Graduate Bulletin

Spanish, Ph.D.

COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

Application Deadline:

Fall: January 15

Spring: September 30

Applications are evaluated as they arrive, with attention paid to deadlines.

APPLY ONLINE to this graduate program.

Letters of Reference:

Number Required: 3

From Whom: Letters of recommendation should be obtained from college/university faculty members with personal knowledge of the applicant's academic and scholarly achievements.

Coursework Required for Admission Consideration:

No specific coursework is required.

Master's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline:

A master's degree in Spanish with an emphasis in Literature and/or Linguistics is required.

Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline:

All applicants must present credentials that are the equivalent of the appropriate baccalaureate degree at Temple University.

Statement of Goals:

The Statement of Goals should be 2 to 3 pages in length and include the following: your interest in Temple's Spanish program, future career goals, research goals, academic achievements, and any related experience. Applicants interested in Teaching Assistantships, Fellowships, or other financial support may describe special needs in an addendum to their personal statement.

Standardized Test Scores:

The GRE is required. Typical GRE scores range from 153 to 166 in verbal reasoning and 144 to 155 in quantitative reasoning or 500 to 700 on the old version of the GRE. Applicants from Spanish-speaking countries may present EXADEP scores instead.

International applicants are required to provide scores from one of the following tests: Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL®), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS™), or the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic™).

Resume:

A resume is required.

Writing Sample:

A paper or journal article in Spanish is required as a writing sample.

Advanced Standing:

Students are awarded advanced standing based on a review of transcripts and descriptions of previous graduate coursework in Spanish Literature or Spanish Linguistics. The maximum number of advanced standing credits awarded is 30.

Program Requirements

General Program Requirements:

Number of Didactic Credits Required Beyond the Master's: 39

Required Courses:

SPAN 8001:  Hispanic Bibliography and Research

SPAN 8161:  Literary Criticism

2-3 approved courses in related fields outside the Department

NOTE: Coursework, including the master's-level courses, must include 10-11 core courses, which combine a 6-course core distribution requirement and other specific core courses, and 10-11 courses beyond the core, including 6 courses in the dissertation field and a minimum of 5 advanced courses. A total of 21 courses is required, including those of the master's degree.

Internship: No internship is required.

Language Examination: A language examination is required. Students must pass written reading-comprehension examinations in two foreign languages other than Spanish. Examinations are usually taken in the Romance languages or German. Other languages may be accepted with approval.

Culminating Events:

Preliminary Examination:

The purpose of the written preliminary examination is to demonstrate critical and interpretive knowledge in two specific areas of Hispanic Studies. It is based on a required reading list. The examination is 10 hours long and focuses on one primary and one supporting area. The primary area must be selected from the main field of concentration for the dissertation. The supporting area is selected from the other fields of study within the Department. The preliminary examination should be completed no more than one semester after the student completes the coursework component of the program.

Examination areas are drawn from the three fields of study within the Department: Spanish Peninsular Literature, Spanish American Literature, and Hispanic Linguistics. Graduate Faculty members specializing in the subject areas selected for the examination write the questions for the preliminary examination. Graduate Faculty members of the Department evaluate the examination. Each member grades examination answers on a scale of A to F. A grade of B- or higher must be achieved in response to each question. The evaluators look for breadth and depth of understanding of specific research areas; the critical application of knowledge in response to specific exam questions; and an ability to write in a clear and concise manner using appropriate terminology.

The preliminary examination is given over a period of two weeks. Students who are preparing to write their preliminary examinations must meet with the Graduate Chair to register, and to confirm subject areas, dates, and times for the examination. The Graduate Chair or an Administrative Assistant proctors all examinations.

Proposal:

The dissertation proposal demonstrates the student's knowledge and ability to conduct the proposed research. The proposal typically consists of the presentation of the context and background surrounding a particular research question or problem; a survey and review of pertinent literature; and a detailed methodological plan for carrying out the proposed research. The proposal should be completed and approved by the student's Doctoral Advisory Committee no more than one year after the student completes coursework.

