Literature

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ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE: 134 Literature Building, (858) 534-3214

GRADUATE OFFICE: 139/140 Literature Building, (858) 534-3217

UNDERGRADUATE OFFICE: 110 Literature Building, (858) 534-3210

All literature courses at UC San Diego are offered by a single Department of Literature. The department brings together writers, teachers, scholars, and students of several different languages and literatures. Here, they are united by the nature of the studies they pursue. This lends a comparative aspect to both undergraduate and graduate programs, which lead to the bachelor of arts, master of arts, the candidate in philosophy, and doctor of philosophy degrees. All students must show knowledge of a foreign literature by doing upper-division or graduate work in that literature in the original language. Courses are offered not only in the literatures themselves but in the theoretical aspects of literature and—often in cooperation with other departments—in the relationship of literary study to other disciplines such as philosophy, visual arts, music, sociology, history, psychology, linguistics, and communication. With special permission, undergraduates may take graduate courses for credit, and graduate students may also take undergraduate courses for credit.

The UCSD Library’s Mandeville Department of Special Collections offers the undergraduate and graduate literature student an excellent range of resources, including single-author collections, rare and out-of-print books, tapes, maps, and historical archives. Of special interest are the Southworth Collection of Spanish Civil War materials, the Hill Collection of South Pacific Voyages, the Don Cameron Allen Renaissance collection, and the Archive for New Poetry. Within the latter collection are an extensive series of single-author archives, including the papers of Paul Blackburn, Donald Allen, Lew Welch, Charles Reznikoff, Joanne Kyger, Jerome Rothenberg, and others. The Archive for New Poetry is one of the largest collections of contemporary poetry in the United States. Graduate students also have access, facilitated by travel grants, to all other University of California research collections.

Careers for Literature Majors

A major in literature opens many career possibilities. Education is a primary option, but specializations in literature (English, Spanish, etc.) and writing also serve as excellent preparation for graduate and professional programs. A degree in literature provides a strong background for the LSAT and law school. Medical schools seek out students who are prepared not only in the sciences, but also in the humanities and writing. The business world seeks college-trained English majors, and international corporations actively recruit students with a specialty in French, German, Italian, Russian, or Spanish. Literature majors find careers in advertising, book editing and publishing, journalism, communications, mass media, and other professions where writers and editors are in demand. The knowledge of a second language and culture provides literature majors with a decided career advantage.

Secondary School English Teaching

The literature department offers an excellent preparation for teaching English/ESL in secondary schools. Suggested majors include Literatures of the World, Literatures in English, and Literature/Writing. If you are interested in receiving a California teaching credential from UCSD, contact Education Studies (EDS) for information about prerequisites and professional preparation requirements. Please consult EDS and the literature department early in your academic career to plan an appropriate literature curriculum.

The Undergraduate Program

The Major in Literature

There are ten majors available to students within the Department of Literature: Literatures in Cultural Studies, English, French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish, Literatures of the World, Writing, and the composite major in two literatures. Requirements vary from major to major as described below. Once a student has decided upon a major in literature, he or she is required to meet regularly with an advisor in the Department of Literature. Worksheets defining major requirements are available in the literature undergraduate office to help students organize their course work.

All departmental courses taken to satisfy the requirements of the literature major, including courses in the secondary literature, must be taken for a letter grade. No grade below C– is acceptable for a course taken in the major.

At least six of the upper-division courses for the major, including a minimum of four in the primary literature, must be taken at UCSD.

Lower-Division Preparation

Lower-division requirements vary, depending on the literature major in which the student elects to concentrate. However, the department strongly recommends that, as part of the freshman/sophomore course work, students who have chosen or are considering a major in literature begin an appropriate lower-division language sequence in the Departments of Linguistics or Literature as preparation for upper-division course work in a foreign language and literature. All literature majors require knowledge of a second language.

Secondary Literature

All students majoring in literature must study a secondary literature, that is, a literature in a language different from that of their primary literature. The range of secondary literatures includes ASL, Classical Greek, Hebrew, and Latin, as well as the previously mentioned French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish, and for those concentrating in a foreign literature, English is also an option. Students will satisfy this requirement by taking three courses in the secondary literature, given substantially in the native language. At least one of these courses must be upper-division. Students should see an advisor to confirm the selection of the specific courses that will be taken to satisfy both the lower-division and the upper-division components of the secondary literature requirement.

