Doctoral Degree Program
The doctoral programs in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese offer advanced study in the fields of Hispanic Literature, Luso-Brazilian Literature, and Hispanic Linguistics. The diversity of faculty areas of expertise and University resources is represented in a comprehensive slate of foundational courses as well as a wide variety of fields for the doctoral candidate’s academic specialization. The goal of the doctoral program is to build upon the comprehensive knowledge achieved at the MA level to allow the student to develop advanced expertise in a chosen field of research that will make an original contribution to the field.
The Graduate School has more information about University requirements and policies for doctoral study, as well as information on Graduate Portfolio Programs for students who wish to obtain credentials in a cross-disciplinary academic area of inquiry while completing requirements for the doctorate.
Ph.D. Course Requirements
Although the Ph.D. is not awarded on the basis of a specified number of courses or credit hours, usually a minimum of 36 hours beyond the M.A. is recommended, depending on the student’s concentration. In all fields of concentration, this total includes a specified number of content courses plus conference courses taken in preparation for the Ph.D. comprehensive examination. Dissertation hours cannot count toward fulfillment of coursework for the Ph.D. degree. See each program’s description at the links below for a detailed accounting of course requirements.
The student's supervising committee, the Graduate Adviser, or the GSC may require additional work beyond the recommended number of content courses. This will usually depend on the academic background of the student. Students entering with an MA from another institution will meet with the Graduate Adviser early in their first semester to discuss course requirements and address any perceived deficiencies in preparation.
Most students will complete course work during the first three or four semesters of the doctoral program.
Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination or Candidacy Assessment
After successful completion of doctoral course work and academic requirements, the student must pass the appropriate PhD comprehensive examination or candidacy assessment, as discussed in more detail in each program’s description at the links below. Exam preparation and completion usually occurs in the fourth or fifth semester of study.
The Doctoral Dissertation
The student must submit a proposal for the dissertation, as discussed in each program’s description, below. Once the proposal is accepted, the student begins researching and writing the dissertation. The Graduate School generally sets a three-year limit for completion of the dissertation. See the detailed requirements and timelines in each program’s description.
Policy on Undergraduate Courses
In consultation with the Graduate Adviser a maximum of six hours of required coursework may be taken at the undergraduate level unless the candidate already has chosen this alternative while completing the M.A.
Ph.D. Areas of Study and Course Distribution
Hispanic Literature
Luso-Brazilian Literature
Hispanic Linguistics (students entering 2007 or later)
Ibero-Romance Philology and Linguistics (students entering before 2007)
