Frequently Asked Questions
How hard it is to be admitted to your program?
We receive anywhere from 100-150 applications for 10 places each year. Please refer to the other pages in this category for further information.
What kind of applicant are you looking for?
Please see the discussion on the Admissions Requirements and Tips page.
What are the program requirements?
A student’s total program for the Ph.D. degree must include a minimum of 64 units of graduate courses and seminars relevant to teaching and research in his or her areas of emphasis. These units include the first year required core seminar series (CST 200 A-C), the Research Seminar (CST 250), and the Directed Research series (CST 270 A-C). The student must also pass a preliminary exam at the end of the first year. In addition, the student must take 6 units of Cultural Studies Colloquium over 6 quarters, pass a foreign language requirement, produce a satisfactory dissertation prospectus, pass a qualifying examination, produce a satisfactory dissertation, and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 throughout all graduate work at U.C. Davis. For further details, please see the handbook linked to this website.
How long is the Ph.D. program?
Time to degree in interdisciplinary Ph.D. programs in the humanities and social sciences varies but is rarely less than 5 and often more than 7 years. If a student makes the most efficient progress through the program, the required courses and qualifying examination leading to advancement to candidacy could take 3 academic years. Thereafter, dissertation research and writing could take from one year (that would be unusually swift) to any number of further years (usually 2-4). Check the UCD Graduate Studies website for further information on “normative time.”
Do I need an M.A. degree?
No. Although, in general, students who hold an M.A. degree can make more speedy progress through the program since they arrive with more advanced education “under their belt” and they usually have more focus in relation to their dissertation project. An M.A. degree is excellent preparation for a PhD program. On the other hand, we have many outstanding students who have not obtained an M.A. It is not required.
Do you recognize M.A.’s from other programs?
Typically, we do not recognize M.A. degrees from other institutions as substitution for our required units. We appreciate the training and experience that an M.A. from another program provides an applicant but we cannot waive our requirements.
Are you admitting students to your M.A. program?
At the present moment, we re not accepting applications to the M.A. program. We wish we could admit more students to our M.A. program as well as to our PhD program. The two kinds of programs require different amounts of resources. In conventional departments, an M.A. program admits a larger number of students who aim for the M.A. degree alone. If a few of these students wish to continue on to the Ph.D. they must apply for a new degree objective and risk being denied. Although we have a large number of affiliated faculty in our graduate group, because we are not a department, we have limited resources for staffing seminars and degree-related committees. We also have limited financial support for our students. Thus, we have chosen to use our resources to support the Ph.D. program as strongly as we can. We are one of the few Ph.D. programs in our field in the world. We want to make sure that we do as good a job as we can in that endeavor.
Can I be admitted to your program in Winter or Spring quarter?
We admit in the fall quarter only.
How do I pay for Graduate School?
How to complete a Ph.D. without going deeply into debt is a subject that interests everyone who considers graduate studies. Our program does not have its own fellowships so our students tend to rely on two types of support; 1) Teaching Assistantships and Readerships and, 2) University of California or UC Davis Fellowships or external fellowships awarded by research libraries and foundations. Our program does not have its own undergraduate program so most of our students support themselves by working as TA’s (teaching assistants) in other programs and departments up to 3 quarters per year. Fee remission and other benefits accompany teaching and research assistantships. Summer support is usually not available. Typically, out of state tuition waivers are offered to incoming students who are not state residents (depending on our block grant allotment). We ask all out of state students to register as California residents after the first year (although international students are not eligible to do so and will need to pay the out of state tuition outright for the duration of their graduate studies or our program will have to pay for the waiver out of our block grant—this is on a case by case basis). For external sources of funding, students should consult the following sources: Annual Register of Grant Support, Peterson’s Financial Register for International Study, The Graduate Scholarship Book: The Complete Guide to Scholarships, Fellowships, Grants, and Loans for Graduate and Professional Study. Check the UC Davis Graduate Studies website for more detailed and helpful information, especially their Graduate Student Handbook at http://gradstudies.ucdavis.edu/students/handbook.
What will my education cost exactly and how much are teaching assistants paid?
In Fall 2009 in-state, full-time fees will rise to $3826.55 per quarter ($11,520.65 for the year). Tuition for nonresidents is an additional $4,898.00 per quarter ($14,694.00 for the year). Teaching assistantship salary for 2008-09 is $3697.11 monthly (at 40 hours per week). TAs are generally hired at 50%, or 20 hours per week. TA salary for 50% employment is $1848.50.
A graduate student working as a Graduate Student Researcher is eligible for a remission of all in-state and nonresident fees. (Effective Fall 2004, this will also include nonresident tuition.) Teaching titles such as TA, Reader, Associate Instructor, and Tutor receive a full remission of their health insurance/student services health fee, registration, and educational fees. Local fees, including GSA fee, Memorial Union fee, facilities and campus enhancement fee, and student services safety fee, are not included in the fee remission. (For up-to-date information on fees, see http//www.ormp.ucdavis.edu/studentfees/.) A minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA is required to hold an academic appointment. What does this boil down to? If you are a state resident, working as a TA each quarter with all possible reductions, your remaining fees will be approximately $215.00 per quarter.