The lower-division component within the secondary literatures may be satisfied by: American Sign Language 1D/1DX and 1E; French (LTFR) 2B and either 2C or 50; German (LTGM) 2B and 2C; Hebrew (JUDA) 2 and 3 (see “Judaic Studies”); Italian (LTIT) 2B and 50; Greek (LTGK) 2 and 3; Latin (LTLA) 2 and 3; Russian (LTRU) 2B and 2C; two courses from Spanish (LTSP) 50A-50B-50C. For majors other than literatures in English, two courses from English (LTEN) 27-28-29 and 60, 21-22-23-25-26 are applicable. (Literatures of the World and writing courses may not be applied toward the English secondary literature requirement.) Note: World Literature (LTWL) courses taught in English do not apply unless there is a foreign-language discussion section and materials are available in the foreign language. World Literature courses whose primary focus is U.S. Literature may apply toward requirements in literatures in English. Alternative secondary literatures are subject to approval and petition.

Upper-division courses in the secondary literature are counted as part of the total number of upper-division courses required for the major when possible. Students are free to choose from any of the upper-division offerings in their secondary foreign literature. Special studies courses (198s and 199s) cannot be used to satisfy upper-division secondary literature requirements.

All departmental courses taken to satisfy the requirements of the literature major, including courses in the secondary literature, must be taken for a letter grade. No grade below C– is acceptable for a course taken in the major.

At least six of the upper-division courses for the major, including a minimum of four in the primary literature, must be taken at UCSD.

Writing Component in Literature Courses

It is the departmental expectation that students in lower-division courses will write a minimum of 2,500 words per course. In upper-division courses the minimum requirement is 4,000 words per course.

Honors Program

The department offers a special program of advanced study for outstanding undergraduates majoring in literature. Admission to this program requires an overall GPA of 3.5 and a literature major GPA of 3.7 at the beginning of the senior year. Students meeting these requirements will be sent, during the latter part of fall quarter, an invitation to participate in the program. Interested students who anticipate that they will not meet the established criteria may petition to participate in the program by submitting a personal statement and a five-page example of their writing by the end of the third week of fall quarter. During the winter quarter of their senior year, all honors students enroll in the honors seminar (LTWL 191), which aims to deepen their understanding of the issues of theory and method implied in the study of literature. This seminar lays the groundwork for an honors thesis, written in spring quarter (LT__ 196), each under the supervision of a faculty member who specializes in the literature of the student’s primary concentration. The Honors Program concludes with an oral examination of each honors candidate by a faculty committee, which is charged with recommending whether departmental honors are warranted and, if so, which degree of honors will appear on the student’s transcript and diploma. Students from this program will also be recommended for the Burckhardt and Williams Prizes, which are awarded at graduation for outstanding achievement in the literature major. The honors seminar and thesis course may be applied toward the primary concentration in the literature major. For Literature/Writing majors, the honors seminar is considered to be equivalent to a writing workshop.

Special Studies

These upper-division independent studies opportunities are intended for advanced students, able to work on their own, and interested in a topic not normally covered by departmental offerings.

Students with upper-division standing, a departmental GPA of at least 3.0, an overall GPA of at least 2.5, and completion of lower-division prerequisites in the subject, are eligible to take special studies courses (198s and 199s). Those not satisfying these criteria may, with justification supported by the proposed special studies instructor, petition for an exception to the regulation. 198s and 199s require at least 4,000 words of writing or an equivalent project as determined by the instructor. Information and Special Studies Enrollment forms are available in the literature undergraduate office. Enrollment requires departmental approval. Special studies courses may not be taken for a grade. These courses may not be used to satisfy upper-division requirements for majors or minors.

Study Abroad

Study abroad can significantly enhance a student’s major, particularly in ways in which it relates to international issues. Literature students are encouraged to study abroad before their senior year. Students who take Education Abroad Program or Opportunities Abroad Program (EAP/OAP) courses in a country appropriate to their major may use up to five upper-division courses to satisfy major requirements and up to three toward a minor. For composite majors in literature, six courses from abroad may apply, with no more than four toward either one of the two concentrations. These must be approved by the department after they have been entered on the student’s official record at UCSD. The approval process is described in a handout on receiving transfer credit, available in the Literature Undergraduate Office. Before leaving to study abroad, students should meet with an advisor to identify which EAP courses are appropriate to fulfill the major or minor requirements.

