PhD in Hispanic & Lusophone Literatures, Cultures & Linguistics

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Our Courses

View a list of current and upcoming courses in Schedule Builder. Be sure to search using one of our designators (PORT, SPAN, and SPPT) rather than typing in the topic (e.g., use SPAN instead of Spanish). Graduate courses are 5xxx-level and up.

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About the PhD

A Doctor of Philosophy is expected to make scholarly contributions that will expand and enrich his or her own field of specialization through the development of new areas of research. The degree is awarded in recognition of high attainment and ability in a special subject field as demonstrated by passing the required examinations and successfully defending a thesis that is based on original research and that makes a significant contribution to knowledge in the candidate's field. Within the Ph.D. Program there are four areas of emphasis: Iberian Studies, Latin American and Caribbean Studies, Decolonial Global Portuguese, and Hispanic Linguistics.

View the 2023-24 Graduate Program Handbook

Hispanic Literatures & Cultures

The Department of Spanish & Portuguese Studies has a strong tradition of fostering socio-historical perspectives in the study of culture. We emphasize global Hispanic and Lusophone studies while being attentive to the multidimensional relationships between language and culture, as well as the legacy of colonialisms that continue to inform regional and national histories.  The Literatures and Cultures area components are closely integrated, so that students may follow courses of study involving the various fields. The close integration of these areas makes this department unique in the United States.

Course requirements - 79 credits Language requirements (1)
  • Pedagogy/Professionalization: 7 credits (SPPT 5995, SPPT 5999, SPPT 8920, SPPT 8930)
  • Peninsular Lit & Culture: 12 credits (SPAN 51xx)
  • Latin American Lit & Culture: 12 credits (SPAN 55xx)
  • Portuguese Lit: 3 credits (options include: PORT 55xx, PORT 5920, SPPT 5930)
  • Department Electives: 9 credits (options include: SPAN 5xxx, PORT 55xx, PORT 5920, SPPT 5930)
  • Outside Coursework: 12 credits (TBD 5xxx)
  • Thesis requirement: 24 credits (SPAN 8888)

Reading knowledge and oral comprehension in a language outside the principal area of study

  • For many students the requirement will be fulfilled with Portuguese
  • Other languages may be substituted with the approval of the advisor if such substitution(s) strengthen the student's program. 

Lusophone Literatures & Cultures

Course requirements - 79 credits Language requirements (1)
  • Pedagogy/Professionalization: 7 credits (SPPT 5995, SPPT 5999, SPPT 8920, SPPT 8930)
  • Lusophone Lit & Culture: 12 credits (options include: PORT 55xx, PORT 5920, SPPT 5930)
  • Hispanic/American Lit & Culture Lit & Culture: 12 credits (SPAN 5xxx)
  • Department Electives: 12 credits (options include: SPAN 5xxx, PORT 55xx, PORT 5920, SPPT 5930)
  • Outside Coursework: 12 credits (TBD 5xxx) 
  • Thesis requirement: 24 credits (SPAN 8888)

Reading knowledge and oral comprehension in a language outside the principal area of study

  • For many students the requirement will be fulfilled with Spanish
  • Other languages may be substituted with the approval of the advisor if such substitution(s) strengthen the student's program.

    Hispanic Linguistics

    The program in Hispanic Linguistics provides students with the opportunity to approach traditional core areas of linguistics, such as phonology and syntax, with the perspectives offered by areas which have typically focused on language in context, such as sociolinguistics, pragmatics, language contact, and second language acquisition. In the past several years, the Hispanic linguistics faculty has formed a research initiative that examines the ways in which different aspects of linguistics and the linguistic system interface with each other as well as the connections that exist between linguistics and other disciplines.

    Course requirements - 82 credits Language requirements (2)
    • Pedagogy/Professionalization: 7 credits (SPPT 5995, SPPT 5999, SPPT 8920, SPPT 8930)
    • Phonology: 3 credits (options include: SPAN 5711, SPAN 5721, SPAN 5930 Face, LING 5302)
    • Syntax/Pragmatics: 3 credits (options include: SPAN 5716, SPAN 5714, LING 5201, LING 5206, SPAN 5930 Ocampo)
    • History of Language: 3 credits (SPAN 5701)
    • Language Variation: 3 credits (SPAN 5985, SPAN 5717, SPAN 5718, SPAN 5930 Klee)
    • Second Language Acquisition: 3 credits (SPAN 5991, SPAN 5930 Menke)
    • Additional Core Coursework: 15 credits (SPAN 57xx, SPAN 59xx)
    • Courses with Linguistic Content: 9 credits (many CI 5xxx & LING 5xxx apply - work with advisor)
    • Outside Coursework: 12 credits (TBD 5xxx) including Hispanic Linguistic Graduate Student Statistics Requirement
    • Thesis requirement: 24 credits (SPAN 8888)

    1. Reading knowledge and oral comprehension in a language outside the principal area of study

    • For many students the requirement will be fulfilled with Portuguese
    • Other languages may be substituted with the approval of the advisor if such substitution(s) strengthen the student's program.  

    2. Reading knowledge of an additional language or LAT 1001 within the past four years (or a directed study in Latin). Reading knowledge generally is defined as the ability to read a scholarly article in the target language and may be achieved via:

    • A graduate reading course taken at the University, via CourseShare, or elsewhere
    • A Graduate Language Certificate from another department
    • Passing the reading section of the LPE in the target language
    • An alternative arrangement made with the advisor
     

     

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