Literature (M.A., Ph.D.)

The Literature program offers a Master of Arts degree, and a Doctoral degree. 

Important: Transcripts and Letters of Recommendation are required of all applicants. 

Read the  application instructions ​ page for full details., see the test score requirements for this program., below are specific requirements also needed for this program:.

Curriculum Vitae

Writing Sample:

Please provide a writing sample between 10-20 pages in length. Though the sample need not be in Literature, it should demonstrate relevant skills in writing, critical thinking, and textual analysis. In addition, applicants whose proposed primary area of emphasis is in a language other than English should normally provide a sample that demonstrates an ability to work in that language.  Please include your name in the footer of each page of your writing sample.

Additional Writing Sample for Applicants to the Creative/Critical Writing Concentration: 20-25 pages of prose (at least one complete piece and an additional sample preferred), or 10-12 pages of poetry. The writing can be poetry, prose fiction, creative non-fiction or hybrid/cross genre.

A Statement of purpose is required: 

Please describe your plans for graduate study or research and for your future occupation or profession. Include any information that may aid the selection committee in evaluating your preparation and qualifications for graduate study at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Recommended length is a concise 2-4 pages.

A Personal History Statement is also required:

Required of all applicants. This statement will be used in conjunction with your application for graduate admission and financial support. Note that the Personal History Statement should not duplicate the Statement of Purpose. Recommended length is a concise 1-3 pages.

UC Santa Cruz is interested in a diverse and inclusive graduate student population. In an essay, discuss how your personal background informs your decision to pursue a graduate degree. Include any educational, familial, cultural, economic, or social experiences, challenges, or opportunities relevant to your academic journey; how you might contribute to social or cultural diversity within your chosen field; and/or how you might serve educationally underrepresented segments of society with your degree.

See the application deadline

Contact the program

Read more about this program:

https://literature.ucsc.edu/graduate/index.html

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  • Ph.D. Program

Prospective Student Information

The UC Santa Cruz doctoral program in literature offers an innovative multilingual and multidisciplinary approach to literary studies, involving the use of more than one language literature. The program is relatively small, and students work closely with faculty throughout their graduate careers. They are encouraged to take advantage of the rich array of intellectual and cultural events, research clusters, and lectures offered on campus.

The doctoral program combines critical and independent thought with global perspectives. Working across linguistic, national, and period boundaries, students blend critical approaches, literary traditions, and/or cultural archives in comparative and interdisciplinary projects.

A Creative/Critical Writing concentration within the Ph.D. program is available, for which prospective students apply during the admissions process. Creative/Critical applicants submit additional creative writing samples of poetry, prose fiction, creative nonfiction or hybrid/cross genre. Students in the Creative/Critical concentration complete all the requirements for the literature Ph.D. with the addition of a creative/critical degree component in the form of coursework, original creative work with a critical introduction and, if desired, work in poetics, translation, form and/or critical writing focused on creative practices.

Students may apply for a designated emphasis on the literature doctoral diploma in programs and departments such as Critical Race and Ethnic Studies, Education, Feminist Studies, History of Consciousness, Latin American and Latino Studies, Philosophy, Politics, Sociology, and the History of Art and Visual Culture. Applications and requirements are available at the respective department offices.

Course Requirements

  • LIT 200, Proseminar, to be taken in fall quarter of the first year;
  • LIT 201, Pedagogy of Teaching/Teaching Assistant Training, to be taken prior to or in conjunction with the first Teaching Assistant appointment;
  • Twelve additional courses leading to the definition of an area of concentration. At least two of these must be in a second-language literature; at least one must focus on pre-modern literature and culture. A minimum of six courses must be regularly scheduled Literature seminars;
  • LIT 291F, a two-credit advising course, each quarter.

Second Language Requirements

The program requires significant literary work in two languages. All students are required to complete the Literature Department's intensive three-week Graduate Summer Language Program or its equivalent and a minimum of two graduate courses in a second-language literature in which 50 percent or more of the reading is done in the original language. The second-language literature must serve as a component of the qualifying examination.

Teaching Requirements

Students must complete at least three quarters of supervised teaching experience. 

