About the Ph.D. Program in German Studies
The Ph.D. in German Studies provides extensive training in 20th and 21st –century German literature and film. Through course work and research papers students develop a broad knowledge of primary materials and the evolving methods of literary analysis. The Ph.D. dissertation is an independent research project carried out under the guidance of the student’s Ph.D. committee, resulting in a major piece of work that lays the ground for future projects and publications. Selected course offerings in related departments enhance the core curriculum in German Studies, enabling students to pursue courses of study that prepare them to teach and to conduct research in interdisciplinary contexts.
What do students do with a Ph.D. degree in German Studies?
The majority of students who graduate from the department of German Studies with a Ph.D. obtain university teaching positions. Our students have been extremely successful in obtaining competitive positions and embarking on rewarding careers in academia.
What are the requirements for a Ph.D. in German Studies?
To receive a Ph.D. in German Studies, students must complete 135 graduate credits and successfully pass the Ph.D Exam. For general rules see the UC Graduate School website. PhD-students typically pursue 4-5 quarters of course work before advancing to candidacy and completing an independent research project.
Course Requirements:
- 1 Research Seminar (2 quarter sequence)
- reading knowledge in one foreign language other than German
- approved elective courses to fulfill credit hour requirements
The foreign language requirement must be fulfilled prior to the Candidacy Exam by enrollment in a minimum of three quarters in the foreign language or by completion of an equivalency exam.
Candidacy Exams
The Candidacy Exam tests the student’s knowledge of major primary works, and mastery of primary and scholarly works in two areas of specialization, including the proposed dissertation research field.
In preparation for the exam, Ph.D. students may sign up for 12 credits of “Independent Readings” with their dissertation chair and committee members prior to or during the quarter in which they are scheduled to take the exam. Student and advisors will meet regularly during this period to discuss progress toward the exam and to compile the individualized reading lists.
Ph.D. students select a dissertation advisor and at least one additional member of the dissertation committee at least one quarter prior to the candidacy exam.
MA Exam Reading List
The candidacy exam is based upon three reading lists: (1) a Dissertation Research List is compiled by the student in close cooperation with the dissertation advisor and which consists of approximately 25 titles pertinent to the dissertation and should include primary as well as secondary sources; (2) a Field List, which is compiled by the student in close cooperation with a member of the dissertation committee other than the dissertation advisor in an area that is distinct from the dissertation topic; and (3) a Core List of 60 texts supplied by the department.
Written Exams
Students write a three-hour exam on each of the three lists. These exams are to be taken within one week. Upon completion of all three exams, the student and all examiners meet for a colloquium whose purpose it is to provide feedback on the written exam and to discuss dissertation plans.
Dissertation Proposal
Three months after the oral examination the student submits a proposal to the committee for detailed discussion. The proposal includes a) a general description of the dissertation project, b) an outline of individual chapters, c) a timetable; the document should have a length of between 10 and 15 pages.
Ph.D. students who have successfully passed their qualifying exams sign up for 12 credits per quarter of Doctoral Research with their thesis advisor.
PhD Defense
A 2-hour oral defense of the candidate’s completed PhD dissertation, to be scheduled only with approval of the PhD advisor. Typically, the candidate will present a 20-minute lecture of the dissertation project, followed by a question and answer session.
PhD Exam Departmental Reading List
The departmental reading list for the MA exam consists of major works of German literature and film from the Middle Ages to the 21st century.
Literature:
- Nibelungenlied
- Hartmann von Aue
- Wolfram von Eschenbach
- Gottfried von Straßburg
- Walther von der Vogelweide
- Historia von D. Johann Fausten (Reclam 1516)
- Gryphius, selected sonnets
- Grimmelshausen. Simplicissimus I (Reclam 761)
- Lessing, Gotthold Ephraim. Nathan der Weise
- Lenz, Jakob Reinhold Michael. Der Hofmeister
- Schiller, Friedrich. Wilhelm Tell
- Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von. Die Wahlverwandtschaften
- Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von. Faust II
- Kleist, Heinrich von. Die Verlobung von Santo Domingo; Das Erdbeben in Chile
- Schlegel, Friedrich. Lucinde
- Schlegel, Dorothea. Florentin
- Novalis, Heinrich von Ofterdingen
- Hoffmann, E. T. A. Der Sandmann.
- Büchner, Georg. Dantons Tod
- Fontane, Theodor. Irrungen, Wirrungen
- Raabe, Wilhelm. Stopfkuchen
- Kafka, Franz. Der Prozess
- Mann, Thomas. Der Zauberberg
- Döblin, Alfred. Berlin Alexanderplatz
- Benjamin, Walter. Das Kunstwerk im Zeitalter seiner technischen Reproduzierbarkeit
- Brecht, Bertolt. Das Leben des Galilei
- Keun, Irmgard. Das kunstseidene Mädchen
- Horkheimer/Adorno. Dialektik der Aufklärung
- Böll, Heinrich. Billiard um halbzehn
- Grass, Günter. Die Blechtrommel
- Weiss, Peter. Die Ermittlung
- Hochhut, Rolf. Der Stellvertreter
- Dürrenmatt, Friedrich. Die Physiker
- Johnson, Uwe. Mutmassungen über Jakob
- Bachmann, Ingeborg. Malina
- Wolf, Christa. Kassandra
- Hein, Christoph. Horns Ende
- Frisch, Max. Homo Faber
- Müller, Heiner. Germania, Tod in Berlin
- Sebald, W. G. Austerlitz
- Özdamar, Emine Sevgi. Die Brücke vom Goldenen Horn
- Dückers, Tanja. Spielzone
- Schneider, Peter. Eduards Heimkehr
- Schulze, Ingo, Simple Storys
- Duve, Karen. Regenroman
- Maron, Monika. Pawels Briefe
- Timm, Uwe. Am Beispiel meines Bruders
- Jelinek, Elfriede. Wolken. Heim
- Kehlmann, Daniel. Die Vermessung der Welt
- Echtermeyer/von Wiese: Familiarity with all of the poets and selected poems
Film:
- F.W. Murnau. Nosferatu
- Walter Ruttmann. Berlin: Die Symphonie der Großstadt
- Josef von Sternberg. Der blaue Engel
- Veit Harlan. Jud Süß
- Josef von Baky. Münchhausen
- Wolfgang Staudte. Die Mörder sind unter uns
- Margarethe von Trotta. Die bleierne Zeit
- Heiner Carow. Die Legende von Paul und Paula
- Werner Herzog. Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes
- Wim Wenders. Der Himmel über Berlin
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