Graduate Study

The Graduate Group in Cultural Studies at UC Davis offers an interdisciplinary approach to the study of culture and society that highlights how sexuality, race, ability, citizenship, gender, nationality, class, and language organize embodied identities, social relations, and cultural objects. With the close guidance and supervision of a faculty committee, students in the program pursue interdisciplinary research in areas including studies of comparative and critical race, ecocriticism, fashion, queer theory, media and popular cultural representation, science and technology, Marxist theory, travel, and tourism, food, physical and cognitive abilities, cultural geography,  transnational culture and politics, globalization, religion, rhetoric, performance, and critical theory. Although both the Ph.D. and M.A. are offered, applications are only accepted for the Ph.D. program, and the M.A. is available as a terminal degree in route to the Ph.D.

Preparation

Normal preparation for the program is a bachelor's degree in a related field. Terminal M.A. students must pass an examination. Ph.D. students must pass a qualifying examination, a comprehensive examination, and complete a dissertation demonstrating original research in an area approved by the Graduate Group. In addition to the standard UC Davis graduate application (which requires a statement of purpose), we also require three letters of recommendation, transcripts, GRE scores, writing sample (ten-page minimum, not exceeding twenty pages), and a fellowship application.

Graduate Advisors

Kris Fallon (Cinema & Digital Media, Science & Technology Studies), Rana Jaleel (Gender, Sexuality, & Women's Studies, Asian American Studies), Mark Jerng (English), Richard Kim (Asian American Studies)