| Print |

about the m.a. program

 

The M.A. is awarded in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Ph.D. The department does not admit students who wish to work solely towards the master’s degree.


The four requirements for the M.A. degree include the following:

Satisfaction of the first language requirement.
Successful completion of AH 200 with a grade of “B+” or better.
Nine graduate and upper division courses (36 units) completed while in the program. At least six of those courses (24 units) must be at the graduate level, including four graduate seminars. AH 200 may be counted towards the required six courses.
Successful completion of a qualifying paper (approximately 30 pgs) according to the standards outlined below.


    The nine required courses must include at least two courses from Group A and two courses from Group B noted below.

    Distribution Requirement for the M.A.

    Group A 

    Group  B

    1. American

    7. African

    2. Greek and Roman

    8. Chinese

    3. Latin American

    9. Islamic

    4. Medieval & Byzantine

    10. Japanese

    5. Modern/Contemporary Europe & America

    11. Korean

    6. Renaissance & Baroque

    12. Pre-Columbian

     

    13. South & Southeast Asian

     

     

    M.A. Advising

    • The student will be assigned an advisor on admission to the program. Each advisor is responsible for the student's course of study and must be consulted at least once each quarter. A change of advisor(s) and/or change in field(s) must be approved by the Graduate Review Committee.

    • The role of the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) is to offer intellectual guidance, approve any exceptions to the program requirements, and adjudicate disputes between a student and his/her advisor. The DGS further serves as chair of the Graduate Review Committee, which also governs the admissions process.

    • The role of the Student Affairs Officer (SAO) is to assist with all the administrative aspects of moving through the program.

    M.A. Qualifying Paper

    • The qualifying paper will be approximately 30 pages in length (excluding footnotes, images, and bibliography) and should demonstrate the ability 1) to formulate a thesis 2) to carry an extended argument, and 3) to conduct original research.

    Review Process for Qualifying Paper

    • By middle of the winter quarter (usually early February), the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) will contact each student to begin appointing a committee of three faculty readers for the qualifying papers, one of which is the student’s advisor. 

    • At least one of these appointees will have had no classroom experience with the student. All students may suggest potential readers; however, the DGS will balance the student’s request against the need for assigning faculty workload in an equitable manner.

    • The qualifying paper is due by the first day of instruction of the spring quarter.

    • At this time, the essays will be distributed to the three readers. Each reader will complete the Department evaluation form on the essay, and submit their response to the SAO within three weeks.

    • By the fourth week of the spring quarter, the SAO will make available the papers with the reader’s comments to the student. The latter will become part of the student’s permanent file. 

    • In most cases, the Graduate Review Committee will agree to award the M.A. and permit the student to continue the Ph.D. program. In some cases, the committee may recommend that the student receive the M.A. degree but discontinue further graduate study. It is also possible (although rare) that the student's work may not be judged adequate to receive the M.A.

     

    Timeline and Steps for Completion of MA

    • By the end of the fall quarter of the second year, select one of your class essays to revise and expand as your qualifying paper. 

    • Then, in the winter quarter, enroll for 4 units of 598 (RSRCH-MASTER THESIS) in order to work on the essay under the supervision of your advisor. 

    • Submit three copies of the qualifying paper to the Student Affairs Officer (SAO) by the first day of instruction of the spring quarter, along with a list of the three readers assigned to review the essay.

    • Prior to the third week of the spring quarter, complete the “Petition for Advancement to Candidacy for the Master’s Degree” (provided by and returned to the SAO). 

    • After your qualifying paper has been accepted, you must file the formatted thesis by the Monday of the tenth week of the spring quarter.

    • Qualifying papers must be formatted according to the Graduate Division guidelines for M.A. theses available at (http://www.gdnet.ucla.edu/gasaa/library/thesisintro.htm). Workshops on thesis formatting are also offered at the beginning of each fall and winter quarters see meetings for manuscript preparation at Grad Division website. 

    • Following the Department’s annual spring review of graduate students, you will be asked to complete the final form for transfer from the M.A. to the Ph.D. program to be submitted to the SAO.