Qualifying Examination

The qualifying examination must be taken by the first quarter of the fourth year. It consists of three components: 

  • a portfolio with a field statement and comprehensive bibliography, a topic statement, a paper of publishable quality, and a dissertation sketch; 
  • translation examination; and 
  • oral examination. 

Post-Qualifying Requirements

Students must submit a prospectus outlining and defining the dissertation project within a quarter following the qualifying examination, but no later than the end of the fourth year. The prospectus identifies the research problem, methodologies, and case studies, with chapter outlines, footnotes, and bibliography.

Non-Terminal Master’s Degree

A master of arts (M.A.) degree is conferred upon request to doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) candidates who have successfully completed the literature Ph.D. qualifying examination or who have completed the coursework required for the doctorate (Teaching Assistant training and supervised teaching experience exempted) and elect to write a master’s thesis under the supervision of a faculty advisor.

Dissertation

The dissertation is a substantial piece of original research in the field of literature.

A dissertation submitted for the Creative/Critical concentration may take alternative forms:

  •  A book-length original creative project—novel, novella, collection of poems, collection of stories, creative nonfiction, or a hybrid/experimental form (including but not limited to digital/new media, performance/performativity/screenplay, the lyric essay) with a critical chapter or chapters totaling at least 75 pages exploring the historical, methodological, and/or theoretical foundations of the creative work; or
  • A dissertation on theory, form, poetics or literary history; a translation of a creative work with a 30-50-page, substantive, critical introduction; a critical edition.

The dissertation committee is composed of three members, with the dissertation advisor acting as chair. The majority of the membership of a dissertation committee shall be members of the Santa Cruz Division of the Academic Senate. 

Detailed instructions for the preparation of the dissertation are available on the Graduate Division website .

Academic Progress

To maintain satisfactory academic progress and eligibility for fellowships and other benefits, students must:

  • complete required coursework in the first two to three years;
  • satisfy the department’s second-language requirement;
  • pass the qualifying examination (QE) during the third year or fall quarter of the fourth year;
  • complete a dissertation prospectus and advance to candidacy by the end of the fourth year; and
  • complete the dissertation by the end of the seventh year.

Applying for Graduation

For information on how to apply for graduation, visit the Graduate Division website .

Further Information

Additional detailed information for prospective graduate students, including procedures for application and admission to graduate studies, examinations, and requirements for the doctor of philosophy degree, is available from the Division of Graduate Studies and on the department website .

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Last modified: January 17, 2022 128.114.113.82

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Position overview

Application window.

Open date: June 17, 2023

Next review date: Thursday, Feb 29, 2024 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Friday, Jun 14, 2024 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

The Writing Program at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) invites applications for an ongoing pool of lecturers. Applicants with expertise in one or more of the following areas are invited to apply: Writing Studies, Rhetoric and Composition, and/or TESOL. The campus is especially interested in candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the academic community through their teaching and other assigned duties.

Successful applicants may be appointed to teach sections of (1) required first-year writing courses for those who have not satisfied the University of California's Entry-Level Writing Requirement (ELWR); (2) writing courses that satisfy the campus’s General Education requirement for Composition, and/or (3) writing courses for multilingual students. Faculty in the Writing Program have the opportunity to serve on program committees and participate in program leadership and are compensated for their service activities.

Successful candidates appointed to courses in the program would join a cadre of creative, dedicated teachers who engage in ongoing professional development that supports their work as instructors of writing. Approximately 50% of program faculty hold a doctoral degree. Sixty-four percent have continuing status, which confers additional stability in employment (see Article 7c of the Unit-18 MOU ). To achieve continuing status, lecturers undergo an excellence review prior to their 18th quarter or 6th year of employment with the program.

The hiring unit will not sponsor employment-eligible immigration statuses for this position.

Internal candidates will be given priority consideration.

Writing Program : https://writing.ucsc.edu

Qualifications

Master’s degree (or equivalent foreign degree); experience in teaching college-level composition as the instructor of record; formal graduate-level training in Rhetoric and Composition and/or TESOL; knowledge of current theory and research in Rhetoric and Composition/TESOL; and experience working with a diverse student population.

