Ph.D. Program in Hispanic Linguistics
Course Requirements
For students continuing from the UT M.A. program in Hispanic Linguistics
5 level-2 courses (or above) in area of specialization in Spanish and Portuguese*
2 level-2 courses (or above) in other areas relevant to the specialization*
4 electives in or out of department, including 1 course in research methods (e.g., Statistics for all experimental fields, or a topics/conference course in other fields as needed)
(total: 11 courses in Linguistics)
2 courses at the graduate level in another language, preferably Portuguese, in which all four language skills are practiced and a term paper is written in the target language. See language requirement description, below.
For new Ph.D students not from the UT M.A. program in Hispanic Linguistics
3 level-1 courses in Spanish and Portuguese (although students may have taken these courses at other institutions, they should enroll in the UT courses in order to cover required material, even if as an auditor. However, courses will count toward the degree only if taken for a grade)
5 level-2 courses in area of specialization in Spanish and Portuguese*
3-5 electives out of department (depending on fulfilling A above), including 1 course in research methods (e.g., Statistics for all experimental fields, or a topics/conference course in other fields as needed)
(total: 11courses in Linguistics)
2 courses at the graduate level in another language, preferably Portuguese, in which all four language skills are practiced and a term paper is written in the target language. See language requirement description, below.
2 undergraduate or graduate level literature courses in Spanish and Portuguese if not fulfilled at undergraduate or M.A. level [note: only graduate level classes count toward graduate credit]
(total: 11 linguistics courses, plus 2-4 courses for graduate lit and other language courses if no previous courses taken. The credits must total a minimum of 13 graduate courses)
*With approval of the Graduate Adviser, Students can take these courses out of our department when not offered in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese.
--Note: There is no literature requirement if the student has already taken two undergraduate or graduate literature courses prior to enrollment in the program.
Ph.D. Language Requirement for Hispanic Linguistics Students
Before filing for candidacy in the Doctoral Program, a student in Hispanic Linguistics must have:
An advanced proficiency in Portuguese. Students may substitute another language for Portuguese in accordance with the needs of their specialization.
"Advanced proficiency" means the completion of POR 508 and POR 516, or the respective equivalents, with a grade of B or better, and the ability to express ideas orally and in writing with clarity and sophistication, which must be demonstrated with the satisfactory completion of two graduate-level courses given in the respective language. (With the consent of the Graduate Adviser, one advanced undergraduate course may replace a graduate course).
For the linguistics program, language requirement courses must be taught in the target language, not in English, in order for them to count toward the language requirement.
Latin is required for those students specializing in Historical Linguistics (currently the Latin sequence LAT 506-507, or LAT 508, in Classics).
Ph.D. Assessment in Hispanic Linguistics and Advancement to Candidacy
Ph.D Qualifying Writing Sample Students who complete their M.A. degree at UT have demonstrated their ability to continue on in the Ph.D program. However, other prospective Ph.D students must submit a writing sample as part of their admission process. This documentation may be a previously written thesis, report, or term paper. Additionally, all prospective Ph.D students (both continuing and new) should submit a 3 to 5-page paper on their statement of purpose in the Ph.D program. GAFA committee members recommend admission based in part on these writing samples.
Ph.D Advancement to Candidacy There are three parts to the Ph.D Advancement to Candidacy, which are designed to verify that the students are ready to write a dissertation.
Part 1: Research Paper
Based on successful completion of required and elective coursework (evaluated through consultation with all linguistics professors and after review of the transcripts, which indicate a 3.5 GPA in all required courses in the S & P Dept.), and in consultation with the Graduate Adviser, Ph.D candidates in Spanish linguistics submit one research paper of publishable quality by no later than the fourth week of the fifth semester. This paper may be an improved version of a previous term paper or report, provided that that (1) it was written during the time that the candidate was enrolled in the Ph.D program, and (2) it includes a cover page with a list of the major changes made for the revised version. This paper is evaluated by a two-member Hispanic Linguistics faculty committee assigned by the Graduate Adviser. The student should try to work independently on this paper as much as possible, and should try to present it at a conference to receive feedback for improvements. If possible, the paper should be submitted to an external conference proceedings or a journal to receive further feedback. If it is accepted for publication, the acceptance would serve as evidence that the paper is indeed publishable. The paper must be a single-authored paper.