Information on EAP/OAP is given in the "Education Abroad Program" section of the UCSD General Catalog. Interested students should contact the Programs Abroad Office in the International Center and visit its Web site at http://programsabroad.ucsd.edu/. Financial aid can be used for EAP/OAP study, and special study-abroad scholarships are also available.

Individual Programs

Individual Program Requirements

Primary Concentration in Cultural Studies

The Literature/Cultural Studies major aims to provide students with broad cultural literacy and critical thinking skills—in language, visual media, social practices, and theories of interpretation—which are basic, necessary cornerstones of a humanities education. With four focus areas—visual culture, popular cultures, culture and globalization, and social identities—the undergraduate major in Literature/Cultural Studies, on the one hand, offers literacy in a range of traditional and modern cultural forms (from literature and texts, to film, art, and visual culture) and methods for interpreting these cultural forms, and on the other hand, prepares students to engage with a society whose “culture” is, and will become increasingly, diverse, international, and multilingual.

  1. Three lower-division courses:

    1. LTCS 50 and 52
    2. Third course may be selected from: LTEN 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 60; LTWL 4A-B-C-D-F-M; TWS 21-22-23-24-25-26; or LTWL 19A-B-C.

  2. Six upper-division LTCS courses (one of each from the four a–d focus areas):

    1. Reading Visual Culture: LTCS 170, 171, 172, 173
    2. Popular Cultures: LTCS 110, 111, 114, 118
    3. Culture and Globalization: LTCS 125, 133, 140, 141, 145
    4. Social Identities: LTCS 130, 131, 132, 135
    5. The following upper-division LTCS methods courses will also fulfill the upper-division requirement: LTCS 100, 102, 120, 155

  3. Three courses in a secondary literature, that is, a literature taught in a language other than English. At least one of these courses must be upper-division. Upper-division courses taken to satisfy the secondary literature requirement may be counted as part of the twelve upper-division courses. Special studies courses (198s and 199s) and courses in foreign literatures taught in translation do not apply to the secondary literature requirement. See “Secondary Literature,” above, for applicable lower-division courses.

  4. The remaining upper-division electives, to total twelve upper-division courses, can be drawn from these existing Department of Literature courses:

    1. Literatures in English: LTEN 150, 160, 178, 180, 181, 183, 184,185,186,187,188, 189
    2. Literatures in French: LTFR 145,164, 170
    3. Literatures in Italian: LTIT 122, 140, 150
    4. Literatures in Korean: LTKO 100
    5. Literatures in Spanish: LTSP 123, 137, 150A, 150B, 154, 170, 174, 175, 176, 177
    6. Literature/Theory: LTTH 110, 115, 150
    7. Literatures of the World: LTAF 110, 120, LTAM 100, 101, 102, 108, 109, 111, 130, 132, LTEA 120A, 120B, 120C, 120D, 138, 142, 143, 144, 145, LTWL 110B, 114, 116, 120, 124, 141, 155, 160, 180, 181, 183, 184, 185
    8. Literature/Writing: LTWR 110, 113, 115, 119, 121

Primary Concentration in Literatures in English

  1. Six lower-division courses:

    1. LTEN 21, 22, 23, 25, and 26

    2. One of the following: LTEN 27, 28, or 29

    2. If some or all of these courses are used toward meeting a college's humanities or general-education requirements, they will still count toward satisfying the requirements for the major in literatures in English.

  2. Nine upper-division courses from literatures in English offerings, including a course from each of the following four a–d categories:

    1. a. British Literature before 1660

    2. b. British Literature after 1660

    3. c. U.S. Literature before 1860

    4. d. U.S. Literature after 1860

  3. One course in world Anglophone literature(s) with focus other than British or U.S. literatures.

  4. One upper-division course in the history of criticism or in literary/cultural theory and methods from among the following: LTTH 110; LTTH 115; or LTCS 100.

  5. Three courses in a secondary literature, at least one of which must be upper-division. (See “Secondary Literature,” above.)

  6. Upper-division elective chosen from Department of Literature offerings to make a total of twelve upper-division courses.