Application Requirements

Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

Cover Letter - Describe your approaches to teaching and the connection of those approaches to research in Rhetoric and Composition and/or TESOL, as well as detailed information on your knowledge of current theory and research in Rhetoric and Composition and/or TESOL.

Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - Statement addressing your understanding of the barriers facing traditionally underrepresented groups and your past and/or future contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion through teaching and professional or public service. Candidates are urged to review guidelines on statements (see https://apo.ucsc.edu/diversity.html ) before preparing their application.

Sample Course Syllabus - Provide a syllabus for a first-year writing course that would be appropriate at UCSC.

  • 3 letters of reference required

Applications must include confidential letters of recommendation*. Note that your references, or dossier service, will submit their confidential letters directly to the UC Recruit System.

*All letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. For any reference letter provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service, career center), direct the author to UCSC’s confidentiality statement at http://apo.ucsc.edu/confstm.htm .

Help contact: [email protected]

About UC Santa Cruz

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. UC Santa Cruz is committed to excellence through diversity and strives to establish a climate that welcomes, celebrates, and promotes respect for the contributions of all students and employees. Inquiries regarding the University’s equal employment opportunity policies may be directed to the Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064 or by phone at (831) 459-2686.

Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Certain UCSC positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check (see https://www.uscis.gov/e-verify ). The university sponsors employment-based visas for nonresidents who are offered academic appointments at UC Santa Cruz (see https://apo.ucsc.edu/policy/capm/102.530.html ).

UCSC is a smoke & tobacco-free campus.

If you need accommodation due to a disability, please contact Disability Management Services at [email protected] (831) 459-4602.

UCSC is committed to addressing the spousal and partner employment needs of our candidates and employees. As part of this commitment, our institution is a member of the Northern California Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (NorCal HERC). Visit the NorCal HERC website at https://www.hercjobs.org/regions/higher-ed-careers-northern-california/ to search for open positions within a commutable distance of our institution.

The University of California offers a competitive benefits package and a number of programs to support employee work/life balance. For information about employee benefits please visit https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/index.html

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

VISIT UC Santa Cruz: https://www.ucsc.edu

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Last modified: February 9, 2024 128.114.113.82

Moscow: city view, large notice board with slogans about the 5-Year Plan

creative writing application ucsc

About this item:

About the collection.

  • Dream Pictures and Travelogues, Branson DeCou
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Property rights for this work reside with the University of California. Literary rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. The digital copy of this work is intended to support research, teaching, and private study. The publication or use of any work protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use for research or educational purposes requires written permission from the copyright owner. Responsibility for obtaining permissions, and for any use rests exclusively with the user. For more information on copyright or to order an image, please visit guides.library.ucsc.edu/speccoll/reproduction-publication.

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Information about Everything

  • Beautiful Cities
  • Essays and Writing
  • Travels and Places

Sample essay on my favorite city Moscow

It was my first trip to Moscow and before going to Moscow I have consulted about this city with my advisor. He told me that Moscow is a very expensive city having hotel rooms for about $1000 and $12 coffees.

Moscow city night

Moscow’s Airports:

There are three international airports in Moscow that are Domodedovo, Vnukovo and the third one is Sheremetyevo.  All of them are constructed outside the Moscow.

Accommodation:

The next thing after landing over the airport is the issue of accommodation. Where should I go to stay was the first question in my mind? But thanks to my advisor who was with me throughout the whole journey. He took me to the Godzilla’s Hostel which is the oldest and the largest hostel of the city. You will get this hostel in the historical center. I found this area with numerous cafes which were inexpensive and that was the good news for me. We both found this place quite good for us because it has also a metro located station at the roadside.

Transportation System:

This city has the best transport system in the whole world. This big town has a little bit cold weather in winter and I along with my advisor decided to walk through the streets in this chilly weather. But soon we got to know that Moscow metro is more likely to be traveled in the city. For one ride and two rides, Moscow’s metro cost $0.80 for 50 rubles and $1.60 for 100 rubles. There was also an option of 32 rubles in one ride for $0.50. This option is known as Troika card. But we both traveled into two rides of 100 rubles.

