Graduate Program Details

Program of Study

Please see the graduate bulletin for the master's project option program of study, including required core courses and specialty track courses.
 

Project Proposal

You'll be expected to complete a project proposal with a brief description of your project, the importance of the project, the methods to be employed and relevant theoretical or conceptual issues. These components of your proposal will correspond to the three sections that comprise the required reading:

1. Items related directly to the project
2. Items related to the background areas around the project
3. Items about theory and method necessary for research on the project

In consultation with the project director, you will also select a second reader for your project and submit the proposal to your second reader.
 

The Annotated Bibliography

Once the proposal, including the reading list, has been approved by the project committee, you'll be able to enroll in ALCS 691: Directed Readings.

To complete ALCS 691, you will prepare an annotated bibliography of the approved reading list. Each annotation should be between 250 and 500 words, and you will consult with your advisors for guidance on writing annotations.

Your annotations will demonstrate that you've studied each item on the reading list and will explain briefly (in one paragraph) how each list item is to be used in preparation for the project.
 

ALCS 697: Master's Project

You should anticipate that it may take up to one academic year to complete your research and at least one additional semester for writing. Allow up to five weeks for the project director and the second reader to study a written version and suggest changes.

To expedite the process, please remember to submit, with all revised versions, all draft copies with the marginal and other comments of the readers intact so that the reader might see how recommended changes have been addressed in the most recent version.

Master's projects should demonstrate writing skills as well as a command of theoretical and methodological skills in a particular discipline or area of study. They should also provide convincing evidence of your ability to conduct independent research creatively, or they may attest to a special skill in a particular area (for example, creative writing, computer programming, photography, etc.).

The MA project is not necessarily the equivalent of a thesis. Creative writing projects and projects that use multimedia or computer programs are acceptable if accompanied by a written text that demonstrates extensive research and the appropriate application of analytical skills. All bibliographic references should follow a consistent format using a style sheet published by professional organizations like the MLA Handbook, the Chicago Manual of Style, or a style sheet published by disciplinary organizations in the social sciences.

You should write your master's project in English. You may write your project in another Latin American and Caribbean language with the approval of the project director and the director of graduate studies. Depending on the nature of the project, the length of the text may vary from at least 50 to 75 typed, double-spaced pages.
 

Project Committee

To avoid conflicts of interest, the project director and second reader should not be related to each other as spouses or partners. If the graduate studies committee (which includes the department chair) determines that there is a potential for conflict of interest in the composition of any project committee, it will appoint a new project committee in consultation with the project director and the candidate.
 

Degree Clearance

To receive grade credits and satisfy the requirements for ALCS 697: Directed Master's Project, you must submit two identical copies of the final corrected typescript of the project incorporating all corrections and revisions must be submitted by the student for approval in writing by the project director and the second reader. 
 

Clarification of Procedures

Please seek clarification of these procedures from your faculty advisor.  You can seek further clarification from the director of graduate studies or the department chair.

Please see the graduate bulletin for the comprehensive exam option program of study, including required core courses and specialty track courses.

Students should begin to think about comprehensive examination themes no later than the end of the first academic year. The themes will form the basis for the comprehensive examination.

Master's students are required to demonstrate proficiency in either Spanish or Portuguese. You can meet the language proficiency requirement in one of two ways. Under the first option, you will take a proficiency exam administered in the Africana, Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies office. Under the second option, you'll need to obtain a minimum grade of B+ in an upper-division undergraduate Spanish or Portuguese language class.
 

By the end of the second semester of full-time study, you should have selected an advisor who will supervise ALCS 691: Directed Readings. In consultation with this advisor, you will also select your second reader. The advisor and the second reader shall comprise your comprehensive examination committee.

You will be required to submit a five-page topic statement. The statement will describe your chosen topic in detail, explain the reasons for selecting the topic, and briefly explain how the topic is related to your professional aspirations and/or intellectual interests. You will also develop a reading list of no less than 30-40 entries comprised primarily of scholarly books and journal articles, or other relevant primary, secondary and creative sources germane to the topic.

Once the topic statement, including the reading list, is approved by the comprehensive examination committee, you will be granted permission to enroll in ALCS 691.

ALCS 691 students must prepare an annotated bibliography of the sources in the original reading list as amended by the comprehensive examination committee. Each annotation should be between 250 and 500 words in length. You are expected to consult with their advisors for guidance on writing annotations.

The annotated bibliography will be divided more or less equally into two sections: 

1. Thematic - Examples: urban, environmental, identity and culture, gender, race, globalization and transnationalism, imperialism, etc.
2. Geographic/historical - Examples: Latin America, Caribbean, U.S. Latina/o, regions or specific countries or regions. 
   You'll have completed ALCS 691 upon approval of the annotated bibliography by the comprehensive examination committee.

You will then request in writing that your advisor schedule the comprehensive examination. The request must be made by October 15 for a Spring term examination or April 15 for a Fall term examination.

The Master's comprehensive examination will consist of two questions, one for each of two student-defined fields. You will have 48 hours to complete the exam. Answers should be 7-10 pages each, 12 pt. font, Times New Roman.

