Literature
The applicant must hold, or anticipate completing by the time of admission, a bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. college or university or the equivalent degree from a university outside the U.S. The applicant is expected to have a minimum of 15 semester hours of Hispanic literature courses at the advanced level and one advanced Spanish grammar and composition course or the equivalent of the undergraduate major in Hispanic literature at the University of Arizona; to have a minimum grade-point average of 3.3 on a 4-point scale overall; and to have a minimum grade-point average of 3.4 on a 4-point scale in Spanish.

Requirements
Upon entering the program, the student establishes his/her degree study program in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies. The student is required to complete a minimum of 31 graduate units, as follows:

(1) An equal number of units in Spanish and Spanish-American literature (15 units in each area)

(2) A 1-unit Pro-Seminar taken in the first semester of residence

(3) Graduate Assistants 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. The methodology course may count for one of the courses in either Spanish or Spanish American literature.

In addition, the student must take a comprehensive written examination in the field of Hispanic literature upon completion of all course work.

For more information refer to the Graduate Handbook.

Linguistics
The applicant must hold, or anticipate completing by the time of admission, a bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. college or university or the equivalent degree from a foreign university. The applicant is expected to have a minimum of one advanced Spanish grammar course and one advanced Spanish conversation and composition course; to have a minimum of 9 semester hours in areas including Spanish phonetics and pronunciation, advanced Spanish syntax, and general linguistic theory or their equivalent; to have a minimum grade-point average of 3.3 on a 4-point scale overall; and to have a minimum of 3.4 on a 4-point scale in Spanish.

Requirements
Upon entering the program, the student establishes his/her degree study program in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies. The student is required to complete a minimum of 31 graduate units in Hispanic Linguistics distributed as follows:

(1) Nine units in General Introductory Hispanic Linguistics

(2) Nine units in Second Language Theories and Applications

(3) Nine units in Linguistic Theories and Applications

(4) One 3-unit seminar in Hispanic linguistics (SPAN-696D)

(5) A 1-unit Pro-Seminar taken in the first semester of residence

(6) Graduate Assistants 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 requirements in Second Language Theories and Applications.

In addition, the student must pass a comprehensive written examination in the field of Hispanic linguistics taken upon completion of all course work or write and defend an M.A. Thesis.

For more information refer to the Graduate Handbook.

Foreign Language Requirement
In addition to the above requirements, all students entering the M.A. in Hispanic Linguistics 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. See pages 21-22 for detailed information regarding the foreign language requirement.

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Doctor of Philosophy Program

Literature
The applicant must hold, or anticipate completing by the time of admission, an M.A. degree from an accredited U.S. college or university or the equivalent degree from a university outside the U.S., have a minimum grade point average of 3.4 on a 4-point scale in the M.A. in Spanish, and meet the general requirements of the Graduate College.

Procedure for consideration:
Internal M.A. candidates
for admission to the Ph.D. program all internal M.A. candidates who wish to continue for the Ph.D. at the University of Arizona will be considered by the Graduate Studies Committee to ensure equitable treatment for all students. In their deliberations, the Graduate Studies Committee will give strong consideration to the report of the student's M.A examination committee, which specifically addresses the student's potential as a Ph.D. candidate. The Graduate Studies Committee will also consider the student's academic record (GPA, course work) and any pertinent information from the student's file. The student must also provide the following:

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)

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.

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.

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

(1) Medieval, 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)

For more information refer to the Graduate Handbook.

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