The following constitutes introductory information regarding the graduate degree program. For a complete outline of degree requirements, see Program Requirements for UCLA Graduate Degrees available in the program office and accessible from the Graduate Division homepage at http://www.gdnet.ucla.edu.
In order to be admitted to graduate status, applicants must have a B.A. degree with a major in an Indo-European language field (e.g., German, Slavic, Celtic, Romance languages, Latin, Greek), linguistics (with concentration in historical and comparative linguistics), anthropology, or archaeology. Letters of recommendation (at least two, preferably three or four) are required; Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are not required. Potential applicants may request a brochure by writing to the Indo-European Studies Program.
Admission to the program itself constitutes admission to the doctoral program; there is no master's degree offered. Should deficiencies exist in prerequisites to specific work at the graduate level, applicants may be granted provisional admission and directed to remove those deficiencies in the initial period of enrollment.
The Ph.D. in Indo-European Studies is offered with three alternative major emphases: (1) Indo-European linguistics; (2) Indo-Iranian or other specialized language area studies; (3) European and related archaeology.
The course requirements vary among the three major fields of specialization. General requirements for all students regardless of specialization include knowledge of Vedic Sanskrit and Homeric Greek, basic competence in Indo-European linguistics (including the introductory courses Indo-European Studies M150 and 210), mythology (e.g., Classics 168), and archaeology (including Indo-European Studies 131, 132). Additional requirements by field are as follows:
Linguistics. An advanced seminar in comparative grammar, a minimum of four ancient Indo-European languages from different sub-branches, and additional units in courses offered by the Linguistics Department (e.g., phonetics, structural linguistics) and related departments. These additional units should be chosen in consultation with the adviser.
Indo-Iranian or Other Specialized Language Area. An advanced seminar in comparative grammar, a minimum of two ancient Indo-European languages from different sub-branches, and additional units in the area of specialization, to be chosen in consultation with the adviser.
European and Related Archaeology. A minimum of one ancient Indo-European language, an advanced seminar in European archaeology, a course in analytical methods in archaeology, and additional units in archaeology, anthropology, and related fields, to be chosen in consultation with your adviser.
When the required course work is completed and prior to advancement to candidacy, a series of written examinations covering the major and minor fields are administered. These consist of translation and analysis of set texts from the ancient Indo-European languages and diagnostic examinations in the other fields. Following successful completion of the written examinations, the University Oral Qualifying Examination, based on the written examinations and the dissertation prospectus, is administered by the doctoral committee. It is intended to probe the student's grasp of the entire field. Should the student fail either the written or oral examinations, the interdepartmental degree committee may allow reexamination.