Students are encouraged to submit their annotated bibliography at the beginning of the semester preceding the semester in which the exam will be scheduled. Under extraordinary circumstances and upon the recommendation of the advisor, these deadlines can be waived.

Please see the graduate bulletin for details about the Latin American, Caribbean and Latina/o Studies Doctoral Concentration of the Spanish Doctor of Philosophy Degree Program, including required courses and required steps for the PhD concentration.
 

Language Requirement

• As a doctoral student, you are required to demonstrate proficiency in Spanish before taking the qualifying examination. Proficiency can be demonstrated by passing an exam administered by the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures (LLC) or by completing a graduate-level course at the University or other accredited higher education institution with a minimum grade of B+.
• If you plan to undertake research in a country or region that requires command of another language (e.g. Portuguese, French, Haitian Creole, Quechua or another indigenous language), you will need to demonstrate proficiency in the language before the date scheduled for defense of the doctoral dissertation proposal. You can do so with a minimum grade of B+ graduate level course in the second language at an accredited higher education institution.
   

Coursework

You are required to complete 30 credits beyond an approved MA. Coursework will include a core sequence of 18 credits and ALCS 781: Directed Readings. Students admitted into the concentration with an MA in Latin American, Caribbean, and U.S. Latino Studies Students from UAlbany may substitute 18 other credits (as advised) for the core sequence and complete 12 credits (including ALCS 781 Directed Readings). 

Independent Study (ALCS 695) and Topics courses (ALCS 696) require the approval of the director of graduate studies.

To apply to the doctoral program, you are required to submit the following:

• Transcripts
• Three letters of recommendation
• Writing sample: 5-10 pages
• Personal statement: two pages describing your decision to pursue advanced graduate studies. 
  Briefly describe experiences that have prepared you for advanced study or research, and your plans for your future occupation or profession, and provide any additional information that may aid the selection committee in evaluating your preparation and aptitude for graduate study.
• Research statement: four pages describing your research interests and identifying faculty in the program whose work aligns with your interests. Be as precise as possible in describing your research interests, including region or country, topic or approach you expect to adopt, as well as historical subjects and intellectual issues you would like to explore.

The composition of all dissertation committees will be submitted to the director of graduate studies for approval. Students admitted with an MA will form their dissertation committees by the end of their first semester of coursework. Students admitted without an MA will form their dissertation committees by the end of their fifth semester of coursework.

By the end of the first or fifth semester, you are required to select a faculty member to serve as director of your dissertation committee (your dissertation director). The director you choose must have a formal affiliation with the department (see the department faculty list).

If a department faculty member is not available to serve as your sole dissertation director, you may ask a faculty member from another department or college to serve as co-director of the dissertation committee. The other co-director must then be a department-affiliated faculty member. You should select committee members with expertise in your chosen topic of research and with whom you have taken courses. 

With the assistance of your dissertation director, you will select two additional department faculty members (full-time or associated) to form the doctoral dissertation committee. The dissertation director should not dictate the composition of the committee but will ensure that there is sufficient expertise on the committee about the topic of the dissertation. When it is necessary, a fourth full-time faculty member for the dissertation committee may be chosen from outside the department or the University.

Once all members have agreed to serve, the dissertation director will inform the director of graduate studies in writing about the composition of the dissertation committee.

Changes in the Dissertation Committee Composition

To avoid conflicts of interest, the members of your dissertation committee should not be related to each other as spouses or partners. If the graduate studies committee (which includes the department chair) determines that there is a potential for conflict of interest in the composition of any dissertation committee, it will appoint a new dissertation committee in consultation with the dissertation director and the candidate.

The candidate may reconstitute the membership of the dissertation committee at any time. After the matter has been discussed with all members of the dissertation committee, the candidate will inform the graduate director of the composition of the new committee, which may include a new dissertation committee director. 

The graduate director will officially inform all faculty concerned, (previous and new members of the dissertation committee), as well as the department chair of the change in membership. The student’s record will also be changed to list the members of the reconstituted committee, the new dissertation committee director (if applicable) and the date the change went into effect. 

All committee members should honor the candidate's request for change in the membership of the dissertation committee, and the candidate should respect the right of all committee members to withdraw from the committee at any time.  

Before enrolling in ALCS 781, you must complete ALCS 502, 503, 504, 505, and 506.

Your dissertation director will supervise ALCS 781. You will submit a topic statement of 500 words and a reading list consisting of 50-60 books and articles to their doctoral dissertation committee director.

The reading list will be divided into three sections: 

1. Thematic - Examples: urban, environmental, identity and culture, gender, race, globalization and transnationalism, imperialism.
2. Geographic - Latin America, Caribbean, U.S. Latina/o, Regions or specific countries or regions. 
3. Theoretical - Examples: Post-colonial and decolonial theory, democratic theory, Marxism and neo-Marxism, cultural and literary theory, etc. 

At this time, you will invite two faculty members to serve on your doctoral dissertation committee. Your dissertation director will also provide the reading list and topic statement to the other members of the dissertation committee. Once these steps are complete, you will receive permission to enroll in ALCS 781 and inform the DGS.

