Cultural Studies Department
Handbook:
A guide to Departmental Policies and Procedures
Degree requirements for Cultural Studies students are governed by the program information
published in the archived Bulletin and the Department Handbook for the academic year in which
a student began coursework at the University.
Updated 8/21/2012.
Contents
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1
General Information for New and Continuing Students ................................................................. 1
Mail ............................................................................................................................................. 1
Student ID Cards ......................................................................................................................... 1
Information Technology ............................................................................................................. 1
Email ....................................................................................................................................... 2
Student Portal .......................................................................................................................... 2
Sakai ........................................................................................................................................ 2
Staff and Faculty Contact Information ....................................................................................... 2
CGU/CUC Resources ................................................................................................................. 2
Registration and Degree Forms .................................................................................................. 2
Certificate Programs ................................................................................................................... 3
General Policies and Procedures ..................................................................................................... 3
Academic Honesty ...................................................................................................................... 3
Satisfactory Academic Progress ................................................................................................. 3
Incomplete Grades ...................................................................................................................... 4
Program Requirements.................................................................................................................... 4
Advising/Registration ................................................................................................................. 4
Research Tools (Methods Courses and Language Exams) ......................................................... 5
Research Methods Courses ..................................................................................................... 5
The Language Exam ............................................................................................................... 6
Courses ........................................................................................................................................ 6
300-Level Courses .................................................................................................................. 6
Writing Course ........................................................................................................................ 6
Transdisciplinary Studies Courses .......................................................................................... 7
Undergraduate Courses and Independent Studies................................................................... 7
Concentrations ............................................................................................................................ 8
Media Studies.......................................................................................................................... 8
Museum Studies ...................................................................................................................... 8
Internships ................................................................................................................................... 8
Degree Changes .......................................................................................................................... 9
M.A. to Ph.D. OR Conditional Ph.D. to Full Standing Ph.D. Student ................................... 9
Transferring Credits .................................................................................................................. 10
Specific Requirements – M.A. in Cultural Studies ................................................................... 10
Courses .................................................................................................................................. 10
M.A. Final Paper ................................................................................................................... 10
Alternative M.A. Projects ..................................................................................................... 11
Other M.A. Requirements ..................................................................................................... 12
M.A. on the way to a Ph.D.................................................................................................... 12
Specific Requirements – Ph.D. in Cultural Studies .................................................................. 12
Courses .................................................................................................................................. 12
Other Requirements .............................................................................................................. 13
Qualifying Exams ................................................................................................................. 13
Dissertation Proposal ............................................................................................................ 17
Dissertation ........................................................................................................................... 19
Forms .................................................................................................................................... 19
Additional Policies, Procedures and Resources ............................................................................ 19
Funding and Financial Support ................................................................................................. 19
Letters of Recommendation ...................................................................................................... 20
IRB ............................................................................................................................................ 20
Writing Center .......................................................................................................................... 20
Appendices .................................................................................................................................... 21
Appendix I: Internship Advising Goals, Policies, and Procedures ........................................... 21
Internship Advising ............................................................................................................... 21
Museum Studies Internships ................................................................................................. 21
Media Studies Internships ..................................................................................................... 21
Appendix II: Internship Student Agreement Form ................................................................... 25
Appendix III: Internship Evaluation Form ............................................................................... 27
Appendix IV: Cultural Studies Department: Sample Letter for Advancement from M.A. to
Ph.D. and Ph.D. Conditional to Ph.D. ...................................................................................... 29
Appendix V: Cultural Studies Department: Master’s Program Checklist ................................ 30
Appendix VI: Cultural Studies Department: Doctoral Program Checklist ............................... 31
Appendix VII: Cultural Studies Department: Plan for Qualifying Examinations .................... 33
Appendix VIII: Advising/Registration FAQs ........................................................................... 34
Appendix IX: Interfolio FAQs .................................................................................................. 36
Introduction
The purpose of this handbook for the Cultural Studies Department is to provide new and
continuing students with information about policies, procedures, and degree requirements for the
M.A. and Ph.D. programs in the Cultural Studies Department, which are not included or
explained in detail in the CGU Bulletin or on the CGU or School of Arts and Humanities (SAH)
websites. Each student’s program requirements are governed by the CGU Bulletin and the
Cultural Studies Department Handbook published during the first year of enrollment. This
handbook is, therefore, an essential guide and supplement for obtaining a degree in Cultural
Studies at CGU.
Please note that most of the information students need in order to complete their degree at CGU
can be found on the website. Therefore, it is extremely important to become familiar with both
the CGU and SAH websites, especially the Student Services webpage. On this site, students can
find important links to resources for student life and academic policies and procedures (i.e. the
academic calendar, student health services, the writing center, IT help desk, forms for
completing a degree, etc.). Additionally, the SAH website contains important information, such
as contact information for all SAH faculty and staff, an event calendar, and links to special
resources for SAH students. While much important information is available on the CGU
website, the SAH office and staff always welcome students’ questions. The office is located at
121 East 10th Street and is open from 8:30 – 5:30, Monday through Friday (except for major
holidays). The main phone number for the office is 909-621-8612.
General Information for New and Continuing Students
Mail
Students may occasionally receive mail and/or packages at the Arts & Humanities office if
necessary. Students will be notified via their CGU email account if any packages or mail arrives
for them.
Student ID Cards
The Claremont Card Center provides ID card services for The Claremont Colleges. Students should visit
the Card Center located in the CUC Connection office in the South Entrance of Honnold Library during
their first week of class as they will need this card for various services at CGU, including many library
services. There is no charge for an initial ID card. The Card Center also manages the Claremont Cash
program. Claremont Cash can be used to purchase both food and non-food items throughout The
Claremont Colleges, as well as local merchants in and around Claremont. All students, faculty, and staff
of The Claremont Colleges have a Claremont Cash account established as soon as their ID card is created.
Funds may be deposited into an account via the Card Center’s website or office. For more information
about the Claremont Cash, students can visit the website at https://cards.cuc.claremont.edu/.
Information Technology
CGU and the Claremont University Consortium (CUC) offer many technological tools for
students, including campus-wide wireless internet access, email, online access to student
accounts, grades, and class schedules, web-based instructional tools, and the ability to request
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and/or rent technical equipment for special events or classes. Information about these services,
including answers to frequently asked questions can be found on CGU’s Office of Information
Technology webpage, http://www.cgu.edu/pages/260.asp.
Email
Every student at CGU is given an email account. It is extremely important for students to check
their CGU email accounts regularly. CGU and the SAH office will only send email to CGU email
accounts in order to comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Many
courses require work done by e-mail, and many professors distribute course information by this
medium. Account information is provided to each student at the New Student Orientation. If you
cannot attend orientation please see Susan Hampson to collect your orientation packet, which
includes network account information. Note: It is possible to forward CGU email to a different
email account. Instructions for doing this may be found at the following Office of Information
Technology webpage http://www.cgu.edu/pages/260.asp.
Student Portal
It is extremely important that students check and use their Student Portals. The Student
Portal is the main way for students to register for classes, check their grades, check their
academic progress, view their student account, and make changes to their personal
information, such as addresses and phone numbers. The Student Portal may be accessed at
the following web address, https://my.cgu.edu. Login information for the Student Portal is
provided to students after the first time they register either via U.S. Mail or at New Student
Orientation. For help logging on or for a new username and/or password, please contact the
Office of Information Technology (OIT).
Sakai
Sakai is a course management tool used by all of the Claremont Colleges. Many professors
use this tool for their courses to post syllabi and readings and/or to facilitate online
discussions for their classes. Sakai can be accessed at the following web address,
https://sakai.claremont.edu. Logon information is identical to that used to access the
Student Portal.
Staff and Faculty Contact Information
For a complete and current listing of Arts and Humanities Faculty and Staff contact and/or
biographical information, please visit the School of Arts and Humanities website at
www.cgu.edu/sah.
