Master of Arts in German
The minimum course requirement for the M.A. degree is nine courses, eight of which must be taken within the German Program.
Language Requirement
Students must possess reading knowledge of one language other than German or English. This can be demonstrated by completing one year or the equivalent of University-level language study (1C), or passing one of the 97 graduate reading courses, or passing a translation examination administered by the Department.
The Preparation of a Reading List
All candidates should prepare as early as possible a list of works read in the field of German literature, both primary texts and critical works. This list should be augmented by critical texts and by works from other literatures which, in the candidate's opinion, relate to the German works on the list. Since it should ultimately contain representative selections from various eras of German literature and some works of criticism, a tentative list must be discussed with the graduate advisor before the end of the fall quarter of the year in which the candidate expects to receive the M.A. Candidates should indicate on the list a number of works with which they are especially familiar. In its final form (including works read during the course of study both in and outside of class), the list will be submitted together with the master's essay two weeks before the oral examination. It is the student's responsibility to keep the reading list current. On the basis of this list, the candidate should design one course as an Introduction to German Literature and Culture. The course must include reading lists of required and optional texts, main and secondary literature, a written justification/course description, and a basic syllabus for a 13-week semester course. The course must be submitted to the committee at least two weeks prior to the oral exam date.
M.A. Comprehensive Examination (consists of two parts):
1. The Master's Essay. The purpose of the written part of the M.A. comprehensive examination is to show the candidate's methodological progress in interpreting German literature and film. It consists of an essay in which a text is elucidated and related to (a) pertinent works by the same author, (b) its social and historical context, and (c) other works of German or other literatures with which the candidate is familiar. The level of the discussion will normally be enhanced by the candidate's knowledge of the relevant secondary literature. The topic of the essay should be tentatively formulated and reported to the graduate advisor before the end of the second quarter of the student's residence.
2. The Oral Examination. During the oral examination the following items will be discussed: (a) the essay, and (b) the reading list, focusing on the course description. The discussion based on the reading list will focus on works which the student knows well, but may broaden into other areas.
One Year of Residence.
Doctor of Philosophy in German
Teaching German
Since the majority of German Ph.D. candidates choose careers that involve teaching, the faculty recognizes its obligation to offer them both outstanding pedagogical training and real world preparatory experience. Therefore, all candidates for the German M.A. and Ph.D. are required to pass HUMANITIES 398A and 398B, “Foreign Language Teaching: Approaches and Methods,” which together comprise one graduate seminar taught over two quarters. In addition, all candidates for the German M.A. and Ph.D. program are required to teach under the supervision of a faculty member at least one course in each of at least three quarters (for which they will receive credit as GERMAN 399). Three of these courses may be counted toward the 22 courses required for the Ph.D. HUMANITIES 398A and 398B will not count toward the 22 courses required for the Ph.D. The German Ph.D. candidates therefore require 19 graduate courses + 3 German 399 courses.
The department requires a minimum of 19 approved courses + 3 German 399s from students entering with a bachelor's degree. Students entering with an MA or equivalent from another institution can petition to have earlier course work count toward the 19-course requirement. The petition should be submitted to and discussed with the graduate advisor. Students with an MA are generally required to take 10 graduate seminars. Students who choose the Emphasis in Critical Theory, Emphasis in Feminist Studies, Emphasis in Comparative Literature or Emphasis in Visual Studies may include two of the courses required for these emphases in the 19 required courses. Students who do not choose one of these emphases may include a maximum of two graduate level courses in philosophy, history, comparative literature, gender & sexuality studies, critical theory, and others suitable for the individual student's program of study in the 19 required courses. These courses must be approved by the graduate advisor.
Foreign Language Requirements
Students must possess reading knowledge of one language other than German or English. This can be demonstrated by completing one year or the equivalent of University-level language study (1C), or passing one of the 97 graduate reading courses, or passing a translation examination administered by the Department. In the two-hour examination, the student translates selections from a scholarly book or article in the target language into English. A dictionary may be used during the examination. Full-time students must demonstrate near-native speaking abilities in German and English. Students with significant deficiencies in language competency that will adversely affect their academic progress normally will not be admitted to doctoral candidacy. Students in the doctoral program will meet language requirements on a schedule established by their doctoral committees, but in all cases the requirements must be met prior to taking the Ph.D. qualifying examination. If these requirements are not met in a timely manner, faculty may recommend disqualification from the program.
Qualifying Examination
In order to advance to candidacy, the student must take and pass a qualifying examination. At least two months prior to the planned date of the exam, students must submit a comprehensive reading list, prepared in consultation with their committee chair, to the examination committee. The committee may make recommendations to the list. On the basis of that list, students must design three courses, drafted in consultation with the student's committee chair. These courses should be graduate seminars organized around topics, genres, authors, or periods. At least one of these courses must comprise the student's intended area of dissertation research. The three courses must be clearly distinct and have minimal overlap. These courses must include reading lists of required and optional texts, main secondary literature, a written justification/course description, and a basic syllabus (for a 13-week semester course). No more than one course may be a modification of a seminar taken in the program. These courses must be submitted to the committee members at least two weeks prior to an oral examination date. Students must submit a dissertation prospectus to their advisor and, following approval by the advisor, circulate it to the entire committee. The oral exam will be a three-hour exploration of the reading list, focusing on the courses. In addition, part of the qualifying exam will involve a discussion of the student's dissertation prospectus. Upon successful completion of the qualifying examination, the candidate will have advanced to Ph.D. candidacy.
Dissertation Prospectus
Students must submit a dissertation prospectus to their advisor and, following approval by the advisor, circulate it to the entire committee.
Dissertation Chapter Review
Students must submit a substantial piece of writing (approx. 45 pp.) from their dissertation, ordinarily in the form of a chapter, and a comprehensive bibliography. In consultation with their dissertation committee chair, they schedule a date and time for the oral review with the committee, which lasts approximately 2-3 hours. Prior to the oral review the student will make a public presentation, open to the UCI community and guests, in the form of a lecture with Q and A.
Doctoral Colloquium
Students who have advanced to candidacy and are in residence must attend a colloquium for doctoral candidates. The colloquium will be held at least two times per quarter. Students will be expected to present sections of their prospectus or dissertation.
Dissertation Defense
The oral defense of the dissertation focuses on the adequacy of the student's research and thesis.