Primary Concentration in a Foreign Literature

Literatures in French
  1. Nine upper-division courses as follows:
    1. LTFR 115-116, Themes in French Intellectual and Literary History
    2. Seven additional upper-division courses in French literature, including at least one course in each of the following periods: seventeenth or eighteenth century; nineteenth century; and twentieth century.
  2. Three courses in a secondary literature, that is, a literature taught in a language other than French. At least one of these courses must be upper-division. Special studies courses (198s and 199s) and courses in foreign literatures which are taught in French do not apply to the secondary literature requirement. See "Secondary Literature," above, for applicable lower-division courses.
  3. Upper-division electives chosen from Department of Literature offerings to make a total of twelve upper-division courses.
Literatures in German
  1. Nine upper-division courses in German literature. Two of these should be in literature written before the year 1850.
  2. Three courses in a secondary literature, that is, a literature taught in a language other than German. At least one of these courses must be upper-division. Special studies courses (198s and 199s) and courses in foreign literatures taught in German do not apply to the secondary literature requirement. See “Secondary Literature,” above, for applicable lower-division courses.
  3. Upper-division electives chosen from Department of Literature offerings to make a total of twelve upper-division courses.
Literatures in Italian
  1. Nine upper-division courses in Italian literature as follows:
    1. LTIT 100, Introduction to Italian Literature
    2. LTIT 115, Medieval Studies
    3. LTIT 161, Advanced Stylistics and Conversation
    4. One course in Italian North American Culture
    5. Five additional upper-division courses in Italian literature taught in Italian
  2. Three courses in a secondary literature, that is, a literature taught in a language other than Italian. At least one of these courses must be upper-division. Special studies courses (198s and 199s) and courses in foreign literatures taught in Italian do not apply to the secondary literature requirement. See “Secondary Literature,” above, for applicable lower-division courses.
  3. Upper-division electives chosen from Department of Literature offerings to make a total of twelve upper-division courses.
Literatures in Russian
  1. Russian 1A-B-C and 2A-B-C or their equivalent
  2. Twelve upper-division courses in Russian:
    1. LTRU 104A-B-C
    2. LTRU 110A-B-C
    3. Six additional upper-division courses in Russian literature
  3. Three courses in a secondary literature, that is, a literature taught in a language other than Russian. At least one of these courses must be upper-division. Special studies courses (198s and 199s) and courses in foreign literatures taught in Russian do not apply to the secondary literature requirement. See “Secondary Literature,” above, for applicable lower-division courses.

Students in the Russian literature major are encouraged to participate in the Education Abroad Program (EAP) in Moscow and to investigate other options for foreign study through the Opportunities Abroad Program (OAP). By petition, credits earned through EAP/OAP can fulfill UCSD degree and major requirements.

Literatures in Spanish
  1. Two lower-division Spanish literature courses, as indicated:
    1. LTSP 50A, Peninsular Literature
    2. Either LTSP 50B or LTSP 50C, Latin Amercan Literature
  2. Nine upper-division courses as follows:
    1. LTSP 130A, Development of Spanish Literature
    2. LTSP 130B, Development of Latin American Literature
    3. Seven additional upper-division courses in Spanish, Latin American, and/or Chicano literature (taught in Spanish)
  3. Three courses in a secondary literature, that is, a literature taught in a language other than Spanish. At least one of these courses must be upper-division. Special studies courses (198s and 199s) and courses in foreign literatures taught in Spanish do not apply to the secondary literature requirement. See “Secondary Literature,” above, for applicable lower-division courses.
  4. Upper-division electives from Department of Literature offerings, whether in Spanish or in another literature, to make a total of twelve upper-division courses.

Students majoring in Spanish can choose to concentrate on either Spanish or Latin American literature. All students, however, are encouraged to take courses in the various national literatures as well as in Chicano literature for a broad background in Spanish language literatures.

Students not having a solid linguistic base in Spanish are advised to take intermediate language courses from the LTSP 2 and 50 sequences for additional review of Spanish grammar, development of writing skills, and introduction to literary analysis. Only LTSP 50A and either 50B or 50C, however, can count towards the major.

It is strongly recommended that students take LTSP 130A before any other upper-division Spanish (peninsular) literature course and LTSP 130B before any other upper-division Latin American literature course.

Primary Concentration in Literatures of the World

The major in Literatures of the World allows students to expand the focus of their work beyond a single-language literature. They plan an individual program with options in regional studies (for example, Europe, the Americas, East Asia, Africa, Near East) and topical studies (for example, genre, period, gender, ethnic literature, literature and the visual arts, cultural studies, writing, Third World studies) as well as the single-language literatures.

