MFA | Current Students
This section comprises the MFA student handbook. Please familiarize yourself with its contents during your first quarter in the program.The handbook supplements the student information provided on the Graduate Division and TritonLink sites.
Student Timelines
Year 1
- Establish California residency for tuition purposes if applicable.
- Attend new student and TA and orientations (September-October).
- Attend cohort meetings (quarterly).
- Apply for TA loan and fee deferments if desired (August).
- Complete TA employment paperwork (September).
- Discuss description of TA duties with course instructor (quarterly).
- Enroll in the theory seminar (LTTH 250 or 255).
- Petition MFA program director to use courses outside of Literature for degree (quarterly).
- Create a professional development plan (September).
- Consult MFA Graduate Coordinator about degree progress (quarterly).
- Meet with primary faculty advisor (quarterly or as needed).
- Select thesis committee chairperson and prospective committee members (October-May).
- Apply for Winter quarter research award if funds are available (October).
- Review teaching evaluations (quarterly).
- Participate in annual graduate student evaluation process (March-June).
- Apply for Summer quarter research award if funds are available (March).
- Give public reading of first year's work (April-May).
- Submit preliminary thesis and committee proposal (May-June).
Years 2-3
- Attend cohort meetings (quarterly).
- Apply for TA loan and fee deferments if desired (August).
- Discuss description of TA duties with course instructor (quarterly).
- Enroll in the theory seminar (LTTH 250 or 255).
- Submit thesis and committee proposal if 2nd Year student (November).
- Petition MFA Program Director to use courses outside of Literature for degree (quarterly).
- Continue working on professional development.
- Consult MFA Graduate Coordinator about degree progress (quarterly).
- Meet with committee chair or faculty advisor (quarterly or as needed).
- Finalize thesis committee membership (two quarters before graduation).
- Submit thesis work to committee for feedback.
- Apply for Winter quarter research award if funds are available (October).
- Read the thesis formatting manual and ask MFA Graduate Coordinator for a candidacy timeline two quarters before graduation.
- Review teaching evaluations (quarterly).
- Participate in annual graduate student evaluation process (March-June).
- Apply for Summer quarter research award if eligible and funds are available (March).
- Apply for extension of student visa extension if needed (April).
- Give public reading of year's work (quarter of graduation).