MA in Luso-Brazilian Literature

Course Requirements

10 courses (30 semester hours) and the M.A.  Comprehensive Examination.
Coursework and distribution requirements for the M.A. in Luso-Brazilian literature are prescribed by the Portuguese faculty in consultation with the Graduate Adviser. It is the same in quantity as that for the M.A. in Hispanic literature.

Progress to Degree

Under normal circumstances the M.A. will be completed within four semesters. With the approval of the Graduate Adviser a maximum of six hours of graduate-level courses may be transferred from other institutions to satisfy course requirements. In certain circumstances the Graduate Adviser may allow coursework to be taken at the undergraduate level, or on a credit/no credit basis.

M.A. Language Requirement

This requirement must be fulfilled by EITHER:
1. Proficiency in Spanish for students majoring in Portuguese ("Proficiency" means the completion of SPN 508K and SPN 612, or the respective equivalents, with a grade of B or better)

OR

2. A reading knowledge of a language other than English, Spanish, or Portuguese relevant to the student's field ("Reading knowledge" may be demonstrated by the completion of a reading course approved by the Graduate Adviser, or a fourth semester of college-level study in the language, or by examination to be specified by the Graduate Adviser, in all cases with a grade of B or better.)

M.A. Comprehensive Examination in Literature

All Luso-Brazilian literature students are required to take the M.A. Comprehensive Examination in their fourth semester of study. Examinations are scheduled in mid-April of each calendar year. The exams are prepared and graded by faculty committees and the Graduate Adviser informs students of the results.

Reading List

The M.A. Comprehensive Exam is based on the M.A. reading list, which may be obtained from the Graduate Coordinator or by downloading it here (PDF). A second list of recommended criticism is available here (PDF).

Exam Format

The examination consists of four one-hour questions with two choices in each section distributed as follows:
    Luso-Brazilian Literature: Colonial period;
    Brazilian Literature: 19th-century;
    Brazilian Literature: 20th-century;
    Luso-Brazilian Culture and Civilization.

At least one question must be answered in Portuguese and one in English. Sample examinations are on file in the Graduate Office (BEN 2.128).

Grades and Advancement to the PhD Program

Grades on the exam are evaluated as follows:
    Pass with permission to continue towards the Ph.D. (a grade of 80 or above)
    Pass without permission to continue towards the Ph.D. (a grade of 75-79). Students who score 75-79 receive a terminal M.A.
    Fail (74 or below). A student who fails will not receive a degree and cannot continue in the program.

The M.A. Comprehensive Examination can only be taken once. Students must address all concerns about grading to the chair of the correction committee. Students may appeal the department’s decision not allowing a student to continue to the PhD. The appeal may be filed only once, to the Executive Committee of the GSC, who will undertake a comprehensive review of the student’s academic record, including the M.A. exam, course work, and faculty evaluations. The decision of the EC of the GSC is considered final.