  1. Lower-division (three courses):
    A three-course sequence in literature chosen from any section in literature.
    Students can combine courses in an original national language/literature with courses in translation to satisfy this requirement, such as LTFR 2A and 2B plus LTWL 4A (Film and Fiction in Twentieth-Century Societies: French). Students may use either the Revelle College Humanities sequence (HUM 1–5) or Eleanor Roosevelt College’s Making of the Modern World (MMW 1–6) to satisfy the lower-division sequence for the LTWL major.
  2. Upper-division (twelve courses):
    1. six courses in a regional or single-language literature, to be taken in the original language(s) or in translation
    2. four courses focused on a topic or another regional or single-language literature
    3. two courses in non-European and non-U.S. Literature; if satisfied under group (a) or group (b), any other two literature courses may be substituted.
  3. Three courses in a secondary literature, that is, a literature taught in a language different from that of the primary literature. At least one of these courses must be upper- division. Upper-division courses taken to satisfy the secondary literature requirement may be counted as part of the twelve upper-division courses for the major and may, where appropriate, be applied to requirements in Group B or C. Students should see an advisor when selecting specific courses that will be taken to satisfy this requirement. Special studies courses (198s and 199s) and courses in foreign literatures taught in translation do not apply to the secondary literature requirement. See “Secondary Literature,” above, for applicable lower-division courses.

At least two of the required twelve upper-division courses must be in literature written before 1850. No more than four courses in literature/writing (LTWR) may be taken as part of the world literatures major, and these will generally apply to Group 2.b.

The Pre-Writing Major

Until they are admitted to the writing major, students may indicate their interest in writing by declaring a pre-writing major using the prewriting major code (LT01). Admission to the writing major will be determined by evaluation of each student’s performance in the LTWR 8A/8B/8C sequence.

Normally, students are expected to achieve a grade of B or better in each of these courses to ensure their eligibility for declaring the major.

Primary Concentration in Writing

The writing major is designed to provide direct experience in writing fiction, nonfiction, and poetry as well as engage the student writer in both the world of “writing culture”—public readings, publication, and the media—and literary theory and practical critique. An indispensable feature of this program is that it engages students with one another’s work, both critically and communally. Writing majors will move through a sequence of courses within (and between) genres in order to develop their own style and confidence in the work of writing and critique. Students who are interested in teaching writing will find this major an opportunity both for writing extensively and dealing critically with the act of written composition. Students must complete the sequence LTWR 8A-B-C prior to declaring a major in Literature/Writing. The major requirements are as follows:

  1. Any one of the following literature sequences:
    1. LTWL 4A-B-C-D-F-M–any three courses in the sequence (Film and Fiction in Twentieth-Century Societies)
    2. LTWL 19A-B-C (Introduction to the Ancient Greeks and Romans)
    3. LTEN 21 and 22, plus one course chosen from LTEN 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, and 29.
    4. TWS 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26-any three courses (Third World Literatures)
  2. Twelve upper-division courses:
    1. Six upper-division courses in Literature/Writing from the writing workshop sequence (LTWR 100–129). These workshops may be repeated for credit (see course listing for number of times workshops may be repeated), but the requirement should show a range of writing experience in at least two major writing types. No other courses may be substituted for this basic requirement of six upper-division workshops.
    2. One course from the group numbered LTWR 140–148.
    3. Five upper-division electives chosen from Department of Literature offerings.
  3. Three courses in a secondary literature, that is, a literature taught in a language other than English. At least one of these courses must be upper-division. Students should see an advisor when selecting specific courses that will be taken to satisfy this requirement. Special studies courses (198s and 199s) and courses in foreign literatures which are taught in English translation do not apply to the secondary literature requirement. See “Secondary Literature,” above, for applicable lower-division courses.

Composite Major in Literature

The composite major in literature permits a student to develop a solid foundation in two literatures while remaining within one department. Because the UCSD Department of Literature houses literatures that are divided among different departments at most universities, our composite major allows students to coordinate their studies with a single, closely-knit group of faculty, and to arrange their program without repeating two different sets of major requirements. (For example, since a composite major necessarily combines literatures written in two different languages, it automatically fulfills the foreign-language requirement for the literature major.)

