Here are some useful links to organizations at UCSB as well as professional associations:
UCSB College websites
Libraries & UCSB Catalog
Registering for classes
Main Professional Associations and Networks
- American Comparative Literature Association (ACLA)
- Modern Language Association of America (MLA)
- Association of Departments and Programs of Comparative Literature (ADPCL)
- International Comparative Literature Association (ICLA)
- Southern Comparative Literature Association (SCLA)
- National Humanities Alliance (NHA)
- American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS)
- And for checking calls for papers in your fields and other announcements, subscribe to: H-Net Humanities and Social Sciences on Line or its new home.
Learning Outcomes
Program learning outcomes for all three degrees are defined in the attached document according to five categories of accomplishment: core knowledge, research methods and analysis, pedagogy, scholarly communications, and professionalism.
Learning Outcomes, Doctoral Degree in Comparative Literature
Graduate Degree Requirements
MASTER OF ARTS
The MA requires a minimum of 40 units of graduate-level course work in either (a) three national literatures, or, (b) two national literatures and one related discipline chosen in consultation with the graduate Advisor. The 40 units of graduate-level course work must include the 4 unit Proseminar in Comparative Literature, a minimum of 8 graduate units in each of two national literatures and 4 graduate units in the student’s third national literature or the related discipline. Eight additional graduate units must be taken in comparative literature. A maximum of 4 units of 596 course work can be counted toward the master’s degree.
By the end of the second year of study, students must pass the first qualifying field examination within a national literature, multinational region, or related discipline. The successful completion of this exam grants the MA degree.
Upon completion of the Master’s degree (the first Field Examination), an assessment of the student’s overall progress in graduate study will be conducted. The student should submit the following documentation as input to the review: completion of a self-assessment of completed work and plan for doctoral work, unofficial transcripts, first field examination with detailed feedback from examination committee, and updated CV. The student will receive a written evaluation of the faculty’s assessment of their development, their promise for independent, innovation and original research, and for completion of doctoral study.
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
The PhD degree in comparative literature requires the study of three fields consisting of national literatures, multinational and multilingual regional studies, or related disciplines. At least one of the field exams should be focused on a non-English literary tradition, with the primary texts studied in the original language. The selection of each field must be approved by a 3-person Field Exam Committee, chosen by the student in consultation wtih the Graduate Faculty Advisor/Director of Graduate Studies.
Students entering the program with an MA in comparative literature or a closely related field need a minimum of 24 units of additional graduate-level course work to be distributed in consultation with the Faculty Graduate Advisor/Director of Graduate Studies.These 24 units must include 4 units in each of two national literatures, 4 units in the student's third national literature or related discipline, and 4 units in comparative literature. A limited number of course exemptions will, however, be allowed, as indicated in 2.6 of the Graduate Handbook, “Transfer of Credit.” Additional course work may be required to make up for deficiencies. Students must pass three field exams in three national literatures or two national literatures and a related field. The first field examination should be taken in the first quarter of their second year at UCSB in a national literature other than the literature of the student’s native language. In order to be advanced to candidacy students must also demonstrate competency in a second foreign language and present and defend a dissertation prospectus. After advancement to candidacy, they write and defend a dissertation. The university’s absolute time limit for passing the field exams and advancing to candidacy is 4 years.
Upon completion of the three field exams, students prepare and defend a dissertation prospectus with the guidance of their dissertation committee. Once they pass this examination and demonstrate proficiency in a second foreign language they are advanced to candidacy (ABD). The final requirement is the successful completion of a doctoral dissertation, including an oral defense.
For comprehensive information on the program, please refer to the Graduate Handbook.
Forms & Travel
Forms
- Study Plan, with all requirements, MA to PhD: Please make sure you fill out the form as you progress toward your degree; bring the updated form to your advising session every quarter. From the download area below, choose either the MA/PhD form (excel format) or the PhD one (excel format), according to your status.
- Quarterly Planning and Progress Check: Bring this form to your quarterly advising sessions in fall and winter. Comparative Literature Proposed Class Schedule and Progress Check
- Annual Review Form: Please download the document according to your status as pre-ABD or ABD students.
- Field Examinations Forms: The reading list and abstract form need to be completed and signed by all committee members, as well as the Chair or DGS at the beginning of the quarter during which you will take the examination.
- Independent study: Please download and fill out this form when you wish to do an independent study (Comparative Literature 596) instead of a seminar, and you wish to complete it for a letter grade. This is only possible under exceptional circumstances.
Intercampus Exchange Program for Graduate Students
-
Applicants must have completed at least one academic year (three quarters) of residence at UCSB and be in good academic standing.
- Graduate students seeking to take classes in their major or language courses or use facilities not available at UCSB, or study with a professor at another UC campus can apply for the IEPGS program.
- To get the form, please click on the link for the IEPGS Application in the download area.
Travel Grants and Other Professional Support
There are various sources of funding for professional expenses.
- Students advanced to candidacy who present at a conference may apply for a travel grant from the Graduate Division via the Academic Senate. Graduate students may receive only one Graduate Student Travel Grant during the course of their graduate studies at UCSB. Read more at: https://senate.ucsb.edu/
grants/doctoral-student- travel/ - You may also apply for departmental funding. Please download and fill out the form in the area to the right prior to your travel and at least 21 days before the conference. Submit it to the Chair (or Vice Chair) for signature, along with:
- The abstract of the paper
- A copy of the formal invitation to participate in the conference (or evidence of participation). After your travel, submit the signed form to the Financial Assistant (Phelps 5206C) along with the form entitled: “Travel Reimbursement Worksheet”, and the required supporting documents.
- Support for interviewing purposes and other job-seeking expenses (Interfolio fees, etc.): students on the job-market may receive up to $1,000 funding. The award can only be given once. Use the same form as #2.
- Students can also be funded by the Graduate Center for Literary Research, which awards travel grants to students giving papers at scholarly conferences.
Attachments