposal. Prior to this examination, two more members are added to the guidance committee, one from the department, and one from another department. This nominated committee is then submitted to the Graduate Division

Prior to taking the University Oral Qualifying Examination, students submit a dissertation prospectus to every member of the doctoral committee. The prospectus is a descriptive text of approximately 20-30 pages outlining the nature, scope, and significance of the proposed dissertation topic, plus a bibliography. For the preparation of the prospectus, students work in close consultation with the doctoral committee chair. Students are responsible for submitting the prospectus to the committee members within a time frame that is satisfactory to the committee for administering the examination. This two-hour oral examination includes a review and discussion of the dissertation prospectus.

Advancement to Candidacy

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

Doctoral Dissertation

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

Final Oral Examination (Defense of 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 following norms and maximums, including time to degree for the M.A. degree, are enforced by the Director of Graduate Studies and the Graduate Policy Committee:

Degree Progress	Norm	Maximum
M.A.	Six quarters	Seven quarters
Ph.D. Oral Qualifying Examination	10 quarters	12 quarters
Ph.D. Dissertation	18 quarters	27 quarters
Total Graduate Study	18 quarters	27 quarters

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	9	18	27

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

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

Special Departmental or Program Policy

A recommendation for termination is made by the Director of Graduate Studies and the Graduate Policy Committee. A student may appeal a recommendation for termination to the departmental chair.

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2023-2024 academic year.

French and Francophone Studies

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

The Department of European Languages and Transcultural Studies offers the Master of Arts (M.A.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in French and Francophone Studies. Only applicants with the objective of the Ph.D. degree are considered for admission. Applicants without a Master’s degree will receive the M.A. en route to the doctorate.

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

During their first two years of doctoral study, when students are working toward the completion of the M.A., students are advised by the Vice Chair of Graduate Studies (VCGS). The VCGS serves as a resource for students’ professional and personal development as they acclimatize to graduate student life at UCLA.

Students should consult regularly with the VCGS to plan their progress to degree. Student records are reviewed regularly by the VCGS and the Student Affairs Officer in consultation with the department faculty. Students whose grade-point average falls below 3.0 are sent a warning from the Chair and may be placed on departmental academic probation.

At the end of the first year, students receive a letter summarizing their progress in the program, outlining the requirements that remain to be fulfilled, and when necessary identifying areas for improvement. This letter is prepared by the VCGS, upon consultation with faculty (from ELTS and from other departments, as appropriate). The letter is sent, via email, no later than one week after the end of Spring quarter.

At the end of the second year, students receive a letter summarizing their progress in the program, identifying areas for improvement, and outlining the requirements that remain to be fulfilled. This letter is prepared by the VCGS, upon consultation with faculty (from ELTS and from other departments, as appropriate). The letter will be sent, via email, no later than one week after the end of Spring term. For students who have taken the M.A. examination, this letter will include, as an appendix, the one-page report from the M.A, examination committee.

Areas of Study

French and Francophone Literatures.

Foreign Language Requirement

Not required.

Course Requirements

During the first two years of study toward the doctoral degree, students admitted without an M.A. must complete a total of 10 of the 12 required courses (40 units). All courses must be taken for a letter grade, and should be selected from offerings in ELTS, French, German Italian and Scandinavian – although graduate seminars in related fields may be applied with approval of the VCGS. Six of these courses (24 units) must be 200 to 296. Four courses may be upper division undergraduate courses (100 series). One four-unit 596 may be applied toward the course requirements for the master’s degree with approval of the VCGS.

These 10 courses fulfill the course requirements for the master’s degree.

First year: students should enroll in coursework chosen in consultation with the VCGS.

Second year: students should be enrolled in courses as needed to complete the M.A. requirements chosen in consultation with the VCGS; in addition, students enroll in three 4-unit 597 examination preparation courses, one per quarter; and the ELTS 495 Teaching Apprentice Practicum in Fall.

Teaching Experience

Although teaching experience is not required, the department provides all graduate students with the opportunity to teach language courses. All teaching assistants are required to complete European Languages and Transcultural Studies (ELTS) 495.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

Students in the Department of European Languages and Transcultural Studies who enter the program without an M.A. in French are required to undergo an M.A. examination during the spring quarter of their second year. Prior to the examination, students must complete a minimum of 10 courses.

By the end of week four of the Fall quarter, second year, students must convene an examination committee comprised of three ELTS faculty members; one of these three faculty members must be in French. One faculty member should be designated as the committee chair, and the constitution of the committee must be confirmed by email to the VCGS.

In consultation with their committee, students are required to compile a list of 35 works, consisting of primary works, theory and secondary scholarship. The list must be oriented around a broad “period”, “theme” and/or “genre”. The list can be transcultural: i.e., early modern French/Italian literature or European cinema. The goal is foundational knowledge in a broadly defined field. Students write a précis demonstrating the coherence of the list.

Students enroll in one 4-unit 597 per quarter, ideally with each of the committee members in turn, for each of the three quarters in their second year.

In week one of the Spring quarter, second year, students receive approval on the finalized list from the committee and forward the list and précis to the VCGS. An oral examination of 1.5 hours (including time for feedback and discussion about future direction for the student), based on the list and the précis, should be scheduled for week nine or 10 of the Spring quarter, second year. All three committee members must be in attendance.

Examination results are announced during the feedback portion of the examination. Results are either (1) pass with permission to proceed, (2) pass without a recommendation to proceed, (3) or fail, no recommendation to proceed. If no recommendation to proceed is determined, students have the opportunity to retake the examination one more time. If, upon retaking the examination, permission to proceed is still not recommended, students with a pass with a no recommendation to proceed receive a terminal M.A. Students with a second fail receive no terminal M.A. and are not granted permission to proceed with the Ph.D. In both cases, a recommendation of academic disqualification from the Ph.D. program will be submitted to the Graduate Division, in line with the procedure set out in the Academic Disqualification section below.

At the end of the examination week, the committee chair submits to the VCGS, a one page report on the student’s performance on the oral examination, along with formal documentation of the results.

Thesis Plan

None.

Time-to-Degree

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.A.	6	6	7

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Advising for the first two years of doctoral study is listed under Master’s Degree.

The department is committed to providing an individualized advising structure that is directed toward their individual students’ needs and interests. Students are strongly encouraged to take full advantage of the available guidance.

The Vice Chair of Graduate Studies (VCGS) is the principal contact person who advises graduate students in the planning of their individual courses of study and in the completion of degree requirements in a timely fashion. At the beginning of each quarter, all graduate students who have not yet formed a doctoral guidance committee are required to consult with the VCGS before enrolling in courses.

Students who entered the program with an M.A. in French and Francophone Studies receive a letter at the end of the first year that provides official notification of permission to proceed with the Ph.D. (following satisfactory review of academic progress in the program).

Students select a doctoral guidance committee no later than Fall quarter of the third year and the committee must include two members from the department, including the chair, and one faculty from outside the department.

NOTE: Students who enter the program with an M.A. are expected to select a doctoral guidance committee no later than the Fall quarter of the second year.

Students must complete the language requirements before nominating the official four person doctoral guidance committee and taking the oral qualifying examination.

Students who have established a doctoral guidance committee are advised by the chair of their committee. All students are required to meet with their adviser each quarter to have their program of study approved.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

French and Francophone Literatures.

