The graduate programs in German at UCI combine innovation with a solid foundation in traditional approaches. The course of study focuses on both the German literary tradition and foreign language pedagogy, with the goal of integrating works of literature, philosophy, and art into pertinent cultural, theoretical, and historical contexts in teaching and research. UC Irvine has a decades-long reputation for excellence in the study of Critical Theory, having placed first in most rankings, and the campus provides a learning context that encourages students to push the boundaries of thinking in their discipline.
Students may apply to either the M.A. program or the Ph.D. program, but only students applying to the Ph.D. program can be admitted with fellowship funding. Students with a B.A. may apply directly to the Ph.D. program and receive fellowship support, but their official advancement into the Ph.D.program is contingent upon successful completion of the M.A. before or during the second year of study. Students who already hold the M.A. degree are also encouraged to apply to the Ph.D. program.
The Ph.D. program is organized to encourage completion within five years, and there is special funding and potential employment available for those who do finish in five years. A student arriving with a B.A. normally will require three years to complete course work for the Ph.D. and qualify for advancement to candidacy. A student arriving with an M.A. will normally require two years to advance to candidacy. Most of the course work is done within the Department, but students are encouraged to broaden their studies by taking related courses in other departments in the School of Humanities, such as comparative literature, critical theory, feminist theory, or visual studies; other combinations of courses may be selected in consultation with the graduate advisor. Our innovative exam structure (involving course-syllabus development) and post-exam timeline are designed both to expedite progress to degree and to enhance the professional training of our students.
For students who enter with normal academic preparation and pursue a full-time program of study, the normative time to degree for the Ph.D. is six years or less.