Dissertation:

The doctoral dissertation is an original empirical or theoretical study that makes a significant contribution to the field of Hispanic Studies. It should expand existing knowledge and demonstrate the student's mastery of research methods and of her/his primary area of research. The dissertation should be rigorously investigated, uphold the ethics and standards of the field, and demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the primary area of research and the broader field of Hispanic Studies.

The Doctoral Advisory Committee is formed to oversee the student's dissertation research and is comprised of three Graduate Faculty members. One is the Committee Chair, who has responsibility for directly overseeing and guiding the student's progress, coordinating the responses of the Committee members, and informing the student of her/his academic progress.

The Dissertation Examining Committee is comprised of the Doctoral Advisory Committee and at least one additional examiner from outside the Spanish and Portuguese Department. The outside examiner should be identified no later than the beginning of the semester in which the student plans to defend the dissertation. The Dissertation Examining Committee evaluates the student's dissertation and public oral examination, including the student's ability to express verbally her/his research question, methodological approach, primary findings, and implications. The Committee votes to pass or fail the dissertation and the defense at the conclusion of the public oral defense.

If a student needs to change a member of a Committee, the new member must be approved by the Department's Graduate Committee and registered with the Graduate Secretary and the Graduate School.

Students who are preparing to defend their dissertation must confirm a time and date with their Doctoral Advisory Committee Chair at least one month before the defense is to be held. After the Chair has arranged the time, date, and room for the defense, a completed "Announcement of Oral Defense" form must be delivered to the Graduate School by the student at least 10 days before the defense. The Department posts flyers announcing the defense.

Contacts

Program Contact Information:

www.temple.edu/spanpor/

Department Information:

Dept. of Spanish and Portuguese
Anderson Hall, 4th Floor
1114 Polett Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19122

pereiro@temple.edu

215-204-8285

Department Contacts:

Admissions:

Jose M. Pereiro-Otero
pereiro@temple.edu
215-204-5129

Program Coordinator:

Jose M. Pereiro-Otero
pereiro@temple.edu
215-204-5129

Graduate Chairperson:

Jose M. Pereiro-Otero
pereiro@temple.edu
215-204-5129

Chairperson:

Luis Gonzalez del Valle
gonzalel@temple.edu
215-204-8285

About the Program

The Graduate Program in Spanish integrates the established fields of Literature and Linguistics. At the Ph.D. level, it provides opportunities for advanced study and research in Spanish Peninsular Literature, Spanish American Literature, and Hispanic Linguistics as it trains scholars for careers in higher education.

Time Limit for Degree Completion: 7 years

Campus Location:

Main

Full-Time/Part-Time Status:

Students are required to complete the degree program through classes offered before and after 4:30 p.m. Students are also able to complete the degree program on a part-time basis (8 credit hours or less per semester).

Department Information:

Dept. of Spanish and Portuguese
Anderson Hall, 4th Floor
1114 Polett Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19122

pereiro@temple.edu
215-204-8285

Interdisciplinary Study:

Not applicable.

Affiliation(s):

Not applicable.

Study Abroad:

No.

Ranking:

Not applicable.

Accreditation:

Not applicable.

Areas of Specialization:

Areas of specialization are Spanish Peninsular Literature, Spanish American Literature, and Hispanic Linguistics.

Job Placement:

The Department has an excellent record of placing graduates as full-time faculty in public and private universities.

Licensure:

Not applicable.

Non-Matriculated Student Policy:

Non-matriculated students may take up to three courses with approval of the Department or Graduate Chair.

Financing Opportunities

Teaching Assistants typically teach basic and intermediate Spanish or conversation, composition, and reading courses. Assistantships carry a stipend and tuition remission. Candidates for Teaching Assistantships should express their interest and special needs in an addendum to the personal statement of the application to the graduate program.

Updated 10.7.13