FYI: As a graduate student you may work a total of 15 quarters as a Graduate Student Researcher and a total of 15 quarters as a Teaching Assistant or Associate Instructor. You may be appointed up to 18 quarters in either category by exception to policy. The 18-quarter limit is absolute and no exceptions will be granted. A minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA is required to hold an academic appointment.
Do you accept international students?
Our campus values greatly the participation of international students in our graduate programs and we welcome such applications. However, many financial aid programs are limited to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. International students pay out state tuition throughout the duration of their degree program. However, after advancing to candidacy (usually in the third or fourth year of the program), tuition is reduced by 75 percent. We recommend that international applicants apply to their government for support.
Is it possible to participate in the program on a part-time basis?
On occasion we admit a student on a part-time basis, who, for reasons of occupation, family responsibility, or health is not able to attend full-time. At present, resident part-time students pay the full registration fee and one-half the educational fee. Nonresident students pay these fees plus one-half of the nonresident tuition. Because it is very challenging to complete required Ph.D. level course work on a part-time basis, students need to present a very strong and compelling case for this request.
Please note that for purposes of student employment and internal funding (fellowships, block grants, etc.), only full-time students (meaning enrolled in 12 units or more) are eligible.
Do I have to be in residence?
Yes. For at least the first 3 years (until you complete your required course work), you must attend seminars and participate in required program activities. After you advance to candidacy, you may conduct your dissertation research anywhere (although you must pay filing fees, etc. as required by Graduate Studies).
What is a Graduate Group? Is it different than a department?
A graduate group is an interdisciplinary graduate entity that confers an advanced degree above the B.A. Initially formed to combine the talents and skills of faculty and students from a variety of broad areas in order to offer specialties in an interdepartmental subject, graduate groups have grown in size and importance at UC Davis. The graduate group structure provides flexibility in forging intellectual inquiries by facilitating combinations of faculty and students that a disciplinary departmental structure might not make possible. However, it is important to keep in mind that the affiliated faculty in a graduate group all hold appointments in other home departments and programs and their ability to contribute to the graduate group may vary over time.
What can I do with a Ph.D. in Cultural Studies?
The answer to this question depends upon the personal goals of the student. Most people pursue a Ph.D. degree in order to continue on an academic career path. Most permanent teaching positions in 4 year universities and colleges require a Ph.D. as a condition of employment (or proof that the degree is almost complete). Dissertations in our field can lead to drafts of book manuscripts that can be considered for academic (and rarely, but occasionally, commercial) publication and such publications are also required in the academic career path. Ph.D.’s are also employed by governmental and non-governmental organizations. There are many possible choices for a degree holder. But it is important to consider your long-term goals very carefully before embarking on this process. The academic (and non-academic) job market is very uncertain and the long years involved in the pursuit of the Ph.D. require sacrifices and commitment on the part of student as well as, in many cases, the extended family. We offer training and resources to help our students enter the academic and non-academic job market but this long-term process is not for the faint of heart! On the other hand, don’t let the uncertainty discourage you. With realistic expectations, hard work, and good mentoring, most Ph.D.s in interdisciplinary fields find the kind of work they are seeking after they finish their degrees. Interdisciplinary training and lots of TA experience gives our graduates a lot to offer any number of programs and departments.
What are your placement percentages?
Our program admitted its first class in 2000 so we only have 13 graduates to date. Two of our graduates are employed as full-time, tenure track professors, one of our graduates is working full-time at a museum, and one is working full-time as an arts director. As we graduate more Ph.D.’s in larger numbers, we will post statistics.
Why can’t I reach you on the phone or receive a response by e-mail? Can I make an appointment to see faculty in their offices during the summer/winter break, etc?
We make every effort to answer inquiries quickly. Here is some information that might help you understand the occasional time when you might encounter a delay of some kind:
- We are a small program. The office is open year round but there are always times when our staff person has to attend meetings or be out of the office for work-related business. We recommend contacting us by e-mail at
- Our staff person--our program coordinator—is highly trained and extremely well-informed. But she is only one person. Her time is very valuable. If you make an appointment to visit the program, she will be more than happy to meet with you. But please do not plan on an appointment longer than 15-20 minutes. Make sure you check the website sources of information first and come with specific questions.
- Faculty in research universities use the time when classes are not in session to conduct their own research and writing and they are not required to hold office hours at those times (although many faculty will be happy to see you if they are around and working in their offices). If you need to contact faculty, try e-mailing them first but expect that between the end of June and the end of September or between mid-December and the first week of January, you may not receive a reply.
For program information:
- Read the website thoroughly
- E-mail or make a short appointment with the program coordinator
- E-mail faculty first to make an appointment unless they have posted office hours during the time period of your visit or call
- If referred to the program chair or one of the graduate advisers, please e-mail first if classes are not in session
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding. We are eager to provide you with information about our program and we are happy to answer your questions. We appreciate your interest in the Cultural Studies Graduate Group at UC Davis.