Programs Leading to the Master of Arts Degree
Concentration in Hispanic Literature (30 credits minimum)
Requirements for Admission to the M.A.
In addition to the general University requirements for admission to graduate study described in the Bulletin, the applicant's undergrduate preparation will have preferably been in the liberal arts with a major in Spanish. A writing sample in Spanish of 1-10 pages should be included with the application. Applicants with preparation in other fields may also be considered on the condition that any deficiencies be made up.
M.A./Ph.D. Qualifying Exam
Students who wish to take the M.A./Ph.D. Qualifying exam offered every semester (in October and in April), must inform the Director of Graduate Studies of their intention, no later than September 15 in the Fall and March 15 in the Spring. The exam consists of:
Combined B.A.-M.A. Program
Qualified undergraduates may apply for admission to the M.A. program and, if accepted, simultaneously work toward completion of the requirements for both undergraduate and graduate degrees. See Combined Baccalaureate- Master's Degree Programs for details.
Program Leading to the Doctor of Philosophy Degree
The programs are designed mainly to prepare students for a career in scholarly research and teaching Latin American Studies, Hispanic literature, or linguistics in colleges and universities, and to provide training in critical and theoretical bases for cultural, literary or linquistic scholarship. Depending on the field chosen students are expected to attain a thorough knowledge of the Spanish language in addition to Peninsular or Latin American literature, Latin American studies, Spanish linguistics and knowledge of pertinent theoretical foundations in addition to critical analytical skills, and research techniques.
Requirements for Admission for the Ph.D.
Students will be admitted into the Ph.D. program after completing the course requirements for the MA in Spanish or LACS and passing the MA/Ph.D. qualifying exam. Admission is not automatic and will be based on course work, the results of the MA/Ph.D. qualifying exam, and the evaluation of scholarly potential by the faculty. Applicants with the MA in Spanish or related areas from other institutions may apply for advanced standing in the Program.
Concentration in Hispanic Literature for the Ph.D.
The concentration in Hispanic Literature is planned with the Director of Graduate Studies, who takes into account the student's preparation, areas of special interest, and professional objectives. The program requires a minimum of 30 credits beyond the MA, which may be taken from any Spn, or Llc (maximum 9 Llc credits) courses at the 500 level or above.
The following areas of study are available:
Students must demonstrate reading knowledge of one foreign language other than Spanish and English by means of course work or a translation exam.
Concentration in Spanish Linguistics for the Ph.D.
The concentration in Spanish Linguistics is planned with the Director of Graduate Studies, and/or a linguist in the Program who takes into account the student's preparation, areas of special interest, and professional objectives. The program requires a minimum of 30 credits beyond the MA.
Concentration in Latin American, Caribbean, and U.S. Latino Cultural Studies for the Ph.D.
30 credits minimum beyond the MA. An MA degree in Spanish, LACS or a related area is required for admission.
Ph.d. Candidacy Examinations
A Ph.D. candidacy exam must be taken, preferably in the semester following,
but certainly within a year after completion of coursework. Ph.D. exams
are administered during the first two weeks of classes every semester.
Students must communicate their intention to take the Ph.D. exam to the Director
of Graduate Studies by March 15th for the following Fall, or October 15th
for the following Spring semester. At that time the student must choose
his/her prospective Dissertation Committee consisting of three professors, one
of whom will be the student's dissertation director and two of whom will be
the readers. The Dissertation Committee will guide the student in the
preparation of the reading list for the exam. For additional information, please
see the Dissertation Guidelines of the Hispanic and Italian program.
Admission to Candidacy
A student is admitted to candidacy for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and
may undertake work on the dissertation upon the following:
1. Satisfactory completion of the research tool requirements by fulfilling the
foreign language requirement for the specific concentration
2. Satisfactory completion of 60 credits of graduate course work and the specific
requirements of any of the concentrations offered
3. Satisfactory completion of the candidacy examination
4. Completion of departmental residence requirements
Dissertation
By the end of the semester that follows the successful completion of all the
exams and requirements, each candidate for the Ph.D. degree must submit a dissertation
proposal, a project description whose feasibility will be judged by the candidate's
Dissertation Committee (a director and two readers). Members of the Dissertation
Committee should be selected by the candidate, according to the guidelines of
the Program, prior to taking the Ph.D. exam (see above). The dissertation
abstract must be at least 7 pages long (no more than 10) and contain the following:
1. a title
2. a general description of the project, including a clear critical/theoretical
approach to the topic
3. description of each chapter
4. a bibliography of primary and secondary sources
Upon the Dissertation Committee's approval of the dissertation proposal, the candidate may start writing the dissertation during which time each semester s/he must enroll in the SPN 899 (dissertation guidance) course. The dissertation itself is expected to manifest thorough knowledge of literary, cultural or linguistic theory, depending on the candidate's field, and the candidate must demonstrate the ability to perform mature scholarly research elaborating on previous critical judgements. The dissertation may be written in English or Spanish. For additional information, please see the Dissertation Guidelines of the Hispanic and Italian Program.
Full Time Study in Residence
Each student in a doctoral program
must engage in full-time study beyond the master's degree or equivalent at the
University in at least two sessions after admission to the advanced
program. This requirement is designed to insure for each doctoral student
a sustained period of intensive intellectual growth. For this purpose a
student will enroll in full-time study (12 credits) taken in each of two
sessions, or in a regular session and a summer session, not necessarily
consecutive, which must be completed satisfactorily, except as indicated here:
1. Students authorized to register for work on a dissertation may meet this
12 credit per session requirement by satisfactorily completing a minimum of 8
earned course credits and registering for work on the dissertation for load
credits that will bring the total to 12 credits for each of two sessions.
2.
Graduate assistants holding a full assistantship may meet the residency
requirement by completing one academic year in such a position, including the
satisfactory completion of a minimum of 15 registered credits during the year
plus satisfactory completion of assigned duties.