Students pursuing a composite major work closely with an advisor to plan a program of study that meets the following requirements:

  1. Students will select two literatures of concentration (Literature 1 and Literature 2)
    1. one of the literatures must be in a language other than English;
    2. both concentrations, however, can be in non-English literatures; thus a student can choose English and French, for example, or Russian and Spanish, French and Italian, German and Latin, Spanish and English, etc., but not Literatures of the World or Literature/Writing.
  2. Students will meet all lower-division major requirements for each of the two literatures of concentration. See specific “Primary Concentration” listings above; English, Spanish, and Russian, for example, all have lower-division requirements for the major.
  3. Students will take eight upper-division courses in each of the two selected literatures of concentration for a total of sixteen upper-division courses.
    1. These must satisfy the upper-division course requirements for each of the two majors. Thus, for example, if one of the concentrations is English, the student must include courses from each of the four stipulated categories; if one of the concentrations is Spanish, upper-division courses must include LTSP 130A and 130B.
    2. Beyond the upper-division requirements for each literature of concentration (Literature 1 and Literature 2), students will take a sufficient number of elective courses in each of the two literatures of concentration to make a total of eight upper-division courses in each chosen concentration.

Double Major within the Department of Literature in Literature/Writing and Another Literature

Students who wish to major both in Literature/Writing and in literature (any section) should see the department for information regarding appropriate double major requirements. Generally, all requirements for each major must be completed, though the secondary literature and two upper-division courses, where appropriate, may overlap from one major to the other.

Students must submit a double major petition for approval by the department and the student’s provost office.

The Minor in Literature

The department offers a wide range of possibilities for noncontiguous minors. The options include courses in a single regional or national literature, courses in more than one literature, and a combination of language and literature courses. The minors require seven courses. All courses taken to complete a literature minor must be taken for a letter grade. No grade below C– is acceptable.

Please see the department undergraduate office for specific minor requirements.

A minor in literature will consist of seven courses as described below.

French, German, Greek, Italian, Latin, Russian, or Spanish literature: seven courses, at least four of which must be upper-division in the same literature.

Literatures in English, Literatures of the World, and Literature/Writing: seven courses, at least five of which must be upper-division.

Lower-division courses applicable toward minors:

English—LTEN 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 60
French—LTFR 2A-B-C, 50
German—LTGM 2A-B-C
Greek—LTGK 1, 2, 3
Hebrew—JUDA 1, 2, 3 (see Judaic Studies)
Italian—LTIT 2A-B, 50
Latin—LTLA 1, 2, 3
Russian—LTRU 2A-B-C
Spanish—LTSP 2A-B-C-D-E, 50A-B-C
Writing—LTWR 8A-B-C

Literatures of the World—seven literature courses, at least five of which must be upper-division—usually 1) a two- or three-course lower-division sequence and 2) five upper-division courses with a single unifying theme. Students may use either the Revelle College Humanities sequence (HUM 1–5) or Eleanor Roosevelt College’s Making of the Modern World (MMW 1–6) to satisfy the lower-division sequence for the LTWL minor.

Writing minor—seven courses, at least five of which must be upper-division. The minimum of five upper-division courses must cover at least two major writing genres, with course work chosen from writing courses (LTWR) numbered 100 through 148.

Please see the department for further information and specifics regarding minors in literature.

The Graduate Program

Doctoral Degree Program

The department offers a single Ph.D. in literature with concentrations in any of the fields in which members of the department do research. The C.Phil. (Candidate in Philosophy) is conferred upon all students who pass the qualifying examination and are advanced to candidacy. Ph.D. students in the doctoral program may also qualify for the M.A. upon completion of their qualifying examinations.

Admission

The following are requirements for admission to graduate study in literature:

  1. A baccalaureate or a master’s degree with a major in literature or a related field. Official transcripts required.
  2. Satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) achieved within the past three calendar years. The Subject Test is not required.
  3. Satisfactory score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required for international applicants.
  4. Competence in reading, understanding and interpreting both literary and critical texts in a second language, and—when appropriate—ability to follow seminar discussions or lectures in a second or third language.
  5. Writing sample (twenty-five page minimum) required for all applicants.
  6. Minimum of three letters of reference.

Completed applications and supporting materials must be received by the deadline posted on the department Web site: http://literature.ucsd.edu, for admission to the following fall quarter. Those planning to apply should take the GRE/TOEFL far enough in advance so that the scores will be available to the admissions committee in January.

Please refer to the department Web site http://literature.ucsd.edu for specific guidelines.

