In UCSB’s Global and International Studies Program, the term “global” refers to transnational economic, political, environmental, social, and cultural interactions and flows that operate at a global (i.e., trans-continental) scale. “Global studies” views the world as comprised of increasingly interdependent processes, rather than as shaped exclusively or even primarily by the interplay of discreet nation-states.

Students pursuing a Ph.D. in English may petition to add an emphasis in global studies. Petitions for adding the emphasis can be made at any time in a student's graduate career, but typically will be made after at least one successful year of study in the home department. To satisfy the Ph.D. emphasis in global studies, the student's dissertation committee must have one member from a participating department other than the student's own department. Students are required to take four one-quarter graduate level courses. One course is Global 201, the introductory gateway seminar, offered by the Global and International Studies Program. Three additional courses must be chosen from among qualifying global theory and global issues courses offered by participating departments.

A full description of the interdisciplinary emphasis and its requirements are available at http://www.global.ucsb.edu/phd/about.html. For additional information, please contact Giles Gunn, who is the English department representative on the coordinating committee, or Global Studies.

Grad students in the English department are eligible to get the Women’s Studies Doctoral Emphasis. Candidates complete four graduate courses and select a member of the Women’s Studies faculty or affiliated faculty as a part of their Ph.D. exams and dissertation committees. Applications to the Women’s Studies Doctoral Emphasis may be submitted at any stage of Ph.D. work, and will be considered throughout the academic year.

1. Issues in Feminist Epistemology and Pedagogy (Women’s Studies 270).
A one quarter seminar that offers an interdisciplinary exploration of feminist theories of knowledge production and teaching practices.

2. Special Topics in Women’s Studies (Women’s Studies 594AA-ZZ).
A one quarter seminar in which students present and critique each other’s work-in-progress. This course explores fundamental issues in the philosophy, process, and tools of feminist research.

3. Feminist Theories.
A one quarter graduate seminar in feminist theory offered by any department.

4. Topical Seminar.
A one quarter graduate seminar, outside the student’s home department, that addresses topics relevant to the study of women, gender, and/or sexuality.