CGU/CUC Resources
For a list of current student resources at CGU, please visit either the School of Arts and
Humanities website at www.cgu.edu/sah or the main CGU website under “Current Students” at
http://www.cgu.edu/pages/104.asp, as well as on the Claremont University Consortium (CUC)
website, www.cuc.claremont.edu. Examples of resources that students can find on these sites are
funding opportunities, career services, health services, the library, information technology, and
many more.
Registration and Degree Forms
There are important forms that students will need to complete their degree requirements at CGU,
such as registration forms, the Intent to Receive a Degree Form, and the Final Approval Form
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(M.A./Certificate). Electronic versions of most of these forms can be found on the Office of
Student Records/Registrar webpage, http://www.cgu.edu/pages/179.asp.
Certificate Programs
The School of Arts and Humanities offers several Certificate Programs, which students can earn
concurrently with the degree for which they are enrolled. For more information about these
certificate options and their requirements, please see the Certificate section of the Bulletin.
General Policies and Procedures
CGU’s policies and procedures are available through the Student Services webpage. Some of
these policies include Academic Honesty, Sexual Harassment, Student Rights and
Responsibilities, and Satisfactory Academic Progress. Students should familiarize themselves
with these policies. The Cultural Studies Department has made additions to some of these CGU
policies, which are explained below.
Academic Honesty
The Standards of Academic Honesty for CGU can be found in the Bulletin along with the
procedures for dealing with violations. Plagiarism is an academic crime that is taken especially
seriously in this department and, if discovered, our faculty will recommend the most serious
sanctions that are appropriate to the case. Students must familiarize themselves with the
definition of plagiarism and, if they have any doubts or questions, it is their responsibility to ask
their professor to make sure that they are citing their sources correctly. In addition to the
guidelines listed in the Standards of Academic Honesty, the Cultural Studies Department
considers the multiple submission of written work for courses as an issue of academic integrity.
It is improper to submit the work done for one class or project to a second class or as a second
project without first getting the informed permission of both instructors. Some instructors allow
overlapping work between courses. In such cases, students must obtain the agreement of all
relevant instructors.
Satisfactory Academic Progress
The Cultural Studies Department adheres to the General Requirements for Satisfactory
Academic Progress (SAP) as outlined in the Bulletin with the following additions:
SAP refers to maintaining an appropriate (as distinct from minimally acceptable) academic
record and reaching the various stages of progress in the department at or near the time expected
of the majority of students. In addition, students must demonstrate a level of research and writing
ability and class performance appropriate to the standards of graduate study. Cases of students
not maintaining satisfactory progress will be reviewed by the department advisor and department
director, who will take appropriate action.
M.A. students in the Cultural Studies Department are expected to maintain a minimum grade
point average of 3.0 (B) in all coursework taken at Claremont Graduate University, with no more
than two incomplete courses at any time. M.A. students with a GPA lower than the minimum
will not be granted a degree from the university. Ph.D. students are expected to maintain a
minimum grade point average of 3.3 (B+) in all coursework taken at Claremont Graduate
University, with no more than two incomplete courses at any time. Ph.D. students will not be
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allowed to move ahead to qualifying exams if their GPA is below 3.3. In addition, they must
must not have a grade lower than a B- in their coursework.
Failure to maintain the minimum standard for either M.A. or Ph.D. students will result in the
student being placed on academic probation for the following semester. Students placed on
probation who have not met the minimum standard by the end of the next semester are subject to
dismissal from the university by the department.
It is expected that students who have completed their course work for the Masters will complete
their additional degree requirements within a year. Students who have completed their
coursework for the Ph.D. are advised to complete their Qualifying Exams by the end of the
following term. Under exceptional circumstances, students may take up to two years to complete
their qualifying exams after finishing their coursework.
The department takes satisfactory progress into account in awarding financial support. Students
should also be aware that CGU maintains a policy on satisfactory academic policy for eligibility
for financial aid. Information is available through the Office of Student Financing.
Incomplete Grades
For the full university policy on Incomplete Grades, go to http://www.cgu.edu/pages/1240.asp.
A course instructor cannot submit a grade of I for a student unless the student has submitted an
“Incomplete Grade Submission and Student Contract for Course Completion form,” which must
be signed by the student and the instructor. This form will outline the requirements for finishing
the incomplete work for the course, including the deadline for submitting the incomplete work
and the grade that will be automatically assigned should the student fail to submit the required
work by the deadline. The deadline may not be later than one year from the date the original
grade was due.
Program Requirements
General Cultural Studies program requirements as well as CGU requirements are outlined in the
CGU Bulletin, which is updated yearly and is the official university publication which governs
degree requirements. The current Bulletin, as well as archived versions of it, may be found at the
following address, http://Bulletin.cgu.edu. However, specific Cultural Studies program
requirements such as advising, course distribution, and research tool options are not included in
the Bulletin. These are explained below.
Advising/Registration
When a student enters the Cultural Studies department, he or she will be assigned a department
advisor. The department advisor will oversee the student’s progress, even if the student selects a
separate faculty member to serve as advisor or chair for the M.A. research paper, qualifying
examinations, and/or doctoral dissertation. The department advisor will help students to design
an academic plan that is appropriate to his/her areas of interest and to ensure that s/he is meeting
all of the program requirements. If a student’s department advisor is on leave, the department
Chair will serve as their interim advisor until the regular advisor returns.
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Review of a student’s academic progress and program requirements by a faculty advisor is
required during the two-week mandatory advising period prior to registration each
semester. A registration hold will be placed on all accounts and will remain until students
receive approval from their advisor/chair. Students will be notified by email in advance of
the mandatory advising period each semester.
All students are responsible for checking in officially (in person, by email, or by
telephone) with their advisor or the chair of their department prior to registration
each semester. Students wishing to register for classes, continuous registration, or
doctoral study must first receive official approval from their advisor/chair. Only the
official approval by a faculty advisor may lift the registration hold on a student’s
account.
Students should take advantage of the mandatory advising period each semester to
talk to their advisors about course selection and planning, degree requirements,
final M.A. papers, qualifying exams, dissertation topics and procedures,
professionalization opportunities, and any other questions they may have about the
graduate school process.
Research Tools (Methods Courses and Language Exams)
CGU requires students to demonstrate proficiency in one research tool for M.A. students and two
research tools for the Ph.D. Research tools are understood as skills, methods and experiences
necessary for conducting graduate level research in a field. The Cultural Studies department
defines a research tool as either a foreign language or a range of research methods used in the
various fields that constitute Cultural Studies such as ethnography, oral history, archival
research, textual analysis or, in some cases, media production.
M.A. students in Cultural Studies are required to take one research methods class to fulfill their
research tool degree requirement. Ph.D. students are required to complete two research tools.
They must either pass a language translation exam and take one research methods course or they
may substitute a second research methods course in place of the language exam. Students must
earn at least a B in their Research Methods course in order to have it fulfill the requirement. All
research tools must be completed at CGU. CGU will not give credit for research tools (language
exams or methods courses) completed at a student’s previous institution.
Research Methods Courses
Below is a partial list of approved research methods courses for Cultural Studies. The
research tool(s) should be relevant to the student’s research – for example, if a student
intends to use oral history as a research tool, he or she may take Oral History 304. Students
may petition their academic advisor to substitute additional courses for the research tool
requirement. Research methods courses can also count toward degree units (this is not the
case in all CGU departments.) If a student took a research methods course at a previous
academic institution prior to beginning study at CGU s/he may be able to transfer the units
for that course, but s/he cannot use that course to fulfill the CGU research tool requirements.
Media studies students may take a media production course as one of their research tools,
but they must get prior approval from their advisor.