Foreign Language Requirement

Doctoral candidates must demonstrate mastery in a foreign language other than their language of specialization and other English, prior to advancing to Ph.D. candidacy. The additional language must be relevant to the student’s dissertation plans. Mastery can be demonstrated in one of the following ways: (a) satisfactory completion of a departmental translation or reading exam; (b) placing into level 4 on a departmental language placement examination; (c) completing level 3 (or the equivalent of one year) in a language with a grade of B+ or better; (d) passing, with a grade of B+ or better, one upper-division or graduate course offered by another language department.

We encourage students to go beyond these minimum requirements, depending on their research interests.

Course Requirements

Course work required for the first two years of doctoral study is listed under Master’s Degree. After completing 10 courses during the first two years of study, students are expected to complete a minimum of two graduate courses in the department taken for a letter grade during the third and fourth years. In rare cases, and with approval of the VCGS, the required graduate courses may be 596 (independent studies).

Students who enter with an M.A in French may count up to four courses worth of credit from other institutions toward the 12 course requirement with approval from the VCGS. Students must take a minimum of six graduate courses in the first year. Remaining courses must be completed in the second year.

Teaching Experience

Although teaching experience is not required, the department provides all graduate students with the opportunity to teach language courses. All teaching assistants are required to complete ELTS 495.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

All committee nominations and reconstitutions adhere to the Minimum Standards for Doctoral Committee Constitution.

The doctoral guidance committee works with the student to identify a nexus of themes, questions, and key concepts. The student begins compiling a reading list of circa 50 works developed in consultation with the committee. The list should represent a judicious combination of primary works, theory, and secondary scholarship. The rationale for the list is articulated by a précis that identifies themes, research questions, and key concepts, all with an eye to the dissertation project.

The student submits the précis, reading list, and the names of the advising team to the VCGS by week five of the Fall quarter.

Doctoral qualifying examinations take place in two stages:

Stage 1: Students must consult with their doctoral guidance committee on the preparation of the written qualifying examination, which takes place by the 7th week of the Spring quarter, third year. The doctoral guidance committee prepares the written qualifying examination consisting of, in general, one question per committee member for a total of three, with students choosing to write on two of the three questions. The examination time is five hours, open book/open note. A student may attempt this examination a maximum of two times.

NOTE: Students admitted with an M.A. are expected to complete the written examination by the seventh week of the Spring quarter, second year.

In week 10 of the Spring quarter, third year, students will have a two-hour oral follow-up meeting with the doctoral guidance committee which will include a discussion and feedback of the written examination and planning for the prospectus.

NOTE: Students admitted with an M.A. are expected to schedule the two-hour oral follow-up meeting with the doctoral guidance committee in week 10 of the Spring quarter, second year.

Stage 2: The University Oral Qualifying Examination, which takes place no later than the 10th week of the Spring quarter, fourth year. may be taken only after completion of course and language requirements, successful passing of the written examinations, and submission of a dissertation prospectus. Prior to this examination, one more member is added to the doctoral guidance committee. This nominated committee is then submitted to the Graduate Division. Prior to taking the University Oral Qualifying Examination and no later than the 7th week of the Spring quarter, fourth year, students submit a dissertation prospectus to every member of the doctoral committee. The prospectus is a text of approximately 35 pages outlining the nature, scope, and significance of the proposed dissertation topic, plus a substantial bibliography. For the preparation of the prospectus, students work in close consultation with the doctoral committee chair. This two-hour oral examination includes a review and discussion of the dissertation prospectus. The oral examination results are (1) pass and advance to candidacy or (2) revise and resubmit. If revise and resubmit, the student must work closely with the advisor and VCGS to redo the prospectus examination for successful advancement. A second oral examination will be required. If the student does not pass the second attempt at the oral examination, a recommendation of academic disqualification from the Ph.D. program will be submitted to the Graduate Division, in line with the procedures set out in the academic disqualification section below.

NOTE: Students admitted with an M.A. are expected to submit the dissertation prospectus by the 7th week of the Spring quarter and complete the University Oral Qualifying Examination by the 10th week of the Spring quarter, third year.

Advancement to Candidacy

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

Doctoral Dissertation

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

Final Oral Examination (Defense of Dissertation)

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

Time-to-Degree

The following norms and maximums, including time to degree for the M.A. degree, are enforced by the Director of Graduate Studies and the Graduate Policy Committee:

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	12	18	24

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

A student who fails to meet the above requirements may be recommended for academic disqualification from 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 academic disqualification of graduate students, including the appeal procedure, are outlined in Standards and Procedures for Graduate Study at UCLA.

Special Departmental or Program Policy

A recommendation for academic disqualification is made by the Director of Graduate Studies and the Graduate Policy Committee. A student may appeal a recommendation for academic disqualification to the departmental chair.

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2025-2026 academic year.

French and Francophone Studies

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

The Department of European Languages and Transcultural Studies offers the Master of Arts (M.A.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in French and Francophone Studies. Only applicants with the objective of the Ph.D. degree are considered for admission. Applicants without a Master’s degree will receive the M.A. en route to the doctorate.

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

During their first two years of doctoral study, when students are working toward the completion of the M.A., students are advised by the Vice Chair of Graduate Studies (VCGS). The VCGS serves as a resource for students’ professional and personal development as they acclimatize to graduate student life at UCLA.

Students should consult regularly with the VCGS to plan their progress to degree. Student records are reviewed regularly by the VCGS and the Student Affairs Officer in consultation with the department faculty. Students whose grade-point average falls below 3.0 are sent a warning from the Chair and may be placed on departmental academic probation.

At the end of the first year, students receive a letter summarizing their progress in the program, outlining the requirements that remain to be fulfilled, and when necessary identifying areas for improvement. This letter is prepared by the VCGS, upon consultation with faculty (from ELTS and from other departments, as appropriate). The letter is sent, via email, no later than one week after the end of Spring quarter.

At the end of the second year, students receive a letter summarizing their progress in the program, identifying areas for improvement, and outlining the requirements that remain to be fulfilled. This letter is prepared by the VCGS, upon consultation with faculty (from ELTS and from other departments, as appropriate). The letter will be sent, via email, no later than one week after the end of Spring term. For students who have taken the M.A. examination, this letter will include, as an appendix, the one-page report from the M.A, examination committee.

Areas of Study

French and Francophone Literatures.

Foreign Language Requirement

Not required.

Course Requirements

During the first two years of study toward the doctoral degree, students admitted without an M.A. must complete a total of 10 of the 12 required courses (40 units). All courses must be taken for a letter grade, and should be selected from offerings in ELTS, French, German Italian and Scandinavian – although graduate seminars in related fields may be applied with approval of the VCGS. Six of these courses (24 units) must be 200 to 296. Four courses may be upper division undergraduate courses (100 series). One four-unit 596 may be applied toward the course requirements for the master’s degree with approval of the VCGS.

These 10 courses fulfill the course requirements for the master’s degree.

First year: students should enroll in coursework chosen in consultation with the VCGS.

Second year: students should be enrolled in courses as needed to complete the M.A. requirements chosen in consultation with the VCGS; in addition, students enroll in three 4-unit 597 examination preparation courses, one per quarter; and the ELTS 495 Teaching Apprentice Practicum in Fall.

Teaching Experience

Although teaching experience is not required, the department provides all graduate students with the opportunity to teach language courses. All teaching assistants are required to complete European Languages and Transcultural Studies (ELTS) 495.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

Students in the Department of European Languages and Transcultural Studies who enter the program without an M.A. in French are required to undergo an M.A. examination during the spring quarter of their second year. Prior to the examination, students must complete a minimum of 10 courses.

