MTLIT-PHD - Modern Thought and Literature (PhD)

Students who completed graduate coursework at another institution are expected to transfer course units in the winter quarter of their first year of doctoral study. The Director of Graduate Studies will evaluate the transfer of units on a course-by-course basis. Graduate work accepted for transfer of residency does not automatically exempt a student from having to complete a course requirement for the degree.

The Program in Modern Thought and Literature is committed to providing academic advising in support of graduate student scholarly and professional development. When most effective, this advising relationship entails collaborative and sustained engagement by the advisor and the advisee.

Faculty advisors guide students in critical areas such as selecting courses, designing and conducting research, developing teaching pedagogy, navigating policies and degree requirements, and exploring academic opportunities and professional pathways. 

Upon arrival, incoming MTL PhD students are assigned first-year faculty advisors who help students select classes with the student’s academic interests and the program requirements in mind.

Before advancing to TGR status, all PhD students are expected to check in with the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) at least once each quarter to discuss progress. After reaching TGR status, students are expected to check in with the DGS at least once a year.

As a best practice, advising expectations should be periodically discussed and reviewed to ensure mutual understanding. For PhD students, at least two consultations per quarter with the DGS and the primary advisor are highly recommended to foster an effective advising relationship. Both the advisor and the advisee are expected to maintain professionalism and integrity.

Graduate students are active contributors to the advising relationship, proactively seeking academic and professional guidance and taking responsibility for informing themselves of policies and degree requirements for their graduate program.

After the first year of study, when PhD students have a better sense of their academic trajectories, they should choose a dissertation advisor with the approval of the director and the DGS.