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Once a student has completed a Research Methods Course, s/he should fill out and submit a
“Report of Research Tool Accomplished” form
(http://www.cgu.edu/PDFFiles/Office%20of%20Records%20forms/Degree%20Completion/
ResearchTools.pdf) to be signed by his/her academic advisor. This can only be signed after
the course has been completed and a grade has been assigned. A good time to do this is
during the mandatory advising period held each semester.
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Field Methods in Cultural Studies
Visual Research Methods
Film Theory and Criticism
Introduction to Archival Studies (offered by the History Department)
Oral History (offered by the History Department)
Introduction to Literary Theory (offered by the English Department)
Digital Methods for Humanities Research (offered by the Humanities Department)
The Language Exam
The School of Arts and Humanities policy on foreign language Research Tools is: Fulfillment of
a language tool by demonstrating competency at translating an approved language into English-as distinct from completing another type of research tool (permitted by some SAH
departments)--can only be achieved by passing an approved, written examination. This applies
to all SAH students, including native speakers of the language under consideration. Details
about the language exam are outlined below.
The foreign language exam is offered four times per year by the SAH. For more
information, current exam dates, and to register, students should visit the “Students” page of
the SAH website or email the Arts and Humanities Program Assistant.
Courses
300-Level Courses
The Cultural Studies Department offers a number of courses, each assigned a 300-level
course number, which are designed to introduce students to the foundational texts, writers,
schools of thought, and disciplinary questions that make up the field of Cultural Studies.
These courses are offered by all the faculty members in the Cultural Studies Department on
a rotating basis, and at least one of these courses will be offered every semester. All students
are required to take three (3) of these courses during their coursework. Two of them must be
completed during their first year of full-time study. [policy change as of Fall 2012]
Writing Course
"Advanced Writing Workshop: MA Thesis, Dissertation Proposal and Publishing” is a
course that is open to students at every level of the program, but it is required for all M.A.
students. M.A. students must take this course only after they have completed 24 units of
coursework. It is recommended for them to take it in the Fall semester of their final year of
coursework. Students may take the course to help them complete their final M.A. paper,
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their dissertation proposal, a chapter of their dissertation or an article for publication.
Students should generally consider bringing one major project to complete during the
course. The course is conducted as a writing workshop, and students will be expected to
read and give feedback on other students’ work as well as submit drafts of their own
projects. The units for this course can be counted toward your final degree requirements.
[policy change as of Fall 2012]
Transdisciplinary Studies Courses
The Trandisciplinary Studies (TDNY) program offers a number of courses each semester
and during the summer that examine specific topics from the theoretical and methodological
perspective of a number of different fields. These courses tend to be larger, lecture-style
courses with students from all over the university. Final projects consist of collaborative
group assignments. All PhD students at CGU are required to take one TDNY course within
the first two years of coursework.
Undergraduate Courses and Independent Studies
Cultural Studies students may take any course offered at CGU. They may also take a limited
number of upper-level seminars offered at the Claremont Colleges. In addition to courses
offered by professors, students may organize a limited number of independent studies. All
such courses must be cleared with the student’s department advisor. Current course listings
and instructions for how to register can be found on the Student Services webpage. See
below for details and restrictions on course options.
Note: Doctoral students will be allowed to count up to 16 units of undergraduate level,
independent studies, and/or tutorial readings toward their degree. Any of these units
completed as part of an M.A. degree will be counted as part of the 16 unit quota. Masters
students may earn up to 8 such units.
Claremont Colleges Courses
Any courses taken at the Claremont Colleges must be upper-division courses. Students
must obtain permission to enroll from the course instructor with the understanding that
they would do additional coursework to bring the work up to graduate level. Students
must obtain a signature of approval from both the course instructor and their CGU
department advisor. Students should consult the Registrar’s webpage for instructions
on how to enroll in classes at the undergraduate Claremont Colleges and for the
appropriate form.
Students who are interested in taking a course at the Claremont Colleges should
consult with their Cultural Studies department advisor to make sure that it is an
appropriate course to take. The department advisor should also contact the Claremont
Colleges faculty first to make sure that the professor is familiar with CGU policies and
practices and to initiate the process on behalf of the student.
Independent Study Courses
Students may organize independent studies (taken for either 2 or 4 units) to pursue
specialized topics under the guidance of a professor. When an independent study
replaces a course, students must do an equivalent amount of reading and writing.
Students must complete the “Enrollment Contract and Registration Form for
Independent Coursework Credit” and attach a plan for the independent study signed by
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both the instructor and the student’s advisor. The plan should include a course
syllabus, a reading list, a description of scheduled meetings (at least one hour per week
for a 4-unit course), and a description of writing assignments. Detailed instructions
and the registration form for independent study classes can be found on the following
Registrar’s webpage, http://www.cgu.edu/pages/7405.asp.
Concentrations
The Cultural Studies Department offers two concentrations to M.A. and Ph.D. students: Media
Studies and Museum Studies. For specific requirements for these concentrations, please see
below.
Media Studies
12 units must be taken as approved Media Studies courses taught by faculty at CGU or the
Claremont Colleges. In addition, one of the student’s Research Methods Courses must be in
the field of Media Studies. Current approved Media Studies Research Methods courses
include Visual Research Methods, Film Theory and Criticism and Digital Methods for
Humanities Research. Students may also complete an optional internship.
Museum Studies
8 units must be taken as approved seminars in Museum Theory and History. Students may
also complete an optional internship. [policy change as of Fall 2012]
Internships
An internship is optional for all Cultural Studies students but is especially encouraged for all
Cultural Studies students completing a concentration in Museum Studies or Media Studies
students Internships are encouraged after the first year of coursework has been completed.
In order for internship units to count towards your degree, you must register and pay for
Internship units (2 or 4). Interns must receive written approval from their department
advisor PRIOR to the start of actual field experience. Internships can be part-time or fulltime for minimum of 8-10 hours per week to total a minimum of 100 hours (for a 4-unit
internship.) If department and organization agree, students may register for a 2-unit
internship for 50 hours (but most organizations have a minimum 100 hour requirement), and
they should be compatible with the student’s chosen career specialization within the major.
For students wishing to complete a formal internship but who do not want to enroll in
internship units, they may request that completion of the internship appear on their transcript
as a research tool. Please be sure to make this request to your academic advisor and to fill
out the Research Tool form upon successful completion.
For more information about internship goals, policies, and procedures, please see Appendix
I: Internship Advising Goals, Policies, and Procedures
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Degree Changes
The Cultural Studies Department has special requirements in addition to those required in the
Bulletin for changing a degree status from M.A. to Ph.D. or from Ph.D. Conditional to Ph.D.
M.A. to Ph.D. OR Conditional Ph.D. to Full Standing Ph.D. Student
Students who were admitted to the M.A. program or with Ph.D. conditional status and wish
to earn a Ph.D. in Cultural Studies must submit an application (see below) to their
department advisor or chair in order to proceed to full standing in the Ph.D. program.
Applications for these changes in degree may be submitted as early as the third semester of
enrollment if the student is taking a full-time load (3 courses per semester), or as the
completion of 24 units is approached. Students admitted with Ph.D. conditional status
should apply for full graduate standing as early as possible within these guidelines.
The application consists of:
 Transcript of courses taken at CGU with grades. In lieu of an official transcript, a list
of courses and grades issued by the CGU registrar will suffice.
 Seminar paper of approximately 15-20 pages from one of those courses.
 A brief statement outlining the areas of study you plan to pursue through future
courses, the M.A. thesis and qualifying examinations. Identify the large research
problem that informs your plan of study. Explain why that research problem is
significant within Cultural Studies and appropriate as the basis for formulating a
dissertation topic. Describe the areas of your qualifying examinations and obtain the
agreement of the faculty who will make up your examinations committee. This is not
your dissertation proposal. At this point we expect you to ask interesting questions,
and not necessarily to provide all the answers. You may obtain a copy of sample
proposals from the A&H office.