Course of Study

Formal study begins with a first-year, three-quarter introductory sequence (Literature/Theory 200A-B-C) having an interdisciplinary and theoretical emphasis. During the first three years, the course of study will include at least four seminars in one literature and two in another (students in comparative literature must take at least one seminar in a third literature); at least four seminars drawn from offerings in literary theory, the second or a third literature, cultural studies, comparative literature, or composition studies; and five additional seminars open entirely to the student’s choice (four for students in comparative literature). Such “open” seminars should generally be related to the intended dissertation field. At most, two seminars in other disciplines may be substituted for any of the latter group, with the advisor’s permission. Students must also fulfill a historical breadth requirement by completing two seminars dealing with texts or cultural practices prior to 1800. For students with M.A. degrees the initial three-year sequence may be reduced, depending on previous course work and on the students’ plans for doctoral study.

Students in comparative literature must take four of the above-described seminars in comparative literature or in other sections, provided that they be clearly comparative in nature. Comparative literature seminars taken for the first, second, or third literature requirement must be substantially focused upon the relevant language and deal with materials in the original.

Students wishing to take these courses in a literature for which seminars are not regularly offered may substitute independent study courses (298) or undergraduate courses enhanced by additional assignments. To do so, students must demonstrate through prior course work that they have already attained graduate-level competency in the literature and language in question. Approval from the comparative literature graduate advisor and the director of Graduate Studies must be obtained.

The third year is spent taking seminars and preparing for the qualifying examinations. During this year, students will register for two four-unit independent study courses (298). The first will be used to prepare reading lists for the subject-area qualifying examinations and the second will focus on the long paper required for the qualifying examinations.

The qualifying examination is usually taken during the ninth quarter of enrollment. It must be completed by the end of the tenth quarter. The fourth, fifth, and sixth years will be devoted to preparation of the dissertation

Students may write dissertations in any of the fields in which members of the department do research. These fields may include English, American, French, German, Italian, Greek, Latin, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, Chicano, Asian-American, and African-American literature, comparative literature, literary theory, women’s studies, cultural studies, early modern studies, and composition studies.

Specialty in Composition Theory, Research, and Practice

The Department of Literature offers special studies to graduate students who wish to concentrate on composition theory, research, and practice. The composition subspecialty is an interdisciplinary course of study that requires students to work with faculty both in the department and across the university. The department regularly offers graduate seminars taught by faculty in composition, along with a variety of seminars on history, theory, cultural studies, and literatures in English of special interest to students in composition. Students in special studies in composition take two research methods courses outside the department on topics such as field work, historiography, or research design in the human sciences to qualify them to conduct the research for their dissertations. Students are also encouraged to apply to teach in one of the six college undergraduate writing programs on campus, to see for themselves how classroom and administrative practice intersect with theory and research.

Language Requirements

Graduate students are expected to read literary and secondary texts and to follow seminar discussions or lectures in a second language (a language other than the one in which the literature of their intended specialization is written). Students in comparative literature should have in-depth knowledge of a second and third language.

To satisfy the language requirements, students must demonstrate language proficiency via completion of two graduate seminars in the literature of the second language. In addition, comparative literature students must complete one seminar in the literature of the third language. With the approval of the director of Graduate Studies, students may satisfy the language requirement by substituting an upper-division undergraduate course enhanced by additional assignments (grade of A must be received). If upper-division courses are not available, students may take independent study courses (298) in the language. These options are only allowed when there is no graduate seminar offered in the chosen language.

Students must pass an examination in reading, interpretation, and translation in each of the two (or three in the case of comparative literature) courses taken to satisfy the second language requirement. The language requirements must be satisfied prior to the qualifying examination.

Advancement to Candidacy

Students should choose a Ph.D. advisor no later than the first quarter of the third year. The advisor, in consultation with the student, will form a qualifying examination committee. The student and the qualifying examination committee will jointly determine the nature of the long research paper, (approximately thirty pages) and the two areas of specialization on which the student will be examined in writing. After satisfactory completion of the paper and the written examinations, the student will take a two-hour oral examination. On passing the oral examination, the student is declared eligible for advancement to candidacy for the Ph.D. The C. Phil. degree is conferred upon successful advancement.

Teaching

The department requires that each Ph.D. student participate in apprentice teaching before the completion of the degree; the minimum amount required is equivalent to the duties expected of a half-time teaching assistant for three academic quarters. This teaching involves conducting, with the guidance and support of a supervising professor, discussion sections and related activities in a variety of freshman and sophomore courses. Academic credit is granted for the training given under the apprentice teaching program.

