Graduate Bulletin

PROGRAMS IN HISPANIC AND ITALIAN STUDIES

Programs offered: M.A. and Ph.D. programs in Spanish.

Programs Leading to the Master of Arts Degree

Concentration in Hispanic Literature (30 credits minimum)

  1. At least three courses (9 credits) in one of the following areas:
    1. Modern Spanish (Peninsular) Literature
    2. Spanish American Literature
  2. One course (3 credits) in each of the following areas:
    1. Literary Theory
    2. Hispanic Linguistics
    3. Hispanic Cultural Studies
  3. Spn 509 during the fist semester of study
  4. Spn 601
  5. One course (3 credits) in methodology (Spn 600,602,603, 604, 606, 611)
  6. Up to three optional courses (9 credits) offered in English (Llc)
  7. Elective courses as advised (Optional)
  8. MA/Ph.D. qualifying exam
Concentration in Spanish Linguistics (30 credits minimum)
  1. At least three courses (9 credits) in Spanish Linguistics
  2. One course (3 credits) in three of the following areas:
    1. Literary Theory
    2. Modern Spanish (Peninsular) Literature
    3. Spanish American Literature
    4. Hispanic Cultural Studies
  3. Spn 509 during the fist semester of study
  4. Spn 611
  5. One course (3 credits) in methodology (Spn 600,602,603, 604, 606, 611)
  6. Up to three optional courses (9 credits) offered in English (Llc, Lin)
  7. Elective courses as advised (Optional)
  8. MA/Ph.D. qualifying exam
Concentration in Hispanic Cultural Studies (30 credits minimum)
  1. At least three courses (9 credits) in Hispanic Cultural Studies
  2. One course (3 credits) in three of the following areas:
    1. Literary Theory
    2. Modern Spanish (Peninsular) Literature
    3. Spanish American Literature
    4. Spanish Linguistics
  3. Spn 509 during the fist semester of study
  4. Spn 601
  5. One course (3 credits) in methodology (Spn 600,602,603, 604, 606, 611)
  6. Up to three optional courses (9 credits) offered in English (Llc)
  7. Elective courses as advised (Optional)
  8. MA/Ph.D. qualifying exam

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:

  1. A three hour written examination of the area of the concentration
  2. A three hour written examination on two of the areas outside the concentration.
Questions will be based on course work. The exam may be repeated once.

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:

  1. Modern/Contemporary Spanish (Peninsular) Literature
  2. Modern/Contemporary Latin American Literature
  3. Cultural Studies
  4. Literary Theory

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.

  1. 18 credits taken from any Spn, Lin, or Llc (maximum 9 Llc credits) courses at the 500 level or above.
  2. 12 credits of relevant extra-programmatic courses in linguistics (Lin) or language teaching (ETap) as advised.
  3. Reading knowledge of two languages in addition to Spanish and English demonstrated by course work or by a translation exam.

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.

  1. Core courses: 16 credits taken from among the LCS graduate courses offered (500, 502, 503, and 504, 508 or 505)
  2. LCS 608 Advanced Research Seminar or 3 credits of a methods course as advised
  3. Focus areas: 11 credits minimum
    1. Culture, History, and Society
    2. Language, Literature and the Fine Arts
  4. Knowledge of Spanish and another language spoken in Latin America or the Caribbean (other than English) must be demonstrated by course work or proficiency exam.

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.