Overview

Students in UCLA’s PhD program move through three program stages, each of which includes unique scholarly and career development milestones. We sketch these here in general terms. For more detail, please refer to the Guide to Graduate Study.

Stage 1

Stage one begins with a focus on the coursework requirement, which consists of 14 letter-graded graduate seminars in English literature. Of these 14, at least two must be in literature prior to the year 1800, two in literature after 1800, and two focused on theory, genre, or methods.  Students entering the program with a master’s degree may petition to apply up to four English literature courses from that program toward this requirement.  Also by petition, up to three UCLA courses in other disciplines may be applied, and up to two directed study courses.

Upon completion of the coursework requirement and the language requirement, students are eligible to take the first qualifying (“Part One”) exam, which focuses on literature from three distinct historical periods (or two historical periods and one genre).  Successful completion of the Part One exam advances the student to stage two. Students who do not already hold a master’s in English or its equivalent receive the UCLA M.A. at this point. However, we do not offer a stand-alone M.A. degree.

Stage 2

Students typically advance to stage two during their third year and are required to pass the Second Qualifying Exam no later than the Spring Quarter of their 4th year. During stage two, they form their dissertation committees and also prepare and defend their dissertation prospectus by taking the second qualifying (“Part Two”) exam, an oral defense of the prospectus before the full dissertation committee. Successful completion of the Part Two exam confers the C.Phil. degree and advances the student to candidacy for the Ph.D.

Stage 3

Students normally begin the third stage by the beginning of year five. During this stage, the focus is on the research, writing, and completion of the dissertation project. The department does not require a dissertation defense. Upon successful filing of the dissertation, the Ph.D. is conferred. Standard time for degree completion is two years from the date of advancement to candidacy.