 Either 3 letters of evaluation from faculty (at CGU, CST or the Claremont Colleges)
with whom you have taken graduate courses, or 3 faculty signatures appended to your
statement or a combination of these two options. At least two of these three faculty
must indicate their willingness to guide you in your future doctoral work, for example
as members of your examinations committee and dissertation committee. Indicate
which faculty have agreed to work with you. You must provide a copy of these
guidelines to the faculty from whom you request signatures or letters. (See
Appendix IV: Cultural Studies Department: Sample Letter for Advancement from
M.A. to Ph.D. and Ph.D. Conditional to Ph.D. for sample letter.)
Faculty bear the responsibility for assessing the likelihood that a student will be able to
complete a dissertation based on his or her proposed course of study in light of both the
student’s abilities and the academic resources available in Claremont. By signing the
student’s statement or by writing letters of reference, faculty indicate: 1) their positive
evaluation of the student’s abilities and the proposed course of study; 2) their willingness
to work with the student as he or she undertakes the proposed research (two of the three
faculty must agree to continue to work with the student).
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Transferring Credits
The University guidelines for transferring graduate credits from institutions other than CGU,
may be found on the Office of Student Records/Registrar webpage. Cultural Studies students
have the following requirements for transferring units in addition to the University’s guidelines:
Cultural Studies students must complete a minimum of 24 units within the Cultural Studies
department before transferring outside credits. Petitions may be submitted as early as the end of
a student’s first full year at CGU (when the student is on the verge of successfully completing 24
units).
In addition to completing the Transfer Credit Request Form, Cultural Studies students must
include (1) a letter explaining why the courses listed for transfer are appropriate for Cultural
Studies credit, what scholarly direction the student wishes to pursue, and how past graduate work
fits into the student’s current academic plan; (2) his or her best seminar paper from CGU; (3) a
brief paragraph for each course to address its relevance and merits, describe research and written
work undertaken for each course, and include syllabi and other relevant course materials. These
items should be developed in consultation with the student’s academic advisor, but the final
approval for transfer credit will be given by the Chair of the Cultural Studies Department.
Specific Requirements – M.A. in Cultural Studies
Please refer to Appendix V of this document for a checklist of all program requirements for the
M.A.
Courses
Of the 40 units required for the M.A. in Cultural Studies, 20 units are required courses: three
300-level Cultural Studies courses, one approved Research Method course, and "Advanced
Writing Workshop: MA Thesis, Dissertation Proposal and Publishing.” The remaining 20
units are completed in courses offered by the Cultural Studies Department or other
departments at CGU and/or approved courses taught by the faculty of The Claremont
Colleges. If students have selected a concentration in Media Studies or Museum Studies,
there are additional requirements. Please refer to the Concentrations section of this
Handbook for more information.
M.A. Final Paper
Final Paper Requirements
As a final degree requirement, students must complete a research paper of at least
7000 and no more than 10,000 words (approximately 20-33 double-spaced pages) of
publishable journal article quality. The paper must make an original contribution to a
field of inquiry within Cultural Studies. The topic and format will be approved by the
M.A. Thesis Faculty Advisor. Students may expand and revise a seminar paper that
they have written during their coursework at CGU or undertake a new project.
Students must identify a peer-reviewed journal in their field that would be an
appropriate venue for submission (they are not required to actually submit their paper
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to this journal.) When turning in their final paper, students must print out the
submission requirements for that journal (i.e. minimum word count, required style
guide, etc.) and format their paper according to those guidelines. They should submit
the journal description and submission requirements along with their final paper.
Please note that, because this is a final paper and not a thesis, M.A. students in the
Cultural Studies Department are not required to format their final papers according to
the guidelines listed in the CGU bulletin for Master’s Theses.
After completing 24 units, all MA students are required to enroll in "Advanced
Writing Workshop: MA Thesis, Dissertation Proposal and Publishing” to help them
complete their final MA publishable paper [policy change as of Fall 2012.] The
instructor of that course will serve as the M.A. Thesis Faculty Advisor for their paper.
This faculty member will approve all research projects and can advise students about
the deadlines and paper requirements. The paper must be approved by the M.A. Thesis
Faculty Advisor in order for the student to graduate. If the student’s topic requires
particular expertise, students may request another CGU or Claremont Colleges faculty
member to serve as an academic advisor to the project. If a student chooses another
academic advisor for their M.A. paper, that faculty member must approve the final
paper before a student can get his/her degree.
Grading and Evaluation
In addition to the M.A. Thesis Faculty Advisor, all final M.A. papers must be
approved by a committee of the Cultural Studies faculty. Students are responsible for
submitting their papers, correctly formatted, to the faculty committee by the
appropriate deadline. If a student does not submit his/her papers by the deadline, or if
the committee does not deem the paper to be of “publishable quality,” that student will
not receive his/her degree.
Alternative M.A. Projects
Students interested in non-textual work, such as video production or museum exhibition, may
undertake a project equivalent to the written M.A. paper with the approval of the M.A. Thesis
Faculty Advisor. The requirements for such an alternative project are as follows:
1) Students must submit a proposal for this project for approval by the M.A. Thesis Faculty
Advisor and the Department Chair (if these are different) before beginning the project.
Approval will be based on faculty’s assessment of the student’s ability to complete the
project successfully in the proposed time as well as the student’s demonstration that the
project contains a significant component of critical analysis relevant to the field of Cultural
Studies.
2) Students must demonstrate previous experience in carrying out this type of project. For
example, students who wish to produce a documentary must be able to show previous
experience and training in film or video production.
3) The project must be completed or installed by the final deadline for submitting all final
requirements and paperwork for the M.A. (in the spring semester, this is usually around the
third week of April.)
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4) Students must also complete and submit a piece of writing that accompanies the project.
While this paper is shorter than the standard M.A. paper, it must still be between 2500-4500
words and must include a substantial bibliography (at least 15 sources) of relevant scholarly
publications. The paper must be formatted correctly according to one of the style guides (your
choice) commonly used within Cultural Studies. This paper must discuss the student’s
project, its significance to the field of Cultural Studies, and it relation to other scholarly or
artistic work in the field. A good model for this paper is the extended scholarly book review,
found in most academic journals, that either discusses one book or several recently published
books in a comparative analysis. It would be helpful to familiarize yourself with this genre of
writing by reading examples of longer book reviews in journals in your field to study the way
the writers place the work within the context of a larger field of scholarship. The final draft
for this paper is due to your advisor on the same date as the regular M.A. papers are due (at
least 4 weeks before the deadline for submitting all final requirements and paperwork for the
M.A. Please note that the exact day for this deadline varies from semester to semester, so it is
your responsibility to find out when the final deadline for M.A. paperwork is and to submit
your final draft 4 weeks before that.)
5) Finally, please note that there are no departmental or university funds allocated to support
these projects. Students who want to produce an alternative (non-written) M.A. project are
responsible for applying for and locating funding and space themselves, although your advisor
will try to assist you in identifying grants or other support.
Other M.A. Requirements
Most Cultural Studies seminars require substantial original research papers as part of their
course requirements. Students are expected to maintain a GPA of at least 3.0 (B) in their
coursework. Students must earn at least a B in their Research Method course in order to
have it fulfill the Research Method (Research Tool) requirement.
M.A. on the way to a Ph.D.
The MA degree may also be awarded to students who have advanced to candidacy for the
doctorate or to those who have not passed the qualifying examinations at the doctoral level
but who have met the standards for an MA degree. For more information about this option,
students should contact their advisor and/or Holly Domingo.
Specific Requirements – Ph.D. in Cultural Studies
Please refer to Appendix VI of this document for a checklist of all program requirements for the
PhD.
