Cultural Studies Graduate Program: Ph.D.

Admission

To be considered for admission to graduate studies in cultural studies, all applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree, with a suitable overall grade point average, from an accredited college or university. To be considered for admission next Fall, applicants must submit the following by January 15:

1. B.A. or M.A. degree from a recognized institution;

2. An official graduate application form including a statement of purpose with attention to how the student's interests are served by a Cultural Studies program in particular and three letters of recommendation from professors familiar with the applicant's writing in Cultural Studies or related fields;

3.Two official copies of all previous college transcripts. (Transcripts of both undergraduate and graduate work must be submitted. If a student attended a junior college whose credits and grades are not listed on the senior college transcript,a separate junior college transcript is required.) International students must submit certified English translations of transcripts;

4. For international students, proficiency in English as demonstrated by a minimum TOEFL score of 550 (paper) or 213 (computer) OR an IELTS total score of 6.5.

In order to teach, any graduate student whose native language is not English must score 55 or above on the TSE or SPEAK test OR obtain a score of 7.0 or better in the speaking component of the IELTS test. The website for ETS (TOEFL & GRE) is www.ets.org;

5. An appropriate score on the Graduate Record Examination General Test (GRE);
Institution Code 2548; Department Code 2902

6. Two term papers or other writing samples in literature or related field;

7. For international students, a foreign student financial affidavit; due upon admission

8. For international students, a CD, DVD, or standard cassette demonstrating ability to speak English;

9. An application fee of $60.00

In addition to your on-line application, please send all paper documents to:

Stony Brook State University of New York
Department of Comparative Literary & Cultural Studies
Humanities Building - Room 2048
Stony Brook, NY 11794-5355

Tuition and Financial Support

As of January 2007, the tuition for one academic year of study for a resident of New York State was $6,900 (or $288 per credit). For non-residents the tuition for one academic year of study was $10,920 ($455 per credit).

Any applicant admitted to Graduate Studies in Cultural Studies is automatically considered for financial aid. A limited number of full and partial teaching assistantships are available.

During the academic year 2007-08, a full assistantship carries a stipend of $15,145, plus a full Tuition Scholarship. Students with excellent grades and GRE scores are strongly urged to apply early in the fall semester prior to the year they plan to begin their studies so that the program can nominate them for special fellowships, such as the Graduate Council Fellowship, which in 2007-08 carries a stipend of $17,572 plus a full Tuition Scholarship. In addition, minority applicants are eligible to be nominated for the Turner Fellowship, which also carries a stipend of $17,572, plus a full Tuition Scholarship.

All New York State resident graduate students who apply for a Tuition Scholarship must apply for TAP (Tuition Assistance Program). New York State residents who are ineligible for TAP for financial reasons must provide the Graduate School with documentation proving their ineligibility. Students from outside New York State should investigate other sources of financial aid. All students with Tuition Scholarship of any kind must apply for New York residency immediately on arrival at Stony Brook. Beginning with the student's second semester of study, Tuition Scholarship cover only the amount of in-state tuition; students who choose to maintain residency in another state are required to make up the difference from their own funds.

Find out about our faculty members and their research interests.

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Read the Cultural Studies Handbook for requirements, evaluations, exams, dissertation regulations, and more.

CST Graduate Handbook (pdf)