Year 1: Requirements, Expectations & Deadlines
Updated October 2023
Program Emphasis
During the first year in the PhD Program, students should acquire the breadth of knowledge foundational to PhD-level work. In this timeframe, students come to know the faculty, their research areas and methods. During the first year, students are expected to take nine courses and have a 50% TA position (or other form of financial support). If available, students may be able to enroll in a 4-unit 500-level course connected to their TA position, which typically includes pedagogical training and related coursework. NOTE: 500-level courses do not apply to the PhD Worksheet requirements.
In the course of these seminars, students will complete the required theory sequence. LTTH 210A and LTTH 210B must be taken in the first year, while LTTH 210C may be taken in the Spring Quarter of the first, second, or third year. During the first two years of study, students should make every effort to complete the language and historical breadth requirements, leaving the third year free to devote to seminar work, more focused study, and preparing for the qualifying examinations.
Course Requirements (Year 1)
| Fall (1st Quarter) | Winter (2nd Quarter) | Spring (3rd Quarter) |
|---|---|---|
| LTTH 210A | LTTH 210B | LTTH 210C (or another Grad seminar) |
| Grad Seminar | Grad Seminar | Grad Seminar |
| 500-level Course or Grad Seminar | 500-level Course or Grad Seminar | 500-level Course or Grad Seminar |
Additional Expectations & Deadlines
First Quarter:
- Attend the PhD Orientation.
- Meet with the DDS and your First-Year Faculty Mentor
- Add Fall Quarter courses and planned Winter Quarter courses to your PhD Requirements Worksheet, and email it to the advising staff at litgrad@ucsd.edu as soon as Winter registration begins. Advising staff will confirm that your courses are approved to apply where you have them listed, as well as confirm if you are staying on track (or if there are any petitions you need to file or different course choices you may need to consider).
Second Quarter:
- Add planned Spring Quarter courses to your PhD Requirements Worksheet, and email it to the advising staff at litgrad@ucsd.edu as soon as Spring registration begins. Advising staff will confirm that your courses are approved to apply where you have them listed, as well as confirm if you are staying on track (or if there are any petitions you need to file or different course choices you may need to consider).
- Meet with the DDS and your First-Year Faculty Mentor
- Complete annual Spring Evaluation self-assessment (March).
Third Quarter:
- Add planned Fall Quarter courses to your PhD Requirements Worksheet, and email it to the advising staff at litgrad@ucsd.edu as soon as Fall registration begins. Advising staff will confirm that your courses are approved to apply where you have them listed, as well as confirm if you are staying on track (or if there are any petitions you need to file or different course choices you may need to consider).
- Meet with the DDS and your First-Year Faculty Mentor
- Review and sign annual Spring Evaluation (May).
- Prepare to file for California residency reclassification, if applicable.