DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Course Requirements. Students accepted into the Ph.D. program in cultural studies are required to complete 72 units of coursework. Twelve of these units are required courses: two semesters of Introduction to Cultural Studies (CLST 300  and 301 ) and one semester of a range of approved Methods courses. The remainder of the units are completed in courses offered by the Cultural Studies Department or by approved courses taught by the graduate 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. While completing course requirements, each student is expected to make an original contribution to a field of inquiry within cultural studies. This contribution may be a research paper or another form of cultural production that includes an analytic component (e.g., performance and interpretation, exhibition and analysis). A comprehensive list of requirements is given in the departmental handbook.

Language and Research Tools. The candidate must demonstrate reading proficiency in two languages other than English, or in one language other than English and one research tool.

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 2009 – 2010 .