Graduate Program

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Admissions:
Department of History
Graduate Admission
3229 Dwinelle Hall, MC#2550
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94720-2550

Tel: (510) 642-2378 | Fax: (510) 643-5323

Email: histadm@berkeley.edu

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Graduate Program Guide

Language Requirements by Field

Please pay careful attention to how a language requirement may be fulfilled. If the list indicates that a language can be "fulfilled by options outlined under Appendix III," refer to that appendix for further information. Students should begin language preparation upon entering the program. All language requirements must be satisfied before the PhD Oral Qualifying Examination

Africa

1) French ‑‑ fulfilled by options outlined under Appendix III.
2) In consultation with the faculty in African history, an examination in a language related to the candidate's research must be passed.

America Since 1607

One language -- fulfilled by options outlined under Appendix III.

Ancient Greece & Rome

1) Latin and ancient Greek ‑‑ students must pass an advanced examination in each language. The faculty in Ancient History administers the examinations. Reading lists in preparation for these two exams can be adjusted to the needs of individual candidates, who should consult with the faculty to draw up these lists. These exams are 3 hours in length without use of a dictionary.
2) French and German ‑‑ fulfilled by options outlined under Appendix III. Subject to the approval of the faculty in Ancient History, candidates with a strong interest in Roman studies may substitute Italian for French.

Britain Since 1509

One language - consult with faculty in the field.

Byzantine

1) Greek and Latin ‑‑ students must pass an examination in each language. The Greek exam is 3 hours to translate 2 passages without use of a dictionary. The faculty in the field administers the exams. Students must complete reading lists in Greek and Latin historical sources.
2) Two modern languages ‑ fulfilled by options outlined under Appendix III.

Early Modern Europe

French and German, or French or German plus a second appropriate modern European language; consult with the faculty in the field - fulfilled by options outlined under Appendix III.

East Asia - China or Japan Emphasis

China Emphasis:
1) Modern Chinese ‑‑ fulfilled by options outlined under Appendix III.
2) Classical Chinese -- All students are required to take at least one semester of History 280G in Chinese language sources and pass with at least a B grade.
3) Modern Scholarly Japanese ‑‑ Completion of first-year (Japanese 1A-1B) and second-year Japanese (Japanese 10A-10B) (with a grade of B or higher), plus either (1) a B or better grade in the one-semester class, Japanese for Sinologists (Japanese 100S); or (2)  completion of third-year Japanese (Japanese 100A-100B with a grade of B or higher) plus passing an exam that will be administered by EALC (not History) so that adequate reading knowledge is assured.
4) European language (French or German or Russian) ‑‑ fulfilled by options outlined under Appendix III.
The above are minimum requirements for the China emphasis. Further requirements will be determined according to the research area of the student by the major professor and graduate adviser. In fulfilling these field requirements, candidates should request their major professor to send a note to the Graduate Assistant verifying that the requirements have been fulfilled.

Japan Emphasis:
1) Japanese -- advanced reading knowledge of modern Japanese required. Classical Japanese is also required for research in pre-modern sources. Students should consult faculty in this field.
2) European language (French or German or Russian or language to be determined in consultation with faculty in the field) ‑‑ fulfilled by options outlined under Appendix III.

History of Science

French and German - fulfilled by options outlined under Appendix III.

Jewish

Students should consult with the faculty in the field. Usually, Hebrew in all its historical layers, some Aramaic, and two more languages (one a modern European, the other depending on the student's area of specialization) are required.

Late Modern Europe Since 1789

French and German, or French or German plus a second appropriate modern European language; consult with the faculty in the field - fulfilled by options outlined under Appendix III.

Latin America

Spanish and Portuguese to be fulfilled by options outlined under Appendix III.

Medieval Europe

1) Latin ‑‑ Students who do not have advanced knowledge of Latin must take one upper division or graduate course in Latin, in their first year if possible, which will be counted in the MA requirement. Students whose Latin is insufficient should prepare in Latin or take courses in elementary or intermediate Latin to qualify for the advanced course.
2) Two other languages (one will normally be German) ‑‑ to be fulfilled by options outlined under Appendix III.

Middle East

Consult faculty in the field. Arabic, Ottoman Turkish, or Persian, plus one European language.

South Asia

1) One European language (French or Dutch or German or Portuguese or Russian) as approved by faculty in the field, to be fulfilled by one of the options under Appendix III.
2) One Indian language to be fulfilled by one of the options outlined in Appendix III.

Southeast Asia

1) One Southeast Asian vernacular language fulfilled by passing a 2- hour translation exam to be overseen by the Southeast Asian history faculty but administered by language instructors in the Department of South and Southeast Asian Languages.
2) One European language other than English to be fulfilled by one of the options outlined in Appendix III.