Courses
Of the 72 units required for the Ph.D. in Cultural Studies, a least 20 units are required
courses: three 300-level Cultural Studies courses, two approved research tools (at least one a
research methods course, and a Transdisciplinary course. CGU requires all Ph.D. students to
complete the 4-unit transdisciplinary course requirement within the first two years of their
program. The remainder of the units are completed in courses offered by the Cultural
Studies Department or other departments at CGU and/or approved courses taught by the
faculty of The Claremont Colleges. If students have selected a concentration in Media
Studies or Museum Studies, there are additional requirements. Please refer to the
Concentrations section of this Handbook for more information.
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Other Requirements
Most Cultural Studies seminars require substantial original research papers as part of their
course requirements. Students must earn at least a B in their Research Method courses in
order to have them fulfill the Research Method (Research Tool) requirement. In order to be
allowed to take the PhD Qualifying Exams, students must have a GPA of at least 3.3 (B+) in
their coursework with no grade lower than a B-.
Qualifying Exams
(For a more detailed guideline for selecting your qualifying exam fields and taking your
exams, please see the Qualifying Exams link on the Cultural Studies Department web
page.)
Students must demonstrate competence in three fields: (1) cultural studies, (2) a minor field
in the humanities (3) an area of specialization. The selection of fields must be approved by
the student’s supervisory committee. Students are examined in each field. The three written
examinations are followed by an oral defense and review. The entire examination process
must be completed within one semester.
Purpose and Procedure
 Build upon graduate course work and fill gaps in your knowledge.
 Develop expertise in one particular field.
 Prepare to write the dissertation.
 Prepare to apply for jobs.
Students can begin to organize their examinations committee and reading lists as early
as they like. The Department encourages students to start thinking about them in their
second year and to develop reading lists early in their third year. Students who are
applying to transfer from the M.A. to the Ph.D. may have to begin this process much
earlier in order to submit a good application. Students should not allow the exams to
become an impediment in their progress toward the Ph.D. Rather, students should get
them out of the way as efficiently and quickly as possible.
To proceed to qualifying exams, students must complete all requirements for the M.A.
and Ph.D. Students admitted with conditional or provisional status must achieve full
graduate standing in order to take the qualifying exams.
For students following a full-time schedule, qualifying exams should be taken in the
Fall semester of the fourth year of study. All three written exams and the oral defense
must be completed within one semester. There must be a two week gap between the
last written exam and the oral defense. Ideally, students should submit a dissertation
proposal in this semester also.
Students should submit the Cultural Studies Qualifying Exam Plan Form to Laurie
Beth Martin, Doctoral Student Support Secretary, as soon as they have established the
composition of their exam committees and finalized the date(s) of the exams and their
oral defense. Note: This form must be submitted at least one month prior to the exam
date. Exams are conducted three times a year. For current dates, students should
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contact Laurie Beth Martin, who serves as the coordinator and proctor for all
qualifying exams.
Committee
The Qualifying Exam Committee consists of three professors, one of whom serves as
the chair of the committee. Students should consult with their department advisors to
select committee members and examination topics. One member of the committee
may be from an institution other than CGU and the Claremont Colleges. All members
of the qualifying exam committee must have Ph.D.s. All members should be able to
attend the oral defense. Since these professors will examine students on their chosen
topics, they should be selected primarily on the basis of their fields of expertise. The
department advisor must approve Qualifying Exam Committees and, hence,
examination topics. At least one member of the committee should be a core faculty
member of the Cultural Studies Department at CGU.
Students should begin to assemble their committees as soon possible and no later than
the end of the fall semester of the third year. Faculty members limit the number of
exam committees on which they will serve.
Format
Faculty may allow or encourage student participation in framing exam questions, but
in the end the questions are entirely up to their discretion. Faculty also determine
whether papers or books may be taken into the examination room. If the examiner(s)
are allowing this, students should as the examiner(s) to send an email to Laurie Beth
Martin indicating what may be taken into the exam. If Laurie does not have written
permission from the examiner(s), she will assume that nothing may be taken into the
exam. Computer disks are never allowed into the examination room; this would be a
violation of the standards of academic integrity by which students are expected to
abide and will have grave consequences.
Students take three written exams. If the students choose to take the exam on campus,
each exam lasts for three hours. These exams are written on a computer provided by
SAH.
Students also have the option to take some or all of their exams at home, but only if
the faculty administering the relevant exams agree to that format. In that case,
students have 24 hours to write and return the examination. Students will need to
coordinate with Laurie Beth Martin to determine how the exam question will be
delivered and returned (i.e. email, fax, etc.). It is the student’s responsibility to
ensure that his or her answers are returned within 24 hours of the moment when the
questions were sent. The 24-hour deadline is absolute so potential problems with
transmission should be taken into account, and an alternate plan should be in
place. Computer or transmission difficulties are not acceptable excuses for a
missed deadline. Failure to observe the deadline will be treated as failure to pass the
exam.
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Expectations for a 24-hour exam are significantly higher than for a 3-hour exam.
Faculty expects students to use all the time available to them.
The written exams are followed by an oral examination. The oral is conducted by all
three members of your committee and lasts for two hours.
Arranging dates for exams, written and oral can be difficult. It must be done
thoroughly and promptly to ensure a relatively peaceful process. Arrange your exam
date with each examiner well in advance, allowing him/her ample time to write your
exam questions. Arrange a date for your oral well in advance and confirm this date
with all committee members. Your committee chair will convene the oral.
Topics and Reading Lists
The qualifying exams consist of three separate written exams, each based on a separate
reading list, and an oral defense.
Students are free to choose the specific topic of each reading list within the guidelines
described below. However, students must work with a professor in compiling the list
and must demonstrate to the chair of the committee that all three lists work well
together.
The first list must be in Cultural Studies. The second list (their Minor Field) must be
situated firmly within a traditional discipline (e.g. anthropology, history, literature,
although interdisciplinary fields such as gender studies and ethnic studies, which have
become established enough to be considered “traditional” can also be included here).
After reading this list students should understand the research methods and rules of
evidence appropriate to the discipline. This list should also enable them to present
themselves as an appropriate job candidate for a position in that discipline. Students
must have taken at least two (2) courses in the field of their second list during their
graduate study at CGU. Please check with the department chair if you have questions
about whether specific courses meet these requirements.
For students doing Media Studies or Museum Studies as their second field, there is a
master list of titles posted on the department website that they can use as a guide for
beginning to build their reading lists..
The third list can be an area of the student’s choice, although students typically define
this list as roughly the area(s) or topic of their dissertation. (This can help you get a
jump start on their core bibliography for their dissertation research.)
Typically, each reading list will consist of a core of between thirty and forty books,
which students should know well and be able to place in the context of other
scholarship in the field. The length, scope, and content of each list should be
determined with the advice and approval of the professor who will act as examiner on
that list.
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These reading lists should be used for completing graduate education, preparing to
write the dissertation, and preparing for the job market. For example, a dissertation on
contemporary Chicana novels would dictate applying for jobs in English departments,
possibly Comparative Literature departments, and in interdisciplinary departments
such as Women's Studies and Ethnic Studies. In this case, an individual would need to
present him- or herself to prospective employers as someone whose specialty may be
Chicana literature, but who more generally is an Americanist and can cover a range of
American ethnic literatures (for English departments), or as a comparatist who works
in Spanish as well as English (for departments of Comparative literature), or as an
interdisciplinary scholar who can teach social movements or contemporary theory, as
well as literature (for Women's Studies or Chicano Studies).
Similar considerations apply for dissertations based on fieldwork or performance.
Students should work with an academic advisor and dissertation committee to
determine the accreditation required by the disciplines in which they will seek
employment.
While students should not try to be all things to all people, their training should be
both broad and specific enough to enable them to emphasize one or another aspect of it
and to allow them to move in more than one scholarly direction after leaving CGU.
Students must submit all three reading lists for approval to the chair of the exam
committee and to the department advisor.
After students have their reading lists approved, they must complete an annotated
bibliography for all three lists. More details on the entire qualifying exam process and
requirements can be found in the Qualifying Exams link on the Cultural Studies
department webpage.