Free Tour of Sightseeing:

As you know that Moscow one of the most expensive world’s city, I and my advisor wanted to visit Moscow in as less budget as possible. So free tour to Moscow is a good choice for us. What does it offer? Walking free tours in the city center and daily we left our hostel room and depart from there 10:45 in the morning to visit the Moscow city in the metro. It took two and a half an hour to visit various landmarks etc.

Next amazing option you can get there is sightseeing bus of Moscow which charges $12.50 for one day route.

Moscow city day

Moscow’s Culture:

To know about the culture of Moscow, we both entered into the museum. There are so many museums, exhibitions and different type of galleries in the city. Though the prices of the museums are different from one another but many museums has a free entry every month’s third Thursday.

Well, Moscow has many standard restaurants which are enough expensive to empty your pockets but it doesn’t mean that you can’t do fine dining within your budget. You will have hundreds of dishes in The Grable Chain restaurant’s buffet.

We both went to Grable restaurant and had marinated mushrooms, salted herring, and pork shashlik. We ate a delicious food within our budget.

We stayed in Moscow for about 3 days and then we are left with empty pockets except we have the money to come back to our city. So we decided that it is now the time to say goodbye to Moscow and come back to our home sweet home.

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IMAGES

  1. English WEEK 1&2 (CREATIVE WRITING)

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  2. LIT 90 Winter 2021 FINAL.pdf

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  3. University of Southern California (USC) Online Writing

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  4. Fillable Online writing ucsc Application

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  5. FREE 8+ Application Writing Samples in PDF

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  6. Writing A College Application Essay in 2021

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  1. Creative Art Drawing 3 #shorts #drawing

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  6. Frosh Degree Requirements

COMMENTS

  1. UC Santa Cruz

    The Creative Writing Program program is administered by the Literature Department at UCSC. Literature Major/Minor Advising: Humanities 1, room 303 (831) 459-4778 Alumni Site Click to visit the site! Support Creative Writing Your gift to the Creative Writing Program helps to support outstanding students and our nationally recognized program.

  2. PDF Ucsc Creative Writing Application

    UCSC CREATIVE WRITING APPLICATION The Literature faculty welcomes an application for the Creative Writing concentration of the Literature major from any currently enrolled student at UC Santa Cruz.

  3. Writing

    Creative Writing is a small, close-knit community of undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty. Students are accepted into the Creative Writing concentration by application.

  4. Applying to MFA Programs

    An MFA can qualify you to teach creative writing or other college-level writing/English courses. More importantly, it is time to read a ton and write a ton.

  5. Application Procedure

    For applicants to the Creative/Critical Writing concentration, the department requests the following additional materials: 20-25 pages of prose, double spaced (at least one complete piece and an additional sample preferred), or 10-12 pages of poetry. The writing can be poetry, prose fiction, creative nonfiction or hybrid/cross genre.

  6. Frequently Asked Questions

    The Creative Writing program at UCSC is small, and we want to expose you to a wide range of writers, to their different styles, preoccupations, writing processes, and to the ways they are writers in the world.

  7. LIT

    Additional Writing Sample for Applicants to the Creative/Critical Writing Concentration: 20-25 pages of prose (at least one complete piece and an additional sample preferred), or 10-12 pages of poetry. The writing can be poetry, prose fiction, creative non-fiction or hybrid/cross genre. A Statement of purpose is required:

  8. Creative/Critical Writing Concentration

    The general requirements for all Ph.D. students apply to the Creative/Critical Writing concentration: The Proseminar, Literature 200, to be taken in Fall Quarter of the first year; A one-quarter Pedagogy of Teaching/Teaching Assistant Training, Literature 201, to be taken prior to or in conjunction with the first Teaching Assistant appointment;

  9. About the PhD Creative/Critical Writing Concentration

    UC Santa Cruz offers a concentration in Creative/Critical Writing for Literature Ph.D. students. This is an individualized course of study in which students can write a creative dissertation with a critical introduction or a cross-genre creative/critical project.