Once enrolled in ALCS 781, you will prepare an annotated bibliography of the approved reading list. Annotations should be 250-500 words or an appropriate length determined by you and your dissertation director. In addition, each annotation should include a brief description (50-100 words) explaining why the entry was selected.

The dissertation director will send the annotated bibliography to the other committee members. To obtain a satisfactory grade for ALCS 781, your dissertation director must approve your completed annotated bibliography of 50-60 books. The dissertation director will inform the director of graduate studies of your completion.

You must complete the 18-credit core sequence with an average grade of "B" before you are permitted to take the qualifying examination.

While completing ALCS 781, you will write the director of graduate studies to request a date to take the qualifying exam. You must make your request no later than November 10 or May 10 of the semester preceding the requested examination date.

The qualifying exam will be prepared by your doctoral dissertation committee and administered by the director of graduate studies. The dissertation director will send the approved and completed annotated list to the other members of the committee no less than four weeks before the scheduled date of the qualifying exam.

With the committee, you will collaboratively decide which of the three questions each committee member will design. The qualifying exam will consist of three questions, one for each of the three sections:

1. Thematic
2. Geographic/Regional
3. Theoretical

You must submit the completed examination to the director of graduate studies no later than three days (72 hours) after receiving the examination. You must successfully respond to each question to pass. Your responses must be 12 font double-spaced, 7 to 10 pages and documented as a research paper.

During the preparation of your examination, you may not consult with others for editorial, stylistic or research assistance. Nor may you seek feedback on your completed examination before submitting it to the director of graduate studies. The director will confirm the examination was delivered on time and returned to them within 72 hours.

Your completed exam will then be sent to the dissertation director and the committee members for grading. Your dissertation director will inform the director of graduate studies and department chair if you passed (S grade) or failed (U grade) the qualifying examination. 

A student is admitted to candidacy (ABD) for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and may undertake work on the dissertation subject to the following:

1. Satisfactory completion of the qualifying examination.
2. Satisfactory completion of the research tool requirements by fulfilling the foreign language requirement.
3. Successful defense of the doctoral dissertation proposal.
4. Completion of the University residency requirements (where appropriate).

Dissertation Proposal

By the end of the semester that follows the successful completion of all the exams and requirements, each candidate for the PhD degree must submit a dissertation proposal.

Your dissertation proposal must be 10-20 pages long and contain the following: 

1. A general description of the project, including a clear critical/theoretical approach to the topic.
2. Review of relevant literatures the project engages or challenges.
3. Discussion of method and plan for research, including specific sources, archives, and interviews as necessary.
4. A bibliography of primary and secondary sources.

The director of graduate studies may approve changes to the length requirements at the request of the dissertation director.
 

Doctoral Dissertation Proposal

All candidates must defend their dissertation proposal in a meeting open to all faculty and students of the department.

You will submit your proposal to your dissertation director, who will then provide your proposal to the dissertation committee members well in advance of your scheduled proposal defense date.

The dissertation director will select the date and time for the formal defense of the doctoral dissertation proposal and inform the director of graduate studies. The department will announce the meeting date, time and location of the proposal defense. 

Your dissertation director will chair the proposal defense and the members of the dissertation committee will vote in private before announcing their decision. Faculty present at the proposal defense who are not members of the doctoral dissertation committee are invited to observe (and may participate if invited) in the dissertation committee's deliberation.

The dissertation committee members will make suggestions for changes in the proposal. After these changes have been incorporated, the dissertation director will transmit a final version of the proposal to the director of graduate studies. Upon approval from the dissertation committee, you are admitted to candidacy. You may start writing the doctoral dissertation, enrolling in ALCS 899 each semester as you do so.

Dissertation Progress Report

Every semester, the dissertation director will indicate progress on your dissertation on an advisement form and circulate copies of the form to the members of the dissertation committee and the director of graduate studies. The director of graduate studies will place this advisement form in your file
 

ALCS 899: Doctoral Dissertation (1 load credit)

Dissertation credits count as load credit only and are graded L/U. They cannot be applied to the 30 credits (post MA) minimum requirement for the PhD.  You may register for load credit only after all the other requirements are completed.

Completed Dissertation

Once your dissertation is complete, your dissertation director will forward copies to dissertation committee members, requesting written critiques from committee members within two to three weeks.

The dissertation director will circulate these critiques among dissertation committee members and place copies of them in your file. Members of the dissertation committee may also request a meeting with you, and you may request a meeting with the dissertation committee or any of its members at any time.
 

Dissertation Defense

You will defend the dissertation in a meeting open to all faculty and students of the department.  In consultation with the candidate and the dissertation committee, and in accordance with departmental procedures, the director of graduate studies will arrange a date for the defense of the dissertation.

The dissertation director will chair the defense, and the members of the dissertation committee will vote in private and announce their decision to you and, in that case of a successful defense, to those in attendance at the defense. Faculty present at the defense who are not members of the doctoral dissertation committee are invited to observe (and may participate if invited) in the dissertation committee's deliberation.