General Reminders
Faculty leaves sometimes necessitate changes in committees. Professors who know
they will be on leave in the semester when the exams are scheduled should not be on
that student’s committee. If a committee member takes an unexpected leave and is
unable to serve as an examiner, the student should contact his or her department
advisor immediately to arrange for a replacement.
Students are expected to take the initiative in maintaining reasonable contact with
members of their exams committee as they prepare for their exams. If such contact is
not maintained, or if difficulties of any other kind arise, the student should alert the
department advisor.
Students must also take the initiative in discussing with their committee such things as
the student's and the committee's expectations of content, range, and depth, the general
format of the written and oral exams, and in meeting with faculty for guidance while
reading for the exams.
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Failure
If any member of the committee is not satisfied with the student’s performance, the
student may be asked to do additional work. Further research or an essay is typical of
the additional work required. The examiner will set the work requirements and time
constraints. This request may be made before or after the oral. If it is made before the
oral, the oral itself may be delayed until the other requirements are fulfilled.
Alternatively, if a student fails one or more written exam, the committee may request
the student to re-take that particular examination or to re-take all three. If a student
fails more than one written exam, the committee may recommend the student’s
withdrawal from the program. This recommendation is subject to the approval of the
department chair. If a student fails any examination more than once, he or she will no
longer be able to remain in the program.
Dissertation Proposal
Students must submit an acceptable dissertation prospectus for approval by the dissertation
committee. This committee, recommended by the Cultural Studies chair in consultation with
the student, consists of no fewer than three members, one of whom serves as dissertation
chair. Each candidate must prepare an acceptable dissertation under the guidance of the
supervisory committee, to be defended in a final oral examination. A draft of the
dissertation, which takes into account the criticisms by the dissertation chair and is
acceptable to the dissertation chair, must be completed by October 1 for students completing
the degree at the end of the first semester, and by March 1 for students completing the
degree at the end of the second semester. This draft must be in a form suitable for
submission to the other readers.
Committee
CGU policy about dissertation committees is as follows:
Each dissertation committee is made up of three members drawn from the core CGU
faculty or The Claremont Colleges extended faculty on the condition that at least one
committee member be a core CGU faculty member in the candidate’s school.
Claremont Graduate University encourages the inclusion on each dissertation
committee of an expert in the student’s field from outside The Claremont Colleges.
There may be an outside examiner on a four-person committee, but not on a threeperson committee. The outside examiner may be a faculty member from another
institution or a qualified practitioner. All members of the dissertation committee must
have Ph.D.s.
Additionally, the School of Arts and Humanities policy on Dissertation Committee
members is as follows:
1. Claremont Colleges faculty may serve on a CGU Dissertation Committee
provided there is one core CGU faculty member on the Committee.
2. Claremont Colleges faculty may chair Dissertation Committees provided they are
are deemed appropriate by the Department Chair and the Dean.
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Proposal Guidelines
Students are required to submit a Proposal for Doctoral Study (dissertation proposal).
The proposal should be submitted after students have passed their qualifying exams,
either in the same semester or in the semester immediately following the exams.
The proposal should be about 15-20 pages long and should include:
1. Proposed dissertation topic. A brief introduction to and explanation of the topic
and its significance, and a description of the research methods.*
2. Literature review. A bibliographic review of extant scholarship on the topic
including the theoretical frameworks you will be relying on.
3. Chapter outlines. A brief description of the materials and arguments to be
addressed in each chapter.
The proposal should be drafted in consultation with three faculty members who, by
signing, indicate their willingness to serve as the dissertation committee. These
professors may have their primary appointments at CGU or the Claremont colleges.
They will bear responsibility, along with the department advisor, for assessing the
likelihood that the student will be able to complete the proposed dissertation in light of
both his or her abilities and the academic resources available in and around Claremont.
At least one member of the committee should be a core faculty member of the Cultural
Studies department at CGU.
Students should ask one of their committee members to be the chair of the dissertation
committee. The dissertation chair will take primary responsibility for advising the
student during the dissertation project and during preparation to seek academic jobs.
Students may change committee members at any time during candidacy; however,
major changes may slow the process.
Dissertation Proposal Defense
Students are expected to defend the proposal at a meeting with the committee
members. If the committee does not approve the proposal, the student may revise it
and defend it for a second time. If the proposal still does not meet with approval, the
student will not be advanced to candidacy.
Final approval will be granted on the basis of your academic ability, the strength of
your proposal and its appropriateness for a degree in Cultural Studies. If approval is
granted you will advance to ABD status.
*Students are encouraged to consult Wayne C. Booth, et. al. The Craft of Research
(Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1995) for assistance in drafting their proposals.
The distinction between "research problems" and "dissertation topics" is discussed in
chapters 3 and 4.
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Dissertation
The dissertation is typically 60,000 – 80,000 words (approximately 200-275 double-spaced
pages) of publishable quality and original research. The specific length, format and design
of your dissertation is decided in consultation with your dissertation committee. For
important information about CGU regulations for formatting and submission of your
dissertation, go to http://www.cgu.edu/pages/1239.asp. Make sure that you are aware of all
the deadlines for submitting the correct forms for your intent to graduate and the correctly
formatted dissertation to ensure that you give yourself and your faculty advisors enough
time before your intended graduation date. Your entire dissertation committee, with the
guidance of your dissertation chair, are responsible for determining when your dissertation
has met the proper academic standards and is ready for oral defense.
After your committee feels that you are ready, your chair will approve for you to schedule
an oral defense, which is open to the public. In the oral defense committee members will
ask you to elaborate on or clarify certain aspects of the dissertation, and they will provide
feedback and suggestions for revision. In some cases, the committee will request that
additional revisions be completed before they approve a final draft to be submitted to the
university. Your dissertation chair must approve your final draft before you submit it to the
university.
Forms
All of the forms necessary for the qualifying exams, dissertation proposal defense and
dissertation are available online at http://www.cgu.edu/pages/5068.asp
These forms include:
Form 1 Qualifying Exam Results
Form 2A: Ph.D. Advancement to Candidacy, Committee Proposal
2B: Ph.D. Advancement to Candidacy, Dissertation Proposal
3A: Final Oral Exam, Committee Proposal
3B Final Oral Exam Results
Students are responsible for downloading these forms and submitting them to their faculty
advisor SAH office in a timely manner. For example, as soon as the makeup of the
dissertation committee is confirmed, students should submit Form 2A.
Additional Policies, Procedures and Resources
Funding and Financial Support
There are a limited amount of Research Assistant positions and other forms of funding and
financial support available from the School of Arts and Humanities and CGU. For more
information about these, please refer to the Funding page of the SAH website
(http://www.cgu.edu/pages/8658.asp).
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Letters of Recommendation
Interfolio is an online service that manages, tracks, and delivers application and dossier materials
to graduate schools and for jobs, as well as confidential letters of recommendation. In order to
ensure the timely and reliable delivery of your letters All Arts and Humanities students are
required to use the service for all confidential letters of reference (unless your advisor/letter
writer chooses otherwise). [policy change: Spring 2012] We recommend that you use the service
for the management and delivery of your dossier and other application materials as well, but that
is ultimately up to you.
Although almost all universities have moved to online applications, we recognize that there are
some who request letters be sent by mail directly from applicants and their letter writers. We will
work with you to ensure these letters are sent through our office, but please remember that the
letter writer is managing many requests and the ultimate responsibility for follow-up remains
with you.
Note that for online applications you can direct the letter of recommendation request to your
interfolio account . Please see the Appendix IX: Interfolio FAQs for more information.
You can also go here for instruction: http://www.cgu.edu/pages/6961.asp
IRB
All students who plan to publish research that deals with human subjects (this includes
interviews, questionnaires, and field research) must have their research approved by the CGU
Institutional Review Board. Students writing papers for coursework or for their final MA paper
do NOT need IRB approval, unless they plan to submit that work for publication. ALL
dissertations that involve human subjects in any way must go through the IRB review process.
