Doctoral Degree Program
Doctoral Degree Requirements
Select a major field in Latin American studies and two supporting fields designated as the first minor and the second minor.
Complete a minimum of 30 hours beyond the M.A., not including credit for dissertation, divided among the major field and two supporting fields. Students are encouraged to enroll in organized classes but are not restricted to any specific number of conference courses.
- 15 hours in major (not including M.A.)
- 9 hours in first minor (not including M.A.)
- 6 hours in second minor (not including M.A.)
- 30 hours beyond M.A. minimum
Including appropriate M.A. coursework, at least 24 hours must be within the major, 15 within the first minor, and 12 within the second minor. Of these, at least 15 within the major, 9 within the first minor, and 6 within the second minor must be Latin American content or related courses.
Within the major field, students must acquire competence in the theories and in the methods of research demanded for pursuing the Ph.D. in that department. The program committee may also requirethe student to take all or some of the core courses required of Ph.D. students in that discipline. Within the minor fields, students must demonstrate at least minimal competence in theories and methods of research in those areas. With the approval of the program committee, a student may substitute methodology for a substantive second minor.
Program Committee: At the end of the student's first semester within the Ph.D. program, a program committee of five professors will be named by the graduate adviser with the approval of the Graduate Studies Committee (GSC) and after consultation with the student.
Language Proficiency: Before admission to candidacy, the student must demonstrate a high level of competence in reading and speaking either Spanish or Portuguese; he/she must also be able to read the alternate language. Reading in a language other than Spanish or Portuguese, appropriate for the program, may be required.
Examinations: Qualifying written examinations in the major and in the first minor will be administered upon the completion of coursework. The program committee will construct the examinations. Responsibility for scheduling the examinations rests with the student and the program committee.
The Dissertation: The dissertation must be interdisciplinary; that is, it must integrate materials from the major and first minor fields at a minimum, and preferably from the second minor as well. The student will submit a research proposal for the dissertation to the program committee after the administration of qualifying examinations. The program committee will conduct an oral examination on the proposal, which the student must pass to advance to candidacy.
Admission to Candidacy: The student is eligible to be advanced to candidacy upon successful completion of the following LLILAS requirements:
(a) required course hours
(b) qualifying examination
(c) language proficiency demonstration
(d) an approved dissertation proposal
(e) approval of candidacy papers by the graduate dean
The Dissertation Committee: The five-member committee will guide and assist the student in his/her research and conduct an oral examination on the dissertation upon its completion.