By the end of week four of the Fall quarter, second year, students must convene an examination committee comprised of three ELTS faculty members; one of these three faculty members must be in French. One faculty member should be designated as the committee chair, and the constitution of the committee must be confirmed by email to the VCGS.

In consultation with their committee, students are required to compile a list of 35 works, consisting of primary works, theory and secondary scholarship. The list must be oriented around a broad “period”, “theme” and/or “genre”. The list can be transcultural: i.e., early modern French/Italian literature or European cinema. The goal is foundational knowledge in a broadly defined field. Students write a précis demonstrating the coherence of the list.

Students enroll in one 4-unit 597 per quarter, ideally with each of the committee members in turn, for each of the three quarters in their second year.

In week one of the Spring quarter, second year, students receive approval on the finalized list from the committee and forward the list and précis to the VCGS. An oral examination of 1.5 hours (including time for feedback and discussion about future direction for the student), based on the list and the précis, should be scheduled for week nine or 10 of the Spring quarter, second year. All three committee members must be in attendance.

Examination results are announced during the feedback portion of the examination. Results are either (1) pass with permission to proceed, (2) pass without a recommendation to proceed, (3) or fail, no recommendation to proceed. If no recommendation to proceed is determined, students have the opportunity to retake the examination one more time. If, upon retaking the examination, permission to proceed is still not recommended, students with a pass with a no recommendation to proceed receive a terminal M.A. Students with a second fail receive no terminal M.A. and are not granted permission to proceed with the Ph.D. In both cases, a recommendation of academic disqualification from the Ph.D. program will be submitted to the Graduate Division, in line with the procedure set out in the Academic Disqualification section below.

At the end of the examination week, the committee chair submits to the VCGS, a one page report on the student’s performance on the oral examination, along with formal documentation of the results.

Thesis Plan

None.

Time-to-Degree

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.A.	6	6	7

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Advising for the first two years of doctoral study is listed under Master’s Degree.

The department is committed to providing an individualized advising structure that is directed toward their individual students’ needs and interests. Students are strongly encouraged to take full advantage of the available guidance.

The Vice Chair of Graduate Studies (VCGS) is the principal contact person who advises graduate students in the planning of their individual courses of study and in the completion of degree requirements in a timely fashion. At the beginning of each quarter, all graduate students who have not yet formed a doctoral guidance committee are required to consult with the VCGS before enrolling in courses.

Students who entered the program with an M.A. in French and Francophone Studies receive a letter at the end of the first year that provides official notification of permission to proceed with the Ph.D. (following satisfactory review of academic progress in the program).

Students select a doctoral guidance committee no later than Fall quarter of the third year and the committee must include two members from the department, including the chair, and one faculty from outside the department.

NOTE: Students who enter the program with an M.A. are expected to select a doctoral guidance committee no later than the Fall quarter of the second year.

Students must complete the language requirements before nominating the official four person doctoral guidance committee and taking the oral qualifying examination.

Students who have established a doctoral guidance committee are advised by the chair of their committee. All students are required to meet with their adviser each quarter to have their program of study approved.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

French and Francophone Literatures.

Foreign Language Requirement

Doctoral candidates must demonstrate mastery in a foreign language other than their language of specialization and other English, prior to advancing to Ph.D. candidacy. The additional language must be relevant to the student’s dissertation plans. Mastery can be demonstrated in one of the following ways: (a) satisfactory completion of a departmental translation or reading exam; (b) placing into level 4 on a departmental language placement examination; (c) completing level 3 (or the equivalent of one year) in a language with a grade of B+ or better; (d) passing, with a grade of B+ or better, one upper-division or graduate course offered by another language department.

We encourage students to go beyond these minimum requirements, depending on their research interests.

Course Requirements

Course work required for the first two years of doctoral study is listed under Master’s Degree. After completing 10 courses during the first two years of study, students are expected to complete a minimum of two graduate courses in the department taken for a letter grade during the third and fourth years. In rare cases, and with approval of the VCGS, the required graduate courses may be 596 (independent studies).

Students who enter with an M.A in French may count up to four courses worth of credit from other institutions toward the 12 course requirement with approval from the VCGS. Students must take a minimum of six graduate courses in the first year. Remaining courses must be completed in the second year.

Teaching Experience

Although teaching experience is not required, the department provides all graduate students with the opportunity to teach language courses. All teaching assistants are required to complete ELTS 495.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

All committee nominations and reconstitutions adhere to the Minimum Standards for Doctoral Committee Constitution.

The doctoral guidance committee works with the student to identify a nexus of themes, questions, and key concepts. The student begins compiling a reading list of circa 50 works developed in consultation with the committee. The list should represent a judicious combination of primary works, theory, and secondary scholarship. The rationale for the list is articulated by a précis that identifies themes, research questions, and key concepts, all with an eye to the dissertation project.

The student submits the précis, reading list, and the names of the advising team to the VCGS by week five of the Fall quarter.

Doctoral qualifying examinations take place in two stages:

Stage 1: Students must consult with their doctoral guidance committee on the preparation of the written qualifying examination, which takes place by the 7th week of the Spring quarter, third year. The doctoral guidance committee prepares the written qualifying examination consisting of, in general, one question per committee member for a total of three, with students choosing to write on two of the three questions. The examination time is five hours, open book/open note. A student may attempt this examination a maximum of two times.

NOTE: Students admitted with an M.A. are expected to complete the written examination by the seventh week of the Spring quarter, second year.

In week 10 of the Spring quarter, third year, students will have a two-hour oral follow-up meeting with the doctoral guidance committee which will include a discussion and feedback of the written examination and planning for the prospectus.

NOTE: Students admitted with an M.A. are expected to schedule the two-hour oral follow-up meeting with the doctoral guidance committee in week 10 of the Spring quarter, second year.

Stage 2: The University Oral Qualifying Examination, which takes place no later than the 10th week of the Spring quarter, fourth year. may be taken only after completion of course and language requirements, successful passing of the written examinations, and submission of a dissertation prospectus. Prior to this examination, one more member is added to the doctoral guidance committee. This nominated committee is then submitted to the Graduate Division. Prior to taking the University Oral Qualifying Examination and no later than the 7th week of the Spring quarter, fourth year, students submit a dissertation prospectus to every member of the doctoral committee. The prospectus is a text of approximately 35 pages outlining the nature, scope, and significance of the proposed dissertation topic, plus a substantial bibliography. For the preparation of the prospectus, students work in close consultation with the doctoral committee chair. This two-hour oral examination includes a review and discussion of the dissertation prospectus. The oral examination results are (1) pass and advance to candidacy or (2) revise and resubmit. If revise and resubmit, the student must work closely with the advisor and VCGS to redo the prospectus examination for successful advancement. A second oral examination will be required. If the student does not pass the second attempt at the oral examination, a recommendation of academic disqualification from the Ph.D. program will be submitted to the Graduate Division, in line with the procedures set out in the academic disqualification section below.

NOTE: Students admitted with an M.A. are expected to submit the dissertation prospectus by the 7th week of the Spring quarter and complete the University Oral Qualifying Examination by the 10th week of the Spring quarter, third year.

Advancement to Candidacy

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

Doctoral Dissertation

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

Final Oral Examination (Defense of Dissertation)

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

Time-to-Degree

The following norms and maximums, including time to degree for the M.A. degree, are enforced by the Director of Graduate Studies and the Graduate Policy Committee:

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	12	18	24

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

A student who fails to meet the above requirements may be recommended for academic disqualification from 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 academic disqualification of graduate students, including the appeal procedure, are outlined in Standards and Procedures for Graduate Study at UCLA.

