General Information
ATTENTION NEW APPLICANTS!
Application Deadlines:
Fall 2007: CLOSED
FALL 2008: January 2, 2008
All supplemental material must be in the by deadline. GRE test cannot be taken after December 2007 for Fall 2008 admissions.
The Department of History offers graduate work leading to the degrees of master of arts and doctoral of philosophy with concentrations in Ancient History, East Asian history, European history, History of Science, Latin American history, Middle East history, and United States history. A Master of Arts degree in history is also offered, with concentrations in Chinese Studies, European history, History of Science, Judaic Studies, and United States history.
The duration of the Ph.D. program is five to eight years. University and departmental regulations stipulate that the maximum tenure of graduate study at UCSD is eight years, while seven years is the limit for receiving any type of university financial support. Normally, during the first two years, students participate in courses, write two research papers, complete language requirements, define major and minor fields of study, and take at least one minor field examination. In the third year the student normally completes all outstanding minor field and language requirements, defines a dissertation topic, and passes a qualifying examination in the major field, at which time, the student officially advances to candidacy for the Ph.D. Advancement to candidacy must occur at least before the end of the fourth year, and in some programs, such as Ancient History and East Asian Studies, extra language requirements may make 4th year advancement the norm. Most students spend their fourth year doing field research, and their fifth and sixth years writing their dissertation, although exact time to completion of the degree varies depending on funding, preparation, and the requirements of the specific project.
Ph.D. and M.A. Language Requirements
- Ph.D. candidates in Chinese, European, and Latin American history must demonstrate competency in two foreign lanaguages.
- Ph.D. candidates in history of science, Japanese, and United States history, as well as M.A. candidates in European and Latin American history must demonstrate competency in one foreign language.
- Ph.D. candiates in ancient history require two modern foreign languages, as well as the relevant ancient languages.
- Ph.D. candidates in Middle Eastern history must possess a sound foundation in reading Arabic or Turkish (Ottoman Turkish or modern Turkish) as a requirement for admission to the program. Reading competence in two languages in addition to English is required before advancement to candidacy: the regional language Arabic or Turkish above, and a modern European language (other than English) related to the major field of specialization.
Additional languages appropriate to the special field of study as well as language requirements for a candidate in fields other than those already mentioned, may be required by the Graduate Committee in consultation with the student's major field adviser.
Students may satisfy the foreign language requirement in one
of the following ways:
(a) By completing, with a grade of B- or better in each term, a two year
language sequence from the student's undergraduate institution. Such a
sequence must have been completed within two years of the time the request
is made to the Graduate Committee for certification of competency.
(b) By completing, while a graduate student, a two-year, lower-division sequence in the language approved by the Graduate Committee, with a satisfactory (S) grade in each term.
(c) By completing, while a graduate student, a one-year
upper-division sequence in the language approved by the Graduate Committee, with a satisfactory (S) grade in each term.
(d) By passing a translation examination administered by the department. (This is the only option available for Chinese and Japanese.) A
faculty examiner chooses a text that is approximately 3-4 paragraphs, and historical in nature. Students are given two hours to take the exam, and are permitted the use of a dictionary. The criteria for evaluation are somewhat subjective, but will focus on the grasp of meaning and concepts, rather than word for word translation. Exams will also be offered twice a year, once in the fall quarter and once in the spring quarter. Students may also petition the graduate coordinator to take them at an alternate time. At the beginning of the fall and spring quarters, the graduate coordinator will poll students about their intentions to be tested, and will schedule an exam time, usually in the sixth week of classes.
Students are urged to complete at least one foreign language examination by the end of the first year of study and must do so by the beginning of the third year of study. Failure to meet this requirement is grounds for denial of financial support. No student may take the oral qualifying examination before completing all language requirements.
Part-time Study
Students who enroll in fewer than twelve graduate or upper-division units per quarter are considered part-time students. Part-time study may be pursued in several master's programs and a few Ph.D. programs at UCSD. Approval for individual students to enroll on a part-time basis may be given for reasons of employment, family responsibilities, or health. Individuals who are interested in part-time study and meet the department's qualifications should see the Graduate Coordinator. Part-time students must satisfy the same admission requirements as full-time students and are eligible, at the discretion of the department, for 25 percent time teaching or research assistantships. Students who are approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies for enrollment in a program of half-time study or less (a maximum of six units) may be eligible for a reduction of fees. All other students pay the same fees as full-time students.
Nondiscrimination and Affirmative Action Policy
The University of California prohibits discrimination against or harassment of any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, physical or mental disability, medical condition (cancer-related or genetic characteristics), ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, or status as a covered veteran (special disabled veteran, Vietnam era veteran, or any other veteran who served on active duty during a war or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized). The University is also committed to creating and maintaining a community in which all person who participate in UCSD programs and activities can work and learn together iin an atmosphere free from all forms of harassment, exploitation, or intimidation, including sexual harassment.
This nondiscrimination policy covers admission and access to, and treatment and employment in, university programs and activities, including but not limited to, academic admission, financial aid, educational services, and employment of faculty, staff, and students. Inquiries regarding the University's student-related nondiscrimination policies may be directed to (858) 534-4370.
