Related Academic Programs

Begin planning early if you are interested in completing a Designated Emphasis or Joint Ph.D., since these programs add to your coursework and to the shape of your Qualifying Examination.

The Joint Ph.D. in Medieval Studies, for example, calls for a special examination in Latin in addition to seminar work in History, and both the Designated Emphasis in Film and the Designated Emphasis in Women, Gender, and Sexuality have specific course requirements.

Berkeley also offers a Ph.D. in Romance Languages and Literatures (RLL), which allows students to work in three Romance languages and literatures. The RLL Program is administered jointly by the Departments of Italian Studies, French, and Spanish & Portuguese. Intending students choose one of the languages taught in those three departments as their primary emphasis. Admitted students are then "housed" in the department in which the language of their primary emphasis is taught (i.e. Italian Studies); however, they are required to take courses and satisfy program requirements in all three departments, and all three departments must be represented on their eventual qualifying examination and dissertation committees. Students must also choose between focusing their studies on literature in at least three Romance languages, or on Romance linguistics. Full details of the Program in Romance Languages and Literatures (Italian emphasis) are available here.