Grading

The only grading option for literature graduate courses is Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U). Students receive written evaluations of their performance in seminars. Upper-division undergraduate courses must be taken for a letter grade. Students must receive a grade of A to maintain acceptable graduate status and continuation of funding.

Departmental Ph.D. Time Limit Policies

Students must be advanced to candidacy by the tenth quarter of study. Departmental normative time is six years. Total registered time at UCSD cannot exceed eight years.

Financial Support

Ph.D. students entering the program with a B.A. may be supported (either by employment or fellowships) for six years. Students who have an M.A. and have been given transfer credit may be supported for five years. Such support depends upon the funds available, the number of students eligible, and the rate of progress.

Master’s Degree Program

The master’s degree program is intended to meet the needs of several groups: (1) persons interested in possibly applying later, at UCSD or elsewhere, for admission to a Ph.D. program and wishing to strengthen their preparation for such a program; (2) persons seeking a master’s degree only, for reasons of professional development or cultural enrichment; and (3) graduate students who have been admitted to the Ph.D. Program and who decide also to qualify for a master’s degree. The M.A. degree is currently available in five fields: literatures in English, French, German, Spanish, and comparative literature. Note: The department does not offer financial support for M.A. candidates.

Admission

 The following are requirements for admission to graduate study in literature:

  1. A baccalaureate degree with a major in literature or a related field. Official transcripts required.
  2. Satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) achieved within the past three calendar years. The Subject Test is not required.
  3. Satisfactory score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required for international applicants.
  4. Competence in reading, understanding, and interpreting both literary and critical texts in a second language, and—when appropriate— ability to follow seminar discussions or lectures in a second or third language.
  5. Writing sample (twenty-five page minimum) required for all applicants.
  6. Minimum of three letters of reference.

Completed applications and supporting materials must be received by the deadline posted on the department Web site (http://literature.ucsd.edu) for admission the following fall quarter. Those planning to apply should take the GRE/TOEFL far enough in advance so that the scores will be available to the admissions committee in early January.

Please refer to the department Web site (http://literature.ucsd.edu) for specific guidelines.

M.A. in Literatures in English, Spanish, French, or German

 The requirement for the M.A. degree is completion of thirty-six total units distributed as follows:

  1. LTTH 201 (four units). A required introductory theory course generally taken during the student’s first quarter in the program.
  2. Twenty-four units of graduate seminars. Students may take a maximum of eight units of enhanced upper-division course work, when graduate seminars are not available in student’s specialization (defined as literatures in English, French, etc.). Students may take one independent study course (298) to fulfill requirements in this category, with advisor’s permission.
    1. Sixteen units of course work in the specific literature (English, Spanish, French, or German), read in its original language.
    2. Four units of course work in a language other than that of the student’s principal concentration. This course may be taken either in the original language or in translation. A graduate seminar in English or American literature may be used to fulfill this requirement by students with a German, Spanish, or French focus.
    3. Four units of course work open to the student’s choice. Such “open” units should generally be related to the intended thesis field.
  3. Eight units of guided thesis research (295), culminating in an acceptable master’s thesis or master’s examination.

M.A. in Comparative literature

 The requirement for the M.A. degree is completion of thirty-six total units distributed as follows:

  1. LTTH 201 (four units). A required introductory theory course generally taken during the student’s first quarter in the program.
  2. Twenty-four units of graduate seminars. At least four of these units should be taken in comparative literature (LTCO) or in another section, if the seminar is clearly comparative in nature. Students may take a maximum of eight units of enhanced upper-division course work, when graduate seminars are not available in student’s specialization (defined as literatures in English, French, etc.). Students may take one independent study course (298) to fulfill requirements in this category, with advisor’s permission.
    1. Twelve units of course work in one literature of concentration. Comparative literature seminars are recommended when their focus is substantially upon the literature in question and they deal with materials in the original language.
    2. Eight units of course work in a language other than that of the student’s principal concentration or four units of course work in a second literature and four units of course work in a third literature. Texts or other materials must be dealt with in the original languages. Comparative literature seminars are recommended when their focus is substantially upon the literature in question and they deal with materials in the original language.
    3. Four units of course work open to the student’s choice. Such “open” units should generally be related to the intended thesis field.
  3. Eight units of guided thesis research (295), culminating in an acceptable master’s thesis or master’s examination.