For more information, go the the CGU IRB website: http://www.cgu.edu/pages/1075.asp
Writing Center
CGU has a valuable resource in its Writing Center and we strongly encourage students at all
stages of their graduate career to familiarize themselves with the services offered there:
http://www.cgu.edu/pages/726.asp. These services include individual assistance with
organization and writing basics, professionalization workshops, dissertation boot camps, and
numerous other programs.
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Appendices
Appendix I: Internship Advising Goals, Policies, and Procedures
Internship Advising
Students should consult their academic advisors for approval of their internship proposals.
When they register for an internship, they should list their academic advisor as the
instructor. The academic advisor will be responsible for assigning the final grade for the
internship.
Museum Studies Internships
Currently, Professor Joshua Goode is primarily responsible for assisting students in
identifying prospective internships in Museum Studies. If you plan to complete an
internship as part of your concentration in Museum Studies, please meet with Professor
Goode.
Media Studies Internships
The Claremont Intercollegiate Media Studies Program has a vast database of internships in
media studies. If you are interested in an internship in this field, you can access the database
at http://www.pitzer.edu/academics/ims/internships/resources.asp.
Goals
 To provide educational work experiences by learning roles, duties and
responsibilities of the position
 To integrate classroom knowledge into the work environment
 To assist the student in professional growth
 To help further the student’s experience in chosen field of emphasis
 Enrich the organization by bringing new ideas in collaboration with the
organization
Application Process Time Line
The following Guidelines are for planning purposes.





At least 2 Months prior to the start of the internship:
Begin searching for internship possibilities
A binder of organizations that typically offer internships and/or organizations
that have officially partnered with CGU in the past to provide internships for
the Museum Studies/Media Studies students will be available in the Arts and
Humanities Office.
Internship options are also available through the CGU Career Center website
Contact a chosen organization to inquire about internship possibilities,
requirements, timelines etc. if not already established.
4-5 Weeks prior to start of internship:
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


Submit a completed Student Agreement Form to the Arts and Humanities Office for
final approval.
Together with the Student Agreement Form, present the internship job description, on
agency letterhead, as well as a 1-2 page description of the project you plan to complete
during the course of your internship to your academic advisor for approval [policy
change: Fall 2012.]
Upon approval, register for 2 or 4 units (depending upon planned amount of hours). For
students wishing to complete a formal internship but who do not want to enroll in
internship units, they may request that completion of the internship appear on their
transcript as a research tool. Please be sure to make this request to your academic
advisor and to fill out the Research Tool form upon successful completion.
3-4 Weeks prior to start of internship:
 Make sure you have received final approval from your academic advisor.
 Make sure all arrangements have been made and confirmed with your internship site
Student Goals and Objectives
Clearly stated goals and objectives will allow you, your faculty advisor and agency
supervisor to better evaluate the effectiveness of the Internship Experience. You are
required to prepare a ‘joint’ set of goals and objectives with your agency supervisor in
the first week of your internship.
The written goals of your internship experience should be: 1) observable, 2)
measurable, and 3) attainable. Goals should be broad based and focus on what you, as
the student, will learn from the experience. These goals may be perceived as broad
statements of intent and will serve as guidelines to help you maintain a focus
throughout the field experience.
Objectives
Objectives are specific statements or examples of how you will accomplish these
goals. They should reflect actions or behaviors that are measurable, they may describe
what, when, where, with whom and/or how well the task/behavior is to be performed.
Upon completion of the field experience, you should be able to examine your
objectives and determine the extent to which you have met those intentions.
Grading and Evaluation
 Students must submit a 3-5 page description of the work they completed
during the internship. This should include details of the projects they worked
on and specific outcomes and goals accomplished [policy change: Fall 2012.]
 The student’s supervisor at the internship site will also submit an evaluation
form to the student’s academic advisor. The student’s departmental academic
advisor will assign the student a grade based on the supervisor’s evaluation and
the final report submitted by the student.
 Directed internships are graded pass/fail unless the instructor and student agree
that it will be a letter grade.
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Agency Selection
A list of suggested organizations will be contained in the Internship Binder housed in
the Arts & Humanities Office. It is recommended that you talk to faculty and fellow
students to help determine which agency will serve as the best possible host for your
internship. Though the faculty and staff are here to guide you in finding possible
internships, it is ultimately the student’s responsibility to find a suitable internship
within the required time frame.
Insurance: Liability and Health
Each intern is responsible for his/her own personal liability and health insurance.
Application
All forms must be filled out in their entirety, and submitted by set dates:
 Appendix II: Internship Student Agreement Form (4-5 weeks prior)
 Job description on agency letterhead (4-5 weeks prior)
 Appendix III: Internship Evaluation Form (upon completion of internship)
Internship Responsibilities
 To be determined in conjunction with your internship supervisor.
Student Responsibilities
To the University:
 Be familiar with all the internship information in this Handbook
 Sign and return agreement to the Arts and Humanities Office
 Develop goals and objectives with the agency supervisor during the first week of
the service
 Meet with your advising faculty member at least once during the internship
 All log sheets, goals and objectives, and evaluations must be signed by the agency
supervisor or their representative, before being submitted to the Arts and
Humanities Office
To the Organization:
 Student should understand that the internship is a professional experience, and
perform accordingly
 Conform to the regulations and policies of the agency/organization
 Serve as a vital member of the agency, ask questions, provide input, make
evaluations as requested
 Notify the agency supervisor, in advance when possible, of any absences or
tardiness from scheduled work hours
 Accept the agency’s philosophy, methods, leadership, and programs. Provide
suggestions if requested by the agency supervisor.
 Consult with the agency supervisor in the event of any problems or concerns
related to the internship
 Complete all assignments and responsibilities as requested by the faculty advisor.
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 Provide the agency supervisor with all necessary paper work and forms at least
one week in advance of the due dates so evaluations and other responsibilities
may be completed. It is the student’s responsibility to see that paper work is
completed on time
 Provide the agency with a copy of any final projects or reports upon completion
of the internship
Agency/Organization Responsibilities
To the Student:
 Provide a quality opportunity for growth and experience compatible with the
student’s current course of study
 Confer with and assist the student in the development of measurable goals and
objectives within the first week of the internship experience
 Complete and sign requested forms in a timely manner
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Appendix II: Internship Student Agreement Form
(This form is a sample only. Please download the interactive form from the Cultural
Studies webpage.)
25
26
Appendix III: Internship Evaluation Form
(This form is a sample only. Please download the interactive form from the Cultural
Studies webpage.)
27
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Appendix IV: Cultural Studies Department: Sample Letter for Advancement
from M.A. to Ph.D. and Ph.D. Conditional to Ph.D.
Dear faculty member:
Thank you for your willingness to work with the graduate students of the Cultural Studies
department of Claremont Graduate University. Your student has indicated an interest in pursuing
the Ph.D. in Cultural Studies. Your signature below indicates:
1. Your student has provided you a copy of a 5-7 page proposal for future graduate studies. The
proposal explains the research interests which the student will pursue through courses, the
qualifying exams and dissertation.
2. You believe that the student will be able to complete a dissertation based on her/his proposed
course of study, in light of both her/his abilities and the academic resources available in
Claremont.
Name:
Department and institution:
Are you willing to continue to guide the student in her/his future work (for example, as a member
of the qualifying exams committee, or member of the dissertation committee)?
Name:
Department and institution:
Are you willing to continue to guide the student in her/his future work (for example, as a member
of the qualifying exams committee, or member of the dissertation committee)?
Name:
Department and institution:
Are you willing to continue to guide the student in her/his future work (for example, as a member
of the qualifying exam committee, or member of the dissertation committee)?
