Degree Requirements

Course Requirements. MA students are required to take 40 units in graduate coursework. Twelve of these units are required courses: two semesters of Introduction to Cultural Studies (CLST 300 -303), and one approved Research Method course. The remaining 28 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. For residence and other general requirements, see the “Degree Regulations ” section in this Bulletin.

Other Requirements. Most Cultural Studies seminars require substantial original research papers as part of their course requirements.  Students are expected to maintain a GPA of at least 3.3 (B+) in their coursework.  Students must earn at least a B in their Research Method course in order to have it fulfill the Research Method (Research Tool) requirement.

Final MA Paper. As a final degree requirement, students must complete a research paper of at least 6000 and no more than 10,000 words of publishable journal article quality.  The paper must make an original contribution to a field of inquiry within Cultural Studies.  The topic and format will be approved by the student’s advisor.  Students may expand and revise a seminar paper that they have written during their coursework at CGU or undertake a new project.  Students interested in non-textual work, such as video production or performance, may undertake a project equivalent to the written thesis with the approval of their research advisor (please see the Cultural Studies Department handbook for more information).

The MA degree may also be awarded to students who have advanced to candidacy for the doctorate or to those who have not passed the qualifying examinations at the doctoral level but who have met the standards for an MA degree. A comprehensive list of requirements is given in the departmental handbook.

Links to Other Programs and Further Information

Cultural Studies, PhD   

Cultural Studies General Information