Special Departmental or Program Policy

A recommendation for academic disqualification is made by the Director of Graduate Studies and the Graduate Policy Committee. A student may appeal a recommendation for academic disqualification to the departmental chair.

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2018-2019 academic year.

French and Francophone Studies

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

The Department of French and Francophone Studies offers the Master of Arts (M.A.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in French and Francophone Studies.

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

See under Doctoral Degree.

Areas of Study

French and Francophone Literatures.

Foreign Language Requirement

During the first two years of study, students are expected to make satisfactory progress toward fulfillment of the first foreign language requirement for the doctoral degree (listed under Doctoral Degree). Students who decide not to pursue the doctoral degree and to leave the graduate program must have completed the first foreign language requirement in order to receive the M.A. degree.

Course Requirements

During the first two years of study toward the doctoral degree, students must complete a total of 13 courses (52 units) taken for a letter grade. These 13 courses fulfill the course requirements for the master’s degree. First year: students should be enrolled in a total of nine (9) courses: three (3) courses per quarter of which at least two (2) must be from departmental offerings. Second year: students should be enrolled in a total of four (4) courses of which at least three (3) must be from departmental offerings: one (1) course in the Fall in addition to the Teaching Apprentice Practicum, two (2) in the Winter, and one (1) in the Spring.

No courses in the 500 series may be applied toward the course requirements for the master’s degree.

Although all students are admitted directly into the doctoral program, those who decide not to pursue the doctoral degree and to leave the graduate program must have completed the 13-course requirement above in order to receive the M.A. degree.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

The capstone requirement is met through two reviews, assessing academic performance and other evidence of professional promise. The first review, taken in the third quarter, is meant to be advisory in nature. Students are evaluated by the faculty and are provided with suggestions through a follow-up departmental written evaluation. The second review  occurs in the sixth quarter and is conducted by a departmental review committee.  This committee is appointed each year by the Chair and consists of three to four departmental faculty members, including the Director of Graduate Studies ex officio, and endeavors to reflect as broadly as possible the department’s faculty expertise. The review is based on two components:

1. An expanded paper term paper.  The student must select a course paper by the end of the fifth quarter and write an expanded version in consultation with a departmental faculty member of her/his choice. The student should enroll for this purpose in a two to four-unit individual preparation course (FR597), usually (though not necessarily) with the faculty member for whose course the paper was initially written. The paper must be 20-25 pages in length, written in French, include additional research, and be approved for submission by the consulting faculty member. This must be submitted to the DGS by week 8 of the Spring quarter.

2. The oral review is conducted by the departmental review committee. This one-hour review is designed to gauge the student’s general literary knowledge and is based on a reading list of works from the Middle Ages to the contemporary period selected by the faculty. This list is available on the department’s website and in person from the Student Affairs Officer (SAO). The intellectual orientation of the oral review is guided by problematics/thematics/questions developed by the student in consultation with the DGS, and takes the form of a one page single-spaced abstract written in French to be submitted to the DGS no later than the Friday of week 2 of the Winter quarter of the second year.

During a departmental meeting scheduled within two weeks of the oral review, the departmental review committee discusses the performance of individual students with the faculty as a whole. The faculty also share their views on each student’s overall progress in the program and preparedness for further advanced study. Following deliberation, the DGS meets with students individually and presents them with an oral evaluation of their progress, and subsequently with an official departmental review letter. Students who have obtained a satisfactory review will be invited to continue in the Ph.D. program in French and Francophone Studies.

Students who elect not to continue with advanced doctoral research at this juncture are responsible for contacting the DGS and SAO in order to petition for the M.A. degree. This should be done as early as possible after completion of the oral review. Eligibility for the M.A. degree is contingent on having satisfactorily completed the sixth quarter review, a minimum of thirteen (13) graduate courses with a grade of B or above, and the first foreign language requirement.

Thesis Plan

None.

Time-to-Degree

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.A.	6	6	7

Doctoral Degree

Advising

The department is committed to providing an individualized advising structure hat is directed toward their individual needs and interests. Students are strongly encouraged to take full advantage of the available guidance.

The Director of Graduate Studies is the principal contact person who advises graduate students in the planning of their individual courses of study and in the completion of degree requirements in a timely fashion. At the beginning of each quarter, all graduate students who have not yet formed a doctoral guidance committee (discussed under Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations) are required to consult with the Director before enrolling in courses.

Students who have established a doctoral guidance committee are advised by the chair of their committee. All students are required to meet with their adviser each quarter to have their program of study approved.

Matriculating students first enter the two-year phase of the doctoral program. Following the sixth-quarter review, a faculty review committee decides on whether to recommend students for admission into the second phase of the doctoral program.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

French and Francophone Literatures.

Foreign Language Requirement

Doctoral candidates are expected to satisfy foreign language and interdisciplinary requirements relevant to their dissertation research. Methods of fulfillment must be discussed beforehand with the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS). The two requirements are outlined as follows:

1. The first requirement is a foreign language, other than French, in which the student demonstrates an advanced level of proficiency by (a) satisfactory completion of a departmental translation or reading exam; (b) placing into level 4 on a departmental language placement examination; (c) completing level 3 (or the equivalent of one year) in a language with a grade of B+ or better; (d) passing, with a grade of B+ or better, one upper-division or graduate course offered by another language department.

2. The second requirement may be fulfilled by: (a) taking two courses in an intellectual discipline pertinent to the dissertation project, of which at least one must be a graduate course in another department and (with permission of the DGS) one may be an upper division course, with a grade of B+ or better (these two courses do not necessarily have to be taken within one department or program); (b) demonstrating a proficiency in a second foreign language in ways described for the first foreign language requirement. Alternatively, passing a graduate reading course (courses designated 2G) with a grade of B+ or better satisfies the second foreign language requirement.

We encourage students to go beyond these minimum requirements, depending on their research interests.

Students must complete the language/interdisciplinary requirements before nominating a doctoral committee and taking the qualifying examinations.

Course Requirements

Course work required for the first two years of doctoral study is listed under Master’s Degree. For the third and fourth years of study, students are expected to complete the following course requirements: a minimum of three graduate courses in the department taken for a letter grade; complete the language/interdisciplinary requirement; and complete the doctoral written qualifying examinations.

Teaching Experience

Although teaching experience is not required, the department provides all graduate students with the opportunity to teach language courses. All teaching assistants are required to complete French and Francophone Studies 495.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

All committee nominations and reconstitutions adhere to the Minimum Standards for Doctoral Committee Constitution.

Students select a doctoral guidance committee no later than the seventh quarter of study. The guidance committee is composed of a chair, generally in the proposed period of specialization, and at least one other faculty member in the department. The committee directs the student up to the doctoral qualifying examinations. Once established, the doctoral guidance committee holds a meeting during which the student proposes a general topic for the dissertation. The student follows the guidance committee’s suggestions for possible additional course work.

Doctoral qualifying examinations take place in two stages:

Stage 1: By the seventh quarters of study, students must consult with their doctoral guidance committee on the preparation of the written qualifying examination, which takes place in the ninth quarter of study. The written qualifying examination consists of two parts. The first part covers the literary history related to the proposed dissertation topic. The second part consists of critical theory relevant to the proposed dissertation topic. Each examination is based on an individual reading list of approximately 15 works, established by the examiner and the candidate. These two four-hour examinations are to be taken within one week and are administered by the guidance committee. A student may attempt one or both parts of this examination a maximum of two times.

