Spanish Literature and Culture, PhD

Program Overview

The PhD in Spanish Literature and Culture at ASU offers an individualized program of study focusing on Peninsular, Latin American, and Mexican American literature and cultural production. Students develop advanced knowledge in genre, periodization, and scholarly research, preparing them for careers in academia, education, and non-academic fields. The program emphasizes critical thinking, research skills, and effective communication, with renowned faculty providing mentorship and guidance.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

Objectives:

• Develop an advanced knowledge of Peninsular, Latin American, and Mexican American literature and cultural production.
• Enhance understanding of genre, periodization, and scholarly research in the field through coursework and mentorship by renowned faculty.

Description:

The PhD in Spanish Literature and Culture is designed to be flexible, allowing students to establish broad areas of competence through an individualized program of study with the guidance of their advisor. The program focuses on the production, distribution, and reception of texts and their linguistics, either written or visual (e.g., photographs, films, visual narratives). It emphasizes literary theories, aesthetics, and explores issues relating to gender, class, race, ethnicity, globalization, environmental humanities, disability theories, posthuman theories, and digital humanities.

Outline:

Program Content and Structure:

The program requires 84 credit hours, encompassing coursework, research, and a dissertation.

Coursework:

• Required Core: SPA 545 Concepts of Literary Criticism (3 credits)
• Literature and Culture Electives (51 credit hours):
• Focuses on Peninsular, Latin American, and Mexican American literature and cultural production.
• Must be SPA literature or culture content courses and approved by the student's supervisory committee.
• Excludes SPA 596 Second Language Methodologies.
• Electives (6 credit hours):
• Open electives in any subject.
• Research (12 credit hours):
• SPA 792 Research (12 credits)
• Conducts original research under the guidance of a faculty advisor.
• Culminating Experience (12 credit hours):
• SPA 799 Dissertation (12 credits)
• Completion of a full-length dissertation on a chosen topic.

Course Schedule:

Courses are offered in a variety of formats, including in person, online, and hybrid. The specific schedule of courses varies each semester and can be found on the ASU course catalog website.

Assessment:

• Written and oral comprehensive exams: Asses the candidate's knowledge and competence in the field of study and their readiness to proceed with the dissertation.
• Dissertation defense: Public defense of the dissertation before the student's supervisory committee.

Teaching:

• Teaching methods:
• Lectures, seminars, discussions, group projects, individual research assignments.
• Utilizes a variety of teaching technologies to enhance learning.
• Faculty: Renowned faculty with expertise in various areas of Spanish literature and culture.
• Unique approaches:
• Interdisciplinary focus, incorporating insights from other fields like history, anthropology, and sociology.
• Emphasis on critical thinking, research skills, and effective communication.

Careers:

Graduates of the program pursue diverse careers, including:

• Academia: Professors, researchers, teachers
• Education: Museum and library professionals, K-12 and university educators
• Non-academic fields: Publishing industry, media, non-profits, international relations, government, diplomacy, international business
• Other:
• Foreign Language Requirement: Demonstrated reading knowledge of one language other than English and Spanish.
• Transfer Credit: Up to 30 credit hours from a previously awarded master's degree may be applicable.
• Tuition fees
• Specific application deadlines