29
Appendix V: Cultural Studies Department: Master’s Program Checklist
□
Complete three 300-level CLST courses
Course#1:
Course#2
Course #3
Date:
Date:
Date:
□
Satisfy one Research Tool Requirement (approved Research Methods Course. Must have a
grade of B or higher)
Tool #1:
Grade:
□
Date:
Complete "Advanced Writing Workshop: MA Thesis, Dissertation Proposal and Publishing”
Date:
□
Complete 40 units of course work (No outstanding incompletes)
Date:
□
Minimum GPA 3.0
Date:
□
M.A. Publishable Paper (or approved Alternate M.A. project) approved by CLST
department committee:
Date:
□
File Intent to Receive Degree Form.
Date:
30
Appendix VI: Cultural Studies Department: Doctoral Program Checklist
□
Complete three 300-level CLST courses
Course#1:
Course#2
Course #3
Date:
Date:
□
Satisfy the two research tool requirements (Two approved Research Methods courses or One
Research Methods course and Language Exam). Research Methods courses must have a grade of
B or higher.
Tool #1: (Grade)
Tool #2: (Grade)
□
Date:
Date:
Complete one Transdisciplinary Studies course by the second year of coursework.
Date:
□
Complete 72 units of course work (including any transfer units up to 24 units.) No
outstanding incompletes.
Date:
□
Minimum GPA of 3.3 in all coursework with no grade lower than a B-.
Date:
All of the above requirements must be completed before students are allowed to
take their qualifying exams
□
Pass the written and oral qualifying examinations (Form 1).
Chair:
Member:
Member:
Date:
□
Form the dissertation committee for Advancing to ABD status (Form 2A).
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Chair:
Member:
Member:
□
Hold a dissertation proposal defense and obtain committee approval of the proposal (form
2B).
Date:
□
Obtain committee approval of the dissertation (Form 3).
Date:
□
Pass the oral defense of the dissertation.
Date:
□
File Intent to Receive Degree Form.
Date:
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Appendix VII: Cultural Studies Department: Plan for Qualifying Examinations
Student Name:
Student ID:
Chair of Exam Committee:
Major Exam:
Date of Exam:
Topic:
Faculty Name:
Email Address:
Take Home or On Campus:
Minor Exam 1:
Date of Exam:
Topic:
Faculty Name:
Email Address:
Take Home or On Campus:
Minor Exam 2:
Date of Exam:
Topic:
Faculty Name:
Email Address:
Take Home or On Campus:
Have you contacted your committee to arrange
your oral exam?
Thank you. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact
Laurie Beth Martin - (909) 607-3335 or email laurie.martin@cgu.edu
Return this form to the
Arts and Humanities
831 North Dartmouth Ave.
Claremont, CA 91711
(909) 607-3335
33
Appendix VIII: Advising/Registration FAQs
Why do we need an advising policy? The purpose of this new policy is to ensure that you
receive advising from your advisor or, if your advisor is on leave, from the chair of your
department/program at least once each fall and spring semester. Regular review of your
academic progress and program requirements by your advisor should help ensure you take the
classes you need and meet your program requirements for your degree.
Who does the advising policy concern? This policy is required of all students—masters and
doctoral students, those in course work as well as those who have completed course work and are
working towards or are ABD.
How does it work? All students are required to check in with their advisor prior to registration
each semester. Students wishing to register for classes, continuous registration, or doctoral study
must first receive approval from their advisor. A hold on your account will be lifted only if your
academic advisor sends an email to Holly Domingo to lift the registration hold.
How can I find out who my advisor is? Go to your CGU portal to obtain this information
(https://my.cgu.edu) or contact Holly Domingo. If a faculty advisor has not been assigned to you
please contact your department chair for academic advising.
How do I contact my advisor? Each advisor has his/her way of managing the advising process.
Some will be using an electronic appointment system for in-person or telephone appointments
and some will ask that you email them about making an appointment. Some advisors will
conduct advising over email. You should receive a message from your department chair
explaining the process for your department or advisor-specific instructions.
What if my assigned advisor is on leave? If your assigned advisor is on leave, your department
chair will serve as your advisor for that semester.
What is the mandatory advising period? In the two weeks prior to registration, all students are
required to contact their advisor to obtain approval for their courses or continuous/doctoral
registration. Because some classes may be closed by the time you attempt to register, we
recommend that you get approval on fallback courses during your initial advising session.
Registration for the spring 2012 semester begins November 16th. Thus, the mandatory advising
period is Tuesday, November 1st through Tuesday, November 15th.
What happens if I don’t get advising and approval from my advisor? You will be unable to
register for the coming semester and a registration hold will remain on your account. A
registration hold on your account will be lifted only if your academic advisor sends an email to
Holly Domingo to lift the hold.
When can I register on-line? On-line registration will open on November 16th. Students who
have received academic advising and don’t have a registration hold on their account can go to
their CGU portal (https://my.cgu.edu) and register on-line.
Can I register on-line for all courses, including Independent Study, courses at the 5Cs,
and/or Claremont School of Theology courses? No. You must use paper registration for any
34
Independent Study/Research course, any course at the 5Cs, and any course at Claremont School
of Theology. You must obtain your advisor’s approval for such courses. For registration forms
go to http://www.cgu.edu/pages/2140.asp. Please submit any registration form to Holly
Domingo.
If I change my mind and want to register for courses not approved by my academic
advisor, do I need to set up another advising appointment? Once the registration hold is lifted
from your account, an honor system is in place. However, we recommend that you get approval
on fallback courses during your initial advising session. If you need to discuss other courses with
your academic advisor, this can be done over email.
Will academic advising lift all of my holds? No. If you have other holds on your account (i.e.
outstanding balance, academic probation, etc.) please contact the appropriate office to clear those
holds.
35
Appendix IX: Interfolio FAQs
1. What does the service cost?
The basic account for file and management service costs $19 for one year, $39.90 for three years,
or $57.00 for five years.
Fileholders pay a delivery fee when sending application materials to an institution or
organization. Delivery costs depend upon the options you choose, but the least expensive is for
uploading to on-line applications:
Online Application $6 first document, $1 each additional to same institution. Deliveries will be
processed within three business days.
For example, let’s say the applicant is sending an application letter, a personal statement, and a
writing sample as one document, plus 4 letters of recommendation to ten different universities.
The cost for the entire application per university/application would be $6.
2. How do I request to have my confidential letters of recommendation sent via Interfolio
rather than to my professor?
If your online application asks you to provide the email address of your letter writer, you can use
the Interfolio Online Application delivery service to submit your letters of recommendation.
Here are the step by step instructions:
Step 1. Log in to your Interfolio account, from your Home, Dashboard click on "Start a
Delivery" or on your Deliveries page click on the "Add Delivery" tab. Locate the link that
says "Click here if your online application requires that you enter the email addresses of
your writers". This link is right underneath Step 1 on the Add Delivery page.
Step 2. Now you are on the Create a Online Application Delivery page. Locate the document you
need to have uploaded and copy its unique document email address. (Each document that
you need to have uploaded will have its own email address.)
Step 3. Log in to your online application and paste your document's unique email address into
the field that asks for your evaluator's email address. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for each
evaluator.
Step 4. Monitor your email. Interfolio will send you an email indicating that your online
application delivery has been created. (If you do not receive an email from Interfolio
within one business day from the time you enter your writer's email address into the
online application, please contact help@interfolio.com.)
Step 5. Complete your delivery transaction by logging in to Interfolio. Navigate to your
Pending Deliveries page and you will see that for each letter requested, a separate Online
Application Delivery is created. Confirm that the correct document is going to the correct
institution. Click Check Out to complete your transaction.
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3. How much does it cost to use the online application delivery for letters of reference?
When we proxy into an application to upload a letter, this particular delivery
method is priced at $6 for the first letter and $1 for each subsequent letter to the
same application. This is referred to as an "online application delivery" and has a
processing time of 1-3 business days after the delivery is purchased
37