Stage 2: The University Oral Qualifying Examination, which takes place in the quarter following the written examination or in the 11th quarter of study, may be taken only after completion of course and language requirements, successful passing of the written examinations, and submission of a dissertation proposal. Prior to this examination, two more members are added to the guidance committee, one from the department, and one from another department. This nominated committee is then submitted to the Graduate Division

Prior to taking the University Oral Qualifying Examination, students submit a dissertation prospectus to every member of the doctoral committee. The prospectus is a descriptive text of approximately 20-30 pages outlining the nature, scope, and significance of the proposed dissertation topic, plus a bibliography. For the preparation of the prospectus, students work in close consultation with the doctoral committee chair. Students are responsible for submitting the prospectus to the committee members within a time frame that is satisfactory to the committee for administering the examination. This two-hour oral examination includes a review and discussion of the dissertation prospectus.

Advancement to Candidacy

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

Doctoral Dissertation

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

Final Oral Examination (Defense of 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 following norms and maximums, including time to degree for the M.A. degree, are enforced by the Director of Graduate Studies and the Graduate Policy Committee:

Degree Progress	Norm	Maximum
M.A.	Six quarters	Seven quarters
Ph.D. Oral Qualifying Examination	10 quarters	12 quarters
Ph.D. Dissertation	18 quarters	27 quarters
Total Graduate Study	18 quarters	27 quarters

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	9	18	27

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

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

Special Departmental or Program Policy

A recommendation for termination is made by the Director of Graduate Studies and the Graduate Policy Committee. A student may appeal a recommendation for termination to the departmental chair.

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2024-2025 academic year.

French and Francophone Studies

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

The Department of European Languages and Transcultural Studies offers the Master of Arts (M.A.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in French and Francophone Studies. Only applicants with the objective of the Ph.D. degree are considered for admission. Applicants without a Master’s degree will receive the M.A. en route to the doctorate.

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

During their first two years of doctoral study, when students are working toward the completion of the M.A., students are advised by the Vice Chair of Graduate Studies (VCGS). The VCGS serves as a resource for students’ professional and personal development as they acclimatize to graduate student life at UCLA.

Students should consult regularly with the VCGS to plan their progress to degree. Student records are reviewed regularly by the VCGS and the Student Affairs Officer in consultation with the department faculty. Students whose grade-point average falls below 3.0 are sent a warning from the Chair and may be placed on departmental academic probation.

At the end of the first year, students receive a letter summarizing their progress in the program, outlining the requirements that remain to be fulfilled, and when necessary identifying areas for improvement. This letter is prepared by the VCGS, upon consultation with faculty (from ELTS and from other departments, as appropriate). The letter is sent, via email, no later than one week after the end of Spring quarter.

At the end of the second year, students receive a letter summarizing their progress in the program, identifying areas for improvement, and outlining the requirements that remain to be fulfilled. This letter is prepared by the VCGS, upon consultation with faculty (from ELTS and from other departments, as appropriate). The letter will be sent, via email, no later than one week after the end of Spring term. For students who have taken the M.A. examination, this letter will include, as an appendix, the one-page report from the M.A, examination committee.

Areas of Study

French and Francophone Literatures.

Foreign Language Requirement

Not required.

Course Requirements

During the first two years of study toward the doctoral degree, students admitted without an M.A. must complete a total of 10 of the 12 required courses (40 units). All courses must be taken for a letter grade, and should be selected from offerings in ELTS, French, German Italian and Scandinavian – although graduate seminars in related fields may be applied with approval of the VCGS. Six of these courses (24 units) must be 200 to 296. Four courses may be upper division undergraduate courses (100 series). One four-unit 596 may be applied toward the course requirements for the master’s degree with approval of the VCGS.

These 10 courses fulfill the course requirements for the master’s degree.

First year: students should enroll in coursework chosen in consultation with the VCGS.

Second year: students should be enrolled in courses as needed to complete the M.A. requirements chosen in consultation with the VCGS; in addition, students enroll in three 4-unit 597 examination preparation courses, one per quarter; and the ELTS 495 Teaching Apprentice Practicum in Fall.

Teaching Experience

Although teaching experience is not required, the department provides all graduate students with the opportunity to teach language courses. All teaching assistants are required to complete European Languages and Transcultural Studies (ELTS) 495.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

Students in the Department of European Languages and Transcultural Studies who enter the program without an M.A. in French are required to undergo an M.A. examination during the spring quarter of their second year. Prior to the examination, students must complete a minimum of 10 courses.

By the end of week four of the Fall quarter, second year, students must convene an examination committee comprised of three ELTS faculty members; one of these three faculty members must be in French. One faculty member should be designated as the committee chair, and the constitution of the committee must be confirmed by email to the VCGS.

In consultation with their committee, students are required to compile a list of 35 works, consisting of primary works, theory and secondary scholarship. The list must be oriented around a broad “period”, “theme” and/or “genre”. The list can be transcultural: i.e., early modern French/Italian literature or European cinema. The goal is foundational knowledge in a broadly defined field. Students write a précis demonstrating the coherence of the list.

Students enroll in one 4-unit 597 per quarter, ideally with each of the committee members in turn, for each of the three quarters in their second year.

In week one of the Spring quarter, second year, students receive approval on the finalized list from the committee and forward the list and précis to the VCGS. An oral examination of 1.5 hours (including time for feedback and discussion about future direction for the student), based on the list and the précis, should be scheduled for week nine or 10 of the Spring quarter, second year. All three committee members must be in attendance.

Examination results are announced during the feedback portion of the examination. Results are either (1) pass with permission to proceed, (2) pass without a recommendation to proceed, (3) or fail, no recommendation to proceed. If no recommendation to proceed is determined, students have the opportunity to retake the examination one more time. If, upon retaking the examination, permission to proceed is still not recommended, students with a pass with a no recommendation to proceed receive a terminal M.A. Students with a second fail receive no terminal M.A. and are not granted permission to proceed with the Ph.D. In both cases, a recommendation of academic disqualification from the Ph.D. program will be submitted to the Graduate Division, in line with the procedure set out in the Academic Disqualification section below.

At the end of the examination week, the committee chair submits to the VCGS, a one page report on the student’s performance on the oral examination, along with formal documentation of the results.

Thesis Plan

None.

Time-to-Degree

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.A.	6	6	7

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Advising for the first two years of doctoral study is listed under Master’s Degree.

The department is committed to providing an individualized advising structure that is directed toward their individual students’ needs and interests. Students are strongly encouraged to take full advantage of the available guidance.

The Vice Chair of Graduate Studies (VCGS) is the principal contact person who advises graduate students in the planning of their individual courses of study and in the completion of degree requirements in a timely fashion. At the beginning of each quarter, all graduate students who have not yet formed a doctoral guidance committee are required to consult with the VCGS before enrolling in courses.

Students who entered the program with an M.A. in French and Francophone Studies receive a letter at the end of the first year that provides official notification of permission to proceed with the Ph.D. (following satisfactory review of academic progress in the program).

Students select a doctoral guidance committee no later than Fall quarter of the third year and the committee must include two members from the department, including the chair, and one faculty from outside the department.

NOTE: Students who enter the program with an M.A. are expected to select a doctoral guidance committee no later than the Fall quarter of the second year.

Students must complete the language requirements before nominating the official four person doctoral guidance committee and taking the oral qualifying examination.

