Degree Requirments

Course Requirements. Students accepted into the PhD program in cultural studies are required to complete 72 units of coursework. At least 12 of these units are required courses: two semesters of Introduction to Cultural Studies (CLST 300 -303) and at least one semester of an approved Method course. (PhD students may choose to take a second Research Method course in lieu of the language translation exam requirement.) The remainder of the units are completed in courses offered by the Cultural Studies Department or other departments at CGU and/or approved courses taught by the faculty of The Claremont Colleges. Up to 24 units of transfer credit for relevant graduate work completed at another university may be accepted. For more detailed information regarding transfer of credit, residence requirements, and other requirements, see the section on “Degree Regulations ” in this Bulletin.

Transdisciplinary Course Requirement. Doctoral students entering in Fall 2006 and after must satisfy the 4-unit transdisciplinary course (T-course) requirement during their second year of study at CGU. For more information, please see the section on “Transdisciplinary Course Requirement ” in the Bulletin.

Other Requirements. Most Cultural Studies seminars require substantial original research papers as part of their course requirements.  Students must earn at least a B in their Research Method courses in order to have them fulfill the Research Method (Research Tool) requirement.  In order to be allowed to take the PhD Qualifying Exams, students must have a GPA of at least 3.3 (B+) in their coursework with no grade lower than a B.

Language and Research Tools. PhD students have the option to either take two approved Research Method classes or to take one Research Method class and pass a language translation exam.

Qualifying Examinations. Students must demonstrate competence in three fields: (1) cultural studies, (2) an area of specialization, and (3) some other professional area in the humanities. The selection of fields must be approved by the student’s supervisory committee.

Students are examined in each field. The three written examinations are followed by an oral defense and review.

The entire examination process must be completed within one semester. In the event that a student fails a field examination, the examining committee for the three fields decides whether the student may be permitted to re-take an examination. Failure on a re-examination, written or oral, disqualifies the student from further graduate study at Claremont Graduate University, except in extraordinary cases as recommended by the examining committee and approved by the dean of faculty. When feasible, re-examinations are given by the same faculty members.

Dissertation Requirements. Students must submit an acceptable dissertation prospectus for approval by the dissertation committee. This committee, recommended by the Cultural Studies chair in consultation with the student, consists of no fewer than three members, one of whom serves as dissertation supervisor. Each candidate must prepare an acceptable dissertation under the guidance of the supervisory committee, to be defended in a final oral examination. A draft of the dissertation, which takes into account the criticisms by the major advisor and is acceptable to the major advisor, must be completed by October 1 for students completing the degree at the end of the first semester, and by March 1 for students completing the degree at the end of the second semester. This draft must be in a form suitable for submission to the other readers. Deadlines for completion in final form are listed in the “Degree Regulations ” section of this Bulletin and in the Academic Calendar 2010 – 2011 .