No later than 4 weeks after the student submits the writing sample, the committee communicates to the candidate in writing whether the paper demonstrates ability to advance to the writing of the dissertation. If the candidate's writing sample is not accepted, in consultation with the Graduate Adviser, the student may resubmit, within two months, one new writing sample. After a second review, if the committee determines that the sample does not demonstrate ability to advance to the writing of the dissertation, the student is not allowed to continue and will not receive a Ph.D degree.
Part 2: Dissertation Proposal
Assuming the candidates passed Part I above, Ph.D candidates submit a dissertation proposal by no later than the tenth week of the fourth semester. The proposal should have a minimum of 10 pages and should include the title, abstract, the main body of the proposal, human subjects approval (if necessary) and a preliminary list of references. A minimum of 6 pages should be devoted to literature review, thesis, and research design. At the same time, and in consultation with the Graduate Adviser, the candidates select a Dissertation Supervisor and committee members as outlined by the department and the college. No later than 4 weeks after the students submit their written proposal, the Dissertation Committee communicates in writing to the candidates whether (1) the doctoral candidates can continue to the oral defense of the dissertation proposal, or (2) the doctoral candidates must resubmit the proposal at a later time. In the case of a dissertation proposal that was deemed unsatisfactory, the students may submit, within two months, one revised version. A student with a second unsatisfactory dissertation proposal is not allowed to continue and will not receive a Ph.D.
Part 3: Dissertation Proposal Defense
By no later than the fourth week of the fifth semester, the PhD Candidates meet with their Dissertation Committee for a public oral defense of the dissertation proposal. The candidates prepare an oral presentation of the dissertation topic, thesis, and methodology. Based on a successful defense, the committee may recommend advancement to candidacy. Students are allowed a second oral defense if the committee does not give a pass for the first one.
Candidacy in the Doctoral Program
Applying for Doctoral Candidacy: When a student has passed the defense of the dissertation proposal, the next step toward doctoral candidacy is to submit the "Application for Doctoral Candidacy" to the EC of the GSC for approval. Deadline dates to submit the proposal are December 1 (fall exams) and May 1 (spring exams). After approval by the EC of the GSC, the Application for Doctoral Candidacy is confirmed by the Office of Graduate Studies, and the student is then officially designated as a doctoral candidate.
Dissertation Committee Selection: The "Application for Doctoral Candidacy" requires the naming of a dissertation committee. The student must choose a dissertation supervisor plus a committee of four other faculty members with one of the members being from outside the Department of Spanish and Portuguese. The student must present a dissertation proposal to the selected committee for its consideration and recommendations.
Program of Work Requirements: The Graduate Adviser and the EC of the GSC must confirm that the student has completed the foreign language requirement and all course work required in the degree plan. Courses included in the program of work must have been taken within six years prior to the date of candidacy application. This confirmation accompanies the "Application for Doctoral Candidacy" for final approval by the Office of Graduate Studies.
Language of the Dissertation: The dissertation is normally written in English. Petitions to write in another language pertinent to the research must accompany the Application for Doctoral Candidacy.
Review of Progress
Time Limit for Completion: The dissertation may be completed within three years from the date of admission to candidacy. If it is not, the GSC of the department must petition the Graduate School for an extension, explaining unusual extenuating circumstances. The GSC thereafter reviews each student's progress annually. In case of unsatisfactory dissertation progress, the GSC may recommend that the student take additional courses, or pass other examinations, or that the candidacy be terminated. Annual reviews must follow the first review, and all annual recommendations are forwarded to the Office of Graduate Studies.
Continuous Enrollment Requirement: A student cannot enroll in dissertation courses until officially admitted to candidacy by the Graduate School. Once admitted to candidacy, a student must register continuously each fall and spring semester for dissertation courses until the dissertation is completed. Any student admitted to candidacy will be charged tuition for dissertation courses each semester whether enrolled or not unless an official Leave of Absence has been granted by the Office of Graduate Studies. A Leave of Absence must be petitioned to the Office of Graduate Studies, which gives permission for special circumstances only. Enrollment in summer is not required unless the student is appointed as an Assistant Instructor. If a student is appointed as an AI in the summer, he/she must register for a minimum of three credit hours in either summer session.
Final Dissertation Defense
A final oral exam, the dissertation defense, is the last requirement for graduation. Written copies of the dissertation must be submitted to the dissertation committee at least six weeks in advance of the tentative defense date and the committee must decide unanimously that the candidate is ready for the defense. When the committee has decided on an exact date, a written request for the final oral exam to the Office of Graduate Studies is required two weeks in advance. If the defense is successful and all committee members have signed the cover sheet, the student must submit the final dissertation volume to the Office of Graduate Studies by the last class day of the semester.