Students who have established a doctoral guidance committee are advised by the chair of their committee. All students are required to meet with their adviser each quarter to have their program of study approved.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

French and Francophone Literatures.

Foreign Language Requirement

Doctoral candidates must demonstrate mastery in a foreign language other than their language of specialization and other English, prior to advancing to Ph.D. candidacy. The additional language must be relevant to the student’s dissertation plans. Mastery can be demonstrated in one of the following ways: (a) satisfactory completion of a departmental translation or reading exam; (b) placing into level 4 on a departmental language placement examination; (c) completing level 3 (or the equivalent of one year) in a language with a grade of B+ or better; (d) passing, with a grade of B+ or better, one upper-division or graduate course offered by another language department.

We encourage students to go beyond these minimum requirements, depending on their research interests.

Course Requirements

Course work required for the first two years of doctoral study is listed under Master’s Degree. After completing 10 courses during the first two years of study, students are expected to complete a minimum of two graduate courses in the department taken for a letter grade during the third and fourth years. In rare cases, and with approval of the VCGS, the required graduate courses may be 596 (independent studies).

Students who enter with an M.A in French may count up to four courses worth of credit from other institutions toward the 12 course requirement with approval from the VCGS. Students must take a minimum of six graduate courses in the first year. Remaining courses must be completed in the second year.

Teaching Experience

Although teaching experience is not required, the department provides all graduate students with the opportunity to teach language courses. All teaching assistants are required to complete ELTS 495.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

All committee nominations and reconstitutions adhere to the Minimum Standards for Doctoral Committee Constitution.

The doctoral guidance committee works with the student to identify a nexus of themes, questions, and key concepts. The student begins compiling a reading list of circa 50 works developed in consultation with the committee. The list should represent a judicious combination of primary works, theory, and secondary scholarship. The rationale for the list is articulated by a précis that identifies themes, research questions, and key concepts, all with an eye to the dissertation project.

The student submits the précis, reading list, and the names of the advising team to the VCGS by week five of the Fall quarter.

Doctoral qualifying examinations take place in two stages:

Stage 1: Students must consult with their doctoral guidance committee on the preparation of the written qualifying examination, which takes place by the 7th week of the Spring quarter, third year. The doctoral guidance committee prepares the written qualifying examination consisting of, in general, one question per committee member for a total of three, with students choosing to write on two of the three questions. The examination time is five hours, open book/open note. A student may attempt this examination a maximum of two times.

NOTE: Students admitted with an M.A. are expected to complete the written examination by the seventh week of the Spring quarter, second year.

In week 10 of the Spring quarter, third year, students will have a two-hour oral follow-up meeting with the doctoral guidance committee which will include a discussion and feedback of the written examination and planning for the prospectus.

NOTE: Students admitted with an M.A. are expected to schedule the two-hour oral follow-up meeting with the doctoral guidance committee in week 10 of the Spring quarter, second year.

Stage 2: The University Oral Qualifying Examination, which takes place no later than the 10th week of the Spring quarter, fourth year. may be taken only after completion of course and language requirements, successful passing of the written examinations, and submission of a dissertation prospectus. Prior to this examination, one more member is added to the doctoral guidance committee. This nominated committee is then submitted to the Graduate Division. Prior to taking the University Oral Qualifying Examination and no later than the 7th week of the Spring quarter, fourth year, students submit a dissertation prospectus to every member of the doctoral committee. The prospectus is a text of approximately 35 pages outlining the nature, scope, and significance of the proposed dissertation topic, plus a substantial bibliography. For the preparation of the prospectus, students work in close consultation with the doctoral committee chair. This two-hour oral examination includes a review and discussion of the dissertation prospectus. The oral examination results are (1) pass and advance to candidacy or (2) revise and resubmit. If revise and resubmit, the student must work closely with the advisor and VCGS to redo the prospectus examination for successful advancement. A second oral examination will be required. If the student does not pass the second attempt at the oral examination, a recommendation of academic disqualification from the Ph.D. program will be submitted to the Graduate Division, in line with the procedures set out in the academic disqualification section below.

NOTE: Students admitted with an M.A. are expected to submit the dissertation prospectus by the 7th week of the Spring quarter and complete the University Oral Qualifying Examination by the 10th week of the Spring quarter, third year.

Advancement to Candidacy

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

Doctoral Dissertation

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

Final Oral Examination (Defense of Dissertation)

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

Time-to-Degree

The following norms and maximums, including time to degree for the M.A. degree, are enforced by the Director of Graduate Studies and the Graduate Policy Committee:

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	12	18	24

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

A student who fails to meet the above requirements may be recommended for academic disqualification from 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 academic disqualification of graduate students, including the appeal procedure, are outlined in Standards and Procedures for Graduate Study at UCLA.

Special Departmental or Program Policy

A recommendation for academic disqualification is made by the Director of Graduate Studies and the Graduate Policy Committee. A student may appeal a recommendation for academic disqualification to the departmental chair.

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2017-2018 academic year.

Film, Television, and Digital Media

School of Theater, Film, and Television

Graduate Degrees

The Department of Film, Television, and Digital Media offers the Master of Arts (M.A.), the Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.), and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Film and Television.

Admissions Requirements

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 advising assignments may be made 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 also are encouraged to confer with the departmental student affairs officer as frequently as necessary to discuss program changes, petitions, and other concerns.  Each program has a specific procedure and calendar for assignment of each student’s committee. Students should consult the student affairs officer for this information.

Areas of Study

The program requires that students be conversant in both film and television, and they are tested on each in the comprehensive examination. The degree is awarded by successfully completing course requirements and, by successfully completing a Capstone Project.

Foreign Language Requirement

Although not required for the M.A. degree, some students may be required to demonstrate competence in a foreign language if it is necessary to support the research in their area of specialization.

Course Requirements

A minimum of nine courses (36 units) is required, five (20 units) of which must be 200-level courses in film and/or television history, theory, and criticism. Of the five courses, Film and Television 211A, 213, and 215B are required core courses. In addition, Film and Television 200 is required of all students. All five of the graduate-level courses must be completed with a grade of B or better.

Only eight units of Film and Television 596A, 596B, 596C, and 598 may be applied toward the total course requirement for the degree, and none of these courses may be applied toward the minimum graduate course requirement.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

Capstone Project

The Capstone Project is developed within the Capstone Course in the final (spring) quarter of registration and is the culminating project of the degree. The Capstone Project is either a scholarly research paper based on previous work in the program or a paper written in conjunction with, and based on, experiences in a professional internship performed during M.A. study. In either format, the Capstone Project is expected to be a creative work in which students use intellectual frameworks to synthesize ideas and provide original insights into research and professional experiences. After completion of the Capstone Project, the faculty grades the student either pass or fail. If failed, the student’s Capstone Project may be improved and reexamined when the Capstone Course is next regularly scheduled, or within the year following the term in which it was first taken. Scheduling is at the discretion of the Faculty. The Capstone is required of all M.A. students who apply to the Ph.D. program.

Thesis Plan

None.

Time-to-Degree

Normal progress toward the degree: from graduate admission with no deficiencies to award of the M.A. degree, a minimum of three quarters is necessary for completion of the required courses and Capstone Project. At the start of the third quarter of residence, but no later than the start of the sixth quarter, students are eligible to take the M.A. Capstone Course. Failure to comply with this regulation may result in dismissal. Maximum residency allowed for the M.A. program is seven quarters.