  10. Admissions FAQ

    The most important parts of your application are the writing components, letters of recommendation, second language competency, and range of academic interests. We take a holistic look at each applicant's file. No single element—like transcripts or GPA— would rule out an otherwise strong candidate whose intellectual interests and ...

  11. Frequently Asked Questions

    Q: The creative writing application requests evaluations from all prior creative writing instructors. Does this include non-UCSC creative writing instructors? [ show] Q: I'm a senior and I'd like to take LIT 90 to satisfy the PR-C general education requirement. Why can't I enroll yet? [ show]

  12. Writing Program

    All incoming frosh at UCSC are required to take writing courses. We love to teach these courses! Facts & Fiction Learn about the myths many believe about teaching writing and learning to write. Frequently Asked Questions Are you an undergraduate who has a question about writing requirements?

  13. Literature

    Students are accepted into the creative writing concentration by application. All students may participate in student-run publications and the campus radio station, KZSC. Opportunities exist for students to complete independent research projects with a faculty sponsor.

  14. Ph.D. Program

    A Creative/Critical Writing concentration within the Ph.D. program is available, for which prospective students apply during the admissions process. Creative/Critical applicants submit additional creative writing samples of poetry, prose fiction, creative nonfiction or hybrid/cross genre.

  15. Writing Program Lectureships (JPF01534)

    Position overview. Position title: Writing Program Lectureship (Pre-six Lecturer) Salary range: A reasonable estimate for an appointment to teach a standard five-credit course is $8,282 - $23,306 (based on salary points 1-36), please see the UCSC Salary Scales and refer to the Non-senate Instructional (NSI) Unit 18 Pre-six Lecturer Academic ...

  16. Writing Mentors

    Writing Mentor. [email protected]. Bio: Conner holds an MFA from the Iowa Writers' Workshop and is a PhD candidate in Creative/Critical Writing at UCSC. He is the author of one full-length poetry collection, three poetry chapbooks, and one translated book from Russian. His collection, Invention of Monsters (2015), received a nomination for ...

  17. Creative Technologies

    Students in Creative Technologies obtain a degree that emphasizes emerging arts and design technologies, learning to use a variety of design and art practices in digital environments. Our curriculum aims to serve as a nurturing nexus for justice, community, imagination, humor, activism, and joy. The program combines online and in-person ...

  18. Moscow: city view, large notice board with slogans about the 5-Year

    Toggle navigation UC Santa Cruz University Library. Contact Us; Browse Collections; Digital Collections. Photographs, audio recordings, publications, and more from our Special Collections & Archives. Search. Search. Digital Collections; Branson DeCou Archive; Moscow: city view, large notice board with slogans about the 5-Year Plan;

  19. Writing Studio News & Notes

    Undergraduate Creative Writing Symposium and Arts Showcase. When: Wednesday, April 10, 3:00-6:00 PM. The 3rd Annual Undergraduate Creative Writing Symposium and Arts Showcase will celebrate undergraduates of all years as talented creative writers through their readings of their fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and more.

  20. 18 UNMISSABLE Things to Do in Moscow (from a Local!)

    Blini (блины) - Russian pancakes, can be eaten both as a dessert with jam or with meat filling. Borsch (борщ) - red beetroot soup with sour cream. Pelmeni (пельмени) - Russian dumplings. Solyanka (Солянка) - a little bit of everything in the soup - pickles, lemons, olives, sausages.

  21. City of Moscow Utility Billing Property Owner Application

    CITY OF MOSCOW UTILITY BILLING APPLICATION FOR USE OF CITY UTILITY SERVICES Property Owner(s) Information: Name(s): Service Address: Mailing Address (if different than above): E-Mail Address: Phone Number: Requested Start-Up Date: Garbage Roll Off Cart Size ☐35 Gallon ☐65 Gallon ☐95 Gallon ☐N/A

  22. Sample essay on my favorite city Moscow

    But soon we got to know that Moscow metro is more likely to be traveled in the city. For one ride and two rides, Moscow's metro cost $0.80 for 50 rubles and $1.60 for 100 rubles. There was also an option of 32 rubles in one ride for $0.50. This option is known as Troika card. But we both traveled into two rides of 100 rubles.