(1) Two letters of reference, at least one of which must be from a professor who did not serve on the student's M.A. examination committee

(2) Curriculum Vitae

(3) Statement of purpose written in Spanish by the student

This procedure will ensure that each student will be considered fully and fairly. Admittance into the program will not be solely dependent upon performance on an isolated examination. In addition, this process closely parallels that followed by all other incoming Ph.D. candidates. (approved by unanimous vote of the faculty 5/4/95)

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Requirements
Upon entering the Ph.D. program, the student establishes his/her degree study program in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies. The student must complete the following:

(1) A diagnostic qualifying oral interview during the first semester of study.

(2) 49 graduate units of course work (up to 15 units of course work may be transferred from the M.A.). A minimum of six units must be 600-level seminars.

(3) Present reading knowledge of one foreign language, other than English or Spanish, appropriate to the field of specialization (see pages 21 and 22 for detailed information regarding the foreign language requirement).

(4) Pass a comprehensive examination, partly written and partly oral, in the primary field of study and in two secondary fields of study.

(5) Complete 18 doctoral dissertation units, write and defend a dissertation.

In addition, all Graduate Associates in Teaching (GATs) in Spanish and Portuguese are required to complete a language teaching methodology course (SPAN-581) before or during their first semester of classroom teaching. This course counts as one of the student’s electives for the Ph.D.

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Qualifying Oral Interview
During the first semester of studies at the University of Arizona, all incoming Ph.D. students participate in the diagnostic oral qualifying interview. Each student, working in collaboration with the Director of Graduate Studies, proposes two topics that represent different periods or genres in Latin American and Peninsular literature and that reflect the student's academic preparation from the M.A. In addition, the student will submit a writing sample (that is, a Masters-level term paper written in Spanish on some aspect of Hispanic literature) to the Director of Graduate Studies no later than three weeks prior to the date of the Qualifying Oral Interview. The writing sample will be read by the members of the Qualifying Oral Interview and will be discussed with the student during the interview. The interview lasts a minimum of one hour and a maximum of two hours. The interview starts with a brief fifteen-minute presentation by the student on the two chosen topics. During the interview, the committee, established by the Graduate Studies Committee, will question the student on these topics. The purpose of this interview is to assess a student’s strengths and weaknesses so that s/he can be effectively mentored.

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Ph.D. Coursework
In consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies, the student selects one primary field of study from the following:

(1) Renaissance, and Golden Age Spanish literature

(2) Eighteenth through twenty-first century Spanish Literature

(3) Spanish American literature from the Pre-Columbian period to Independence

(4) Nineteenth through twenty-first century Spanish American literature.

(5) Border Studies – Language, Literature, and Culture

In addition, the student selects two secondary areas of study outside the primary field from the following areas of study:

(1) Thirteenth-century through eighteenth-century Spanish literature

(2) Nineteenth through twenty-first century Spanish literature

(3) Pre-Columbian through eighteenth-century Spanish American literature

(4) Nineteenth through twenty-first century Spanish American Literature

(5) Mexican and Mexican American Literature

(6) Hispanic Linguistics

(7) Luso-Brazilian Literature

(8) Literary Theory

At least 18 units must be taken in the primary field of study and 6 units in each of the two secondary areas of study. The remaining 18 units are electives. A student whose major field is in Spanish American literature must choose one secondary field in Spanish Peninsular literature and vice versa.

The question has arisen about whether or not a secondary area in Mexican/Mexican-American literature fulfills the requirement for an area in Spanish American Literature when a Ph.D. candidate's primary area and other secondary area are both in Peninsular literature. After careful deliberation, the Grad uate Studies Committee voted in favor of the following position (5 in favor, 3 abstentions): In the case outlined above, a secondary area limited to Mexican/Mexican-American Literature does not fulfill the requirement, students may count one course in Mexican/Mexican literature toward their secondary area in Spanish American Literature. (approved by unanimous vote of the faculty 5/4/95)

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Foreign Language Requirement
In addition to the above requirements, all students entering the Ph.D. in Hispanic Literature program in January 2003 and later are required to pass a proficiency exam in a language other than English or Spanish prior to taking their comprehensive exams.

(Approved: April 5, 2002)

It is a necessary academic requirement that all Ph.D. candidates in Hispanic Literature demonstrate "reading knowledge" of a natural language other than Spanish and English, preferably a Romance language (otherwise, a language that has a direct bearing on the candidate's research and/or studies). The level of proficiency expected is that of passing an advanced 300-level grammar and writing course with a grade of B or higher.

The candidate must meet this language requirement BEFORE--and as a condition towards--taking the written Comprehensive Exams.

The foreign language requirement may be met in one of the following ways:

1. For students who complete the requirement at the University of Arizona: Successful completion of course work to the advanced level in a language other than English or Spanish, with an average grade of B or higher. The course work must include a 300-level intermediate/advanced grammar course taught and examined in the target language (typically xxxx-325 or 305, depending on the department).*

2. For students with course work in a language other than English or Spanish from an accredited institution: The student will meet with the Graduate Advisor to determine whether or not the course work satisfies the foreign language requirement. The Graduate Advisor may require, at his/her discretion, that the student take additional course work and/or pass a proficiency exam in the language of choice. The format and content of the exam will be determined in conjunction with the Graduate Advisor and a qualified instructor of the chosen language.

3. Students who are native speakers of a language other than English and Spanish may have this requirement waived with the approval of the Graduate Advisor.

*Note: Students that enter the Ph.D. program in Hispanic Literature without any formal instruction in a language other than English or Spanish may complete the foreign language requirement in two semesters if they choose to study Portuguese. In this case, the student must complete the following courses with an average grade of B or higher:

PORT-305: Portuguese for Spanish Speakers

PORT-325: Intermediate Grammar and Conversation

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