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.A.	3	3	7

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 advising assignments may be made 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 also are encouraged to confer with the departmental student affairs officer as frequently as necessary to discuss program changes, petitions, and other concerns. Each program has a specific procedure and calendar for assignment of each student’s committee. Students should consult the student affairs officer for this information.

Areas of Study

Animation, producing/directing, producers program, and screenwriting. Students should consult the department for specific requirements.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

A total of 18 courses (72 units) is required for the degree, five (20 units) of which must be at the graduate level. At least three departmental courses must be taken outside each student’s specific program: two of these must be approved cinema and media studies seminars and the third must be from one of the other M.F.A. programs. Course requirements for each specialization are available in the Student Services Office, Department of Film, Television, and Digital Media.

Only 16 units of Film and Television 596A-596B-596C may be applied toward the total course requirement, and only eight of these units may be applied toward the minimum graduate course requirement. Only four units of Film and Television 596A and four units of 596B may be taken prior to advancement to candidacy. Film and Television 596C through 596F may be taken only after advancement to candidacy. Fieldwork and internships are not required, but may be taken as courses which may be applied toward the degree.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

Students fulfill the capstone requirement through projects appropriate to their specializations. No later than the beginning of the final quarter of residence, the student must file the appropriate documents for advancement to candidacy and receive approval for advancement from the M.F.A. advisory committee.

Thesis Plan

None.

Time-to-Degree

The four M.F.A. programs have different time-to-degree requirements: animation: 12 quarters (maximum 12 quarters); directing/producing: 12 quarters (maximum 12 quarters); producers program: six quarters (maximum nine quarters); screenwriting: six quarters (maximum 10 quarters). Students who are not making normal progress toward the degree may be recommended for termination of graduate study. Continuance in the program of students who are on academic probation is determined by the M.F.A. committee, with the final approval of the chair of the department.

SPECIALIZATION	DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Animation	M.F.A.	9	9	12
Directing/Producing	M.F.A.	9	12	12
Producers Program	M.F.A.	6	6	9
Screenwriting	M.F.A.	6	6	10

Doctoral Degree

Advising

In most instances, the chair of the appropriate graduate committee acts as principal adviser to students in the program, although some advising assignments may be made 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 also are encouraged to confer with the departmental student affairs officer as frequently as necessary to discuss program changes, petitions, and other concerns. Each program has a specific procedure and calendar for assignment of each student’s committee. Students should consult the student affairs officer for this information.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Students are expected to understand film and television within their social contexts as significant forms of art and communication, and to achieve, by disciplined study, a mastery of film and television history, theory, and criticism.

Foreign Language Requirement

Mastery of one foreign language is required and must be demonstrated in one of the following ways: (1) completing a level 5 course or the equivalent, with a minimum grade of C, in any foreign language; (2) passing a UCLA Foreign Language Department Placement Test at the equivalent of a level 5 course; (3) passing a UCLA language examination given in any foreign language department. When mastery of more than one foreign language is necessary for a student’s dissertation study, the student is required to take courses or pass examinations in the additional language(s). Normally, the required foreign language examinations must be passed by the end of the first year of residence.

Course Requirements

Each student must take a minimum of 13 and one-half courses during the first six quarters of residence. Three required Ph.D. core courses must be completed during the first year of residence: Film and Television 211B, 215, and 273. In their second year, students must take Film and Television 274 which is required in both the fourth and sixth quarters, and an independent study in the area of their dissertation in the fifth quarter. In addition to this core sequence, Film and Television 496, which counts as the one-half course, is required (normally in the first quarter of residence). Students also select seven additional graduate seminars, at least five of which must be approved cinema and media studies seminars.

Students must select three areas of concentration. One is in the specific field of their dissertation, including Film and Television 274 and the dissertation-related independent study; students may include a fourth course in this concentration which is a cinema and media studies seminar related to their dissertation. The other two areas are to be composed of three seminars each chosen to indicate focused competence in two areas of expertise. A suggested list of concentrations is as follows: film theory, criticism, narrative studies, film history, American film, European film, non-Western film/television, television studies, media and society, authors, genres, film and the other arts, film and television as a business enterprise, film/television production and new media.

Teaching Experience

Students who serve as teaching assistants or associates must complete Film and Television 496.  Teaching assignments vary by student’s specific area of study and availability of positions.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

All committee nominations and reconstitutions adhere to the Minimum Standards for Doctoral Committee Constitution.

After completion of all language and course requirements, students are eligible to take the Ph.D. written qualifying examination, which must be passed in order to proceed to the oral qualifying examination. The written examination is given in the spring quarter only and is a take-home examination that is completed over four full consecutive days. After the student passes the written examination, a doctoral committee is formed to administer the University Oral Qualifying Examination. Students are advanced to candidacy only on successful completion of this 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 Dissertation)

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

Time-to-Degree

Normal progress toward the degree is fifteen quarters.

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	6	15	30

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

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

Special Departmental or Program Policy

In addition to the standard reasons outlined above, a student may be recommended for probation/termination whose various creative projects or work in courses in research methodology and history seminars are indicative of insufficient talent, development, imagination or motivation. If a student’s work in this area is found to be insufficient, the student is informed of the recommendation by the appropriate committee and placed on probation by the department. During the following term the student must provide sufficient evidence of improvement to remove the probationary status. If not, the committee recommends termination to the faculty and chair of the department.

A student may appeal a recommendation for termination through the following steps:

(1) The student submits to the departmental chair and the chair of the appropriate committee a written appeal stating the specific causes for reconsideration.

(2) The chair of the committee submits a response to the departmental chair and the student.

(3) The departmental chair appoints an ad hoc committee consisting of three tenured members of the faculty to review the student’s appeal and committee’s response. The ad hoc committee also meets separately with the student and the committee. The ad hoc committee forwards its written recommendation to the departmental chair.

(4) The departmental chair makes the departmental recommendation and informs the student and the Graduate Division of the decision in writing.

(5) A departmental faculty representative may be present at each review hearing within the department.

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2018-2019 academic year.

Film, Television, and Digital Media

School of Theater, Film, and Television

Graduate Degrees

The Department of Film, Television, and Digital Media offers the Master of Arts (M.A.), the Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.), and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Film and Television.

Admissions Requirements

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 advising assignments may be made 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 also are encouraged to confer with the departmental student affairs officer as frequently as necessary to discuss program changes, petitions, and other concerns.  Each program has a specific procedure and calendar for assignment of each student’s committee. Students should consult the student affairs officer for this information.

Areas of Study

The program requires that students be conversant in both film and television, and they are tested on each in the comprehensive examination. The degree is awarded by successfully completing course requirements and, by successfully completing a Capstone Project.

Foreign Language Requirement

Although not required for the M.A. degree, some students may be required to demonstrate competence in a foreign language if it is necessary to support the research in their area of specialization.

Course Requirements

A minimum of nine courses (36 units) is required, five (20 units) of which must be 200-level courses in film and/or television history, theory, and criticism. Of the five courses, Film and Television 211A, 213, and 215B are required core courses. In addition, Film and Television 200 is required of all students. All five of the graduate-level courses must be completed with a grade of B or better.

