for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Spanish

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The Department of Spanish and Portuguese offers work leading to the Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy in Spanish and Portuguese, and to a Concentration in Second Language Acquisition and Teacher Education (SLATE).

Fields of specialization are:

• Spanish linguistics

• Romance linguistics

• Spanish literature and cultural studies

• Latin American literature and cultural studies

• Brazilian Studies

• Luso-Brazilian literature and cultural studies

A graduate course in Catalan literature is also available. Additionally, the department is affiliated with the Latina/Latino Studies Program. Students in the area of Latina/Latino studies may be able to work with experts in the other disciplines in Latina/Latino studies such as anthropology, history, political science, sociology, and so forth in order to design and complete a program of studies in a particular area.

Admission
The normal prerequisite for a graduate major is an undergraduate major in the corresponding Romance language or consent of the department. Students doing graduate work for any advanced degree in Spanish or Portuguese must possess a command of the language. Applicants should apply online and submit a statement of purpose, three letters of recommendation and a writing sample of approximately 10-20 pages in the form of one or two papers, at least one of which must be written in Spanish or Portuguese (as applicable). Original transcripts (with English translations if applicable) showing all undergraduate and graduate work completed should also be uploaded. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are recommended (although not required) of all domestic applicants and should be submitted to institution code 1836. International applicants who have taken the GRE are encouraged to submit their scores as well. Applicants whose native language is not English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and must score at least 88 on the internet-based test (iBT); they must also pass the speaking sub-section of the iBT with a minimum score of 24. Applications are accepted for fall admission only. Application questions may be directed to SLCL Graduate Student Services.

Centers, Programs, and Institutes
The option to pursue a concentration in SLATE (Second Language Acquisition and Teacher Education) is available to doctoral students in the department's programs in linguistics. Candidates selecting this option are required to complete courses in linguistics, psycholinguistics/sociolinguistics, second language studies, and research methodology in addition to advanced study in linguistics of the particular language. See information about SLATE.

Graduate Teaching Experience
Although teaching is not a general Graduate College requirement, this department requires degree candidates to teach as part of their academic work. Such experience is considered a vital part of the graduate program. Non-native English speakers must first pass a test of their oral English ability.

Financial Aid
The department offers financial aid (in the form of fellowships, teaching assistantships, and research assistantships) to all of the students it admits. Other kinds of fellowships and research support are also available on a competitive basis to qualified candidates; they include dissertation research and travel grants, conference travel grants, and summer fellowships.

for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Spanish

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For additional details and requirements refer to the department's guidelines for graduate students and the Graduate College Handbook.  

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
SPAN 571 is required of all teaching assistants		4
SPAN 599	Thesis Research (32 max applied toward degree)	0 to 16
Coursework selected in consultation with advisor
Language Requirement: Students in all doctoral programs except SLATE must demonstrate reading proficiency in two languages besides the foreign language of specialization (not including English).
Total Hours		64

Other Requirements

Grad Other Degree Requirements

Requirement	Description
Other requirements may overlap
Minimum 500-level Hours Required Overall:	16
Masters Degree Required for Admission to PhD?	Yes
Qualifying Exam Required	No
Preliminary Exam Required	Yes
Final Exam/Dissertation Defense Required	Yes
Dissertation Deposit Required	Yes
Minimum GPA:	3.0

for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Spanish

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1. Possess in-depth knowledge of the three major populations (Spain, U.S. Latino/a, Latin America) as it pertains to cultural production.
2. Be able to make original scholarly contributions that engage previous research and advance the field.
3. Be able to critically analyze and evaluate scholarly works and debates produced in different contexts.
4. Students will acquire the ability to communicate research findings in a variety of academic venues in spoken and written English and in Spanish, and be able to teach at the undergraduate level.

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Graduate Degree Programs in Spanish & Portuguese

• Spanish, MA
  • optional concentrations:
    • Medieval Studies
    • Spanish Linguistics
    • Spanish Literatures & Cultures
• Spanish, PhD
  • optional concentrations:
    • Medieval Studies
    • Romance Linguistics
    • Second Language Acquisition & Teacher Education
• Portuguese, MA
  • concentration:
    • Brazilian Studies
• Portuguese, PhD

for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Spanish

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Department of Spanish and Portuguese
Head of Department: Melissa Bowles
Director of Graduate Studies: Jonathan E. MacDonald
Department of Spanish and Portuguese website
4080 Foreign Languages Building, 707 South Mathews, Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 244-3250
Spanish and Portuguese email

College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences website

Admissions
Graduate College Admissions & Requirements