Doctor of Philosophy in Spanish

Program Overview

The PhD in Hispanic Literature at this university prepares students for careers as researchers and educators. The program consists of 75 credit hours, including core courses, distribution requirements, electives, and a dissertation. Students may receive teaching assistantships and participate in seminars addressing professional concerns. The program culminates in a dissertation that advances an original point of view based on research.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Department of Modern Languages offers a Doctor of Philosophy in Hispanic Literature designed to prepare students to become first-rate scholars and teachers in institutions of higher learning.

• Objectives:
The program aims to equip students with advanced research skills, critical thinking abilities, and the capacity to contribute original scholarship to the field of Hispanic Literature.
• Program Description:
The doctoral program comprises 75 semester hours of graduate-level work beyond the Bachelor's degree, divided into 57 credits of coursework and 18 credits dedicated to dissertation research. Students with a Master's in Spanish or Hispanic Studies are eligible for admission, with the possibility of transferring some or all of their graduate credits toward the doctoral degree upon evaluation and approval by the Graduate Studies Committee. A maximum of 36 graduate credits can be transferred from a previously earned graduate degree.

Outline:

• Core Courses:
(9 credits) All core courses must be taken as graduate courses offered by the University and cannot be taken as independent studies. The core courses include:
• FOL 5943 Foreign Language Teaching Methodology
• SPW 5806 Methods of Literary Research
• SPW 6825 Literary Theory and Criticism
• Distribution Requirement:
(15 credits) Students must complete:
• One course in Medieval or Golden Age Peninsular Spanish Literature
• One course in Peninsular Spanish Literature of the 18th-21st century
• One course in Colonial/19th century Spanish American Literature
• One course in 20th century Spanish American Literature
• One additional course in Spanish American Literature
• Electives:
(33 credits) Students can choose from graduate courses in literature, linguistics, culture, and translation/interpretation.
• Dissertation:
(18 credits)
• Independent Studies: Students may register for a 3-credit independent study course under specific conditions, with a maximum of two such studies allowed without permission from the Graduate Program Director.
• Dissertation Proposal: A 5-page document (with an appended bibliography) outlining the proposed thesis topic, critical approach, existing scholarship, and research plan.
The proposal must be approved by the four members of the dissertation committee.
• Pre-Dissertation Research: Students must register in SPW 7910 Pre-dissertation Research during the semester they expect to be admitted to candidacy.
• Dissertation Research: Upon admission to candidacy, students register in SPN 7980 Dissertation Research.
• Course Distribution Summary:
• Core Courses: 9 credits
• Distribution Requirement: 15 credits
• Electives: 33 credits
• Dissertation: 18 credits

Assessment:

• Qualifying Examination:
Candidates must pass a qualifying examination.
• Dissertation Defense:
Upon completion of the dissertation, the candidate submits an application for dissertation defense signed by the dissertation director. The dissertation defense is open to the public and involves a 10-15 minute presentation followed by a 10-minute question period from each member of the dissertation committee.

Teaching:

• Teaching Assistantships:
A limited number of assistantships are available for doctoral students, requiring a 20-hour per week commitment to the Department in exchange for a stipend and matriculation fee waiver.
• Professional Concerns Seminars:
The Department hosts seminars addressing professional concerns, such as publishing, conference participation, grant applications, and job search preparation.

Careers:

• Potential Career Paths:
The Ph.D. in Hispanic Literature prepares graduates for careers as professors, researchers, and scholars in higher education institutions.

Other:

• Dissertation:
A dissertation is required for all doctoral candidates, advancing an original point of view based on research.