Only eight units of Film and Television 596A, 596B, 596C, and 598 may be applied toward the total course requirement for the degree, and none of these courses may be applied toward the minimum graduate course requirement.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

Capstone Project

The Capstone Project is developed within the Capstone Course in the final (spring) quarter of registration and is the culminating project of the degree. The Capstone Project is either a scholarly research paper based on previous work in the program or a paper written in conjunction with, and based on, experiences in a professional internship performed during M.A. study. In either format, the Capstone Project is expected to be a creative work in which students use intellectual frameworks to synthesize ideas and provide original insights into research and professional experiences. After completion of the Capstone Project, the faculty grades the student either pass or fail. If failed, the student’s Capstone Project may be improved and reexamined when the Capstone Course is next regularly scheduled, or within the year following the term in which it was first taken. Scheduling is at the discretion of the Faculty. The Capstone is required of all M.A. students who apply to the Ph.D. program.

Thesis Plan

None.

Time-to-Degree

Normal progress toward the degree: from graduate admission with no deficiencies to award of the M.A. degree, a minimum of three quarters is necessary for completion of the required courses and Capstone Project. At the start of the third quarter of residence, but no later than the start of the sixth quarter, students are eligible to take the M.A. Capstone Course. Failure to comply with this regulation may result in recommendation for academic disqualification. Maximum residency allowed for the M.A. program is seven quarters.

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.A.	3	3	7

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 advising assignments may be made 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 also are encouraged to confer with the departmental student affairs officer as frequently as necessary to discuss program changes, petitions, and other concerns. Each program has a specific procedure and calendar for assignment of each student’s committee. Students should consult the student affairs officer for this information.

Areas of Study

Animation, producing/directing, producers program, and screenwriting. Students should consult the department for specific requirements.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

A total of 18 courses (72 units) is required for the degree, five (20 units) of which must be at the graduate level. At least three departmental courses must be taken outside each student’s specific program: two of these must be approved cinema and media studies seminars and the third must be from one of the other M.F.A. programs. Course requirements for each specialization are available in the Student Services Office, Department of Film, Television, and Digital Media.

Only 16 units of Film and Television 596A-596B-596C may be applied toward the total course requirement, and only eight of these units may be applied toward the minimum graduate course requirement. Only four units of Film and Television 596A and four units of 596B may be taken prior to advancement to candidacy. Film and Television 596C through 596F may be taken only after advancement to candidacy. Fieldwork and internships are not required, but may be taken as courses which may be applied toward the degree.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

Students fulfill the capstone requirement through projects appropriate to their specializations. No later than the beginning of the final quarter of residence, the student must file the appropriate documents for advancement to candidacy and receive approval for advancement from the M.F.A. advisory committee.

Thesis Plan

None.

Time-to-Degree

The four M.F.A. programs have different time-to-degree requirements: animation: 9 quarters (maximum 12 quarters); directing/producing: 12 quarters (maximum 13 quarters); producers program: six quarters (maximum nine quarters); screenwriting: six quarters (maximum 7 quarters). Students who are not making normal progress toward the degree may be recommended for academic disqualification of graduate study. Continuance in the program of students who are on academic probation is determined by the M.F.A. committee, with the final approval of the chair of the department.

SPECIALIZATION	DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Animation	M.F.A.	9	9	12
Directing/Producing	M.F.A.	9	12	13
Producers Program	M.F.A.	6	6	9
Screenwriting	M.F.A.	6	6	7

Doctoral Degree

Advising

In most instances, the chair of the appropriate graduate committee acts as principal adviser to students in the program, although some advising assignments may be made 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 also are encouraged to confer with the departmental student affairs officer as frequently as necessary to discuss program changes, petitions, and other concerns. Each program has a specific procedure and calendar for assignment of each student’s committee. Students should consult the student affairs officer for this information.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Students are expected to understand film and television within their social contexts as significant forms of art and communication, and to achieve, by disciplined study, a mastery of film and television history, theory, and criticism.

Foreign Language Requirement

Proficiency in more than one language is a foundational skill that is increasingly relevant to our global society and for advancing scholarship in the academy. This is especially true for cinema and media studies as a field that works across national, transnational, and global contexts. The CMS program strongly encourages its graduate students to pursue language study above and beyond basic proficiency.

Proficiency in one foreign language is required and must be demonstrated in one of the following ways: (1) completing a level 3 course or the equivalent, with a minimum grade of C, in any foreign language; (2) passing a UCLA Foreign Language Department Placement Test at the equivalent of a level 3 course; (3) passing a UCLA language examination given in any foreign language department. With approval of the Department Chair, when a doctoral committee determines that mastery of a foreign language is necessary for a student’s dissertation study, the student is required to take courses or pass examinations as the equivalent of a level 5 course with a minimum grade of C. This is to be determined during the Third Quarter Review and must be completed prior to the student’s Advancement to Candidacy. When mastery of more than one foreign language is necessary for a student’s dissertation study, the student is required to take courses or pass examinations in the additional language(s).

Course Requirements

Each student must take a minimum of 13 and one-half courses during the first six quarters of residence. Three required Ph.D. core courses must be completed during the first year of residence: Film and Television 211B, 215, and 273. In their second year, students must take Film and Television 274 which is required in both the fourth and sixth quarters, and an independent study in the area of their dissertation in the fifth quarter. In addition to this core sequence, Film and Television 496, which counts as the one-half course, is required (normally in the first quarter of residence). Students also select seven additional graduate seminars, at least five of which must be approved cinema and media studies seminars.

Students must select three areas of concentration. One is in the specific field of their dissertation, including Film and Television 274 and the dissertation-related independent study; students may include a fourth course in this concentration which is a cinema and media studies seminar related to their dissertation. The other two areas are to be composed of three seminars each chosen to indicate focused competence in two areas of expertise. A suggested list of concentrations is as follows: film theory, criticism, narrative studies, film history, American film, European film, non-Western film/television, television studies, media and society, authors, genres, film and the other arts, film and television as a business enterprise, film/television production and new media.

Teaching Experience

Students who serve as teaching assistants or associates must complete Film and Television 496.  Teaching assignments vary by student’s specific area of study and availability of positions.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

All committee nominations and reconstitutions adhere to the Minimum Standards for Doctoral Committee Constitution.

After completion of all language and course requirements, students are eligible to take the Ph.D. written qualifying examination, which must be passed in order to proceed to the oral qualifying examination. The written examination is given in the spring quarter only and is a take-home examination that is completed over four full consecutive days. After the student passes the written examination, a doctoral committee is formed to administer the University Oral Qualifying Examination. Students are advanced to candidacy only on successful completion of this 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 Dissertation)

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

Time-to-Degree

Normal progress toward the degree is fifteen quarters.

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	6	15	30

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

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

Special Departmental or Program Policy

In addition to the standard reasons outlined above, a student may be recommended for probation/termination whose various creative projects or work in courses in research methodology and history seminars are indicative of insufficient talent, development, imagination or motivation. If a student’s work in this area is found to be insufficient, the student is informed of the recommendation by the appropriate committee and placed on probation by the department. During the following term the student must provide sufficient evidence of improvement to remove the probationary status. If not, the committee recommends termination to the faculty and chair of the department.

A student may appeal a recommendation for termination through the following steps:

(1) The student submits to the departmental chair and the chair of the appropriate committee a written appeal stating the specific causes for reconsideration.

(2) The chair of the committee submits a response to the departmental chair and the student.

(3) The departmental chair appoints an ad hoc committee consisting of three tenured members of the faculty to review the student’s appeal and committee’s response. The ad hoc committee also meets separately with the student and the committee. The ad hoc committee forwards its written recommendation to the departmental chair.

(4) The departmental chair makes the departmental recommendation and informs the student and the Graduate Division of the decision in writing.

(5) A departmental faculty representative may be present at each review hearing within the department.