Ph.D. and Designated Emphasis Advising

Key Contacts

Graduate Program Advisor and Coordinator Eric Sneathen is the main contact for student advising needs related to the LALS Ph.D. program, while Graduate Program Director Jeffrey Erbig leads the faculty’s work around development of curriculum and academic policies and procedures for the program. 

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Ph.D. advising

Graduate student handbook

The Latin American and Latino Studies (LALS) Graduate Student Handbook is available as a PDF document. This handbook provides academic and administrative guidelines and community principles for graduate students in LALS. Students can also refer to the LALS Ph.D. requirements in the general catalog for the year they were admitted.

The campus also maintains an extensive list of campus resources that may be useful for graduate students.

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Designated emphasis

Students wishing to pursue the Designated Emphasis in LALS should first consult with their graduate program coordinators and faculty advisors in their home department. Students should declare their intent to undertake the LALS Designated Emphasis prior to the execution of their Qualifying Exams and apply by the end of the third year.

How to enroll

Submit the Petition to Enroll via email to lals-phd@ucsc.edu. Attach syllabi for any courses you plan to take outside the LALS Department. The Graduate Program Coordinator will submit the petition to the LALS Graduate Committee for approval.

Requirements

Committee composition	Courses
The student must have a designated LALS advisor (DE advisor) from the Latin American and Latino studies core or affiliated faculty. This advisor will be in addition to the faculty advisor from the student’s home department. The Latin American and Latino studies advisor must serve on the student’s QE and/or dissertation committee.	Students must submit a course plan to the LALS Graduate Committee for approval to enroll in the DE.  Students must take five graduate courses in Latin American and Latino studies:  – LALS 200 (required)  – One LALS course taught by a core LALS faculty member  – Three courses with LALS content in any UCSC department taught by core, participating, or affiliated LALS faculty.

Completion

Students who have completed all requirements for the Designated Emphasis must submit the Designated Emphasis Completion Checklist to the LALS Graduate Program Coordinator via email at lals-phd@ucsc.edu. 

The checklist must be signed by your DE advisor and include a copy of your unofficial transcript. If you took courses other than those listed on your original Petition to Enroll, you must attach syllabi for Graduate Committee approval. Once the completion checklist is approved, the Graduate Program Coordinator will confirm your DE with the Graduate Division, and it will be listed on your degree.

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Resources, forms, and petitions for current graduate students

Enrollment expectations 

The minimum load for full-time students is 10 units of graduate and/or upper-division undergraduate coursework. The minimum load for students who have advanced to candidacy is 5 units of graduate and/or upper-division undergraduate coursework, usually LALS 299, Thesis Research. Students who enrolled in the program in Fall 2018 or later must also enroll in LALS 292 each quarter. Email lals-phd@ucsc.edu to request independent study enrollment information (including instructor and credits required).

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Advancement to candidacy required forms

Due to department by end of 2nd year (spring quarter)

• Qualifying Exam (QE) Committee Nomination Form

Due to department and Graduate Division by end of 3rd year / QE quarter

• Language Report
• Qualifying Exam Report
• Dissertation Committee Nomination Form
• Application for Master’s Degree (optional)

Due to department after QE

• Internal QE Results
• Dissertation Prospectus Approval

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Teaching and TA employment resources

• Lesson plan template (make a copy)
• Teaching resources from the Teaching and Learning Center
• Graduate teaching programs from the Teaching and Learning Center
• Payroll contacts

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Forms and petitions

Many of these forms are also available on the Graduate Division website. Email lals-phd@ucsc.edu for additional assistance.