Romance Languages: Hispanic Studies, PhD
The Graduate Program in Hispanic Studies, a five-year Ph.D. program within the Department of Romance Languages, offers a rigorous professional formation in academic research, writing, and pedagogy. The program prepares students in a range of critical and methodological approaches to the study of literature, culture, and theory in Spain and Latin America. Students may complement their areas of specialization with course work in a second Romance language or in other disciplines such as Comparative Literature, English, History, and Philosophy.
Interdisciplinary study is also invited through participation in the many lectures and colloquia sponsored by the various Graduate Groups and affiliated research institutes and centers at Penn. All graduate students teach undergraduate courses in Spanish language and Hispanic culture, for which they attend extensive teacher training seminars and workshops. Faculty members are committed to enhancing graduate students' preparation for professional life through annual seminars on professional concerns and through comprehensive job placement support. The Department of Romance Languages publishes The Hispanic Review, and graduate students in Hispanic Studies may serve as editorial assistants to the journal.
For more information: https://www.sas.upenn.edu/hispanic-portuguese-studies/graduate
View the University’s Academic Rules for PhD Programs.
Requirements
The Ph.D. program in Spanish is planned as a five-year sequence. Requirements for the Ph.D. include:
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A total of twenty (20) graduate courses, including:
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A Qualifying Evaluation—In order to be admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree, students must pass successfully a qualifying evaluation. At the beginning of a student's second year, the faculty will evaluate all aspects of the student's performance during his or her first year in the program.
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Foreign Language Requirements—translation exams in two (2) foreign languages appropriate to the student's prospective field of specialization.
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Comprehensive Exams—an oral exam in the fall of the third year and a written exam in the spring semester of the third year.
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Dissertation Proposal—following successful fulfillment of the Ph.D. Comprehensive Examinations, the candidate will shape a dissertation project and writing schedule by September 15th of their fourth year.
- Dissertation—the presentation of a dissertation is the final requirement for the Ph.D.
Dissertation Defense—a public, oral presentation of the dissertation will take place during the semester in which the student will graduate.
The degree and major requirements displayed are intended as a guide for students entering in the Fall of 2022 and later. Students should consult with their academic program regarding final certifications and requirements for graduation.
Sample Plan of Study
| Code | Title | Course Units |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1- Educational Fellow | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
4 courses; no teaching assignment | ||
| Spring Semester | ||
4 courses; no teaching assignment | ||
Foreign Language Requirement 1 Satisfied | ||
| Year 2- Teaching/Research Fellow | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
3 courses (including a SPAN 6060) | ||
1 teaching assignment | ||
Qualifying Evaluation | ||
| Spring Semester | ||
3 courses | ||
1 teaching assignment | ||
| Year 3- Teaching/Research Fellow | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
3 courses (including SPAN 8000) | ||
1 teaching assignment | ||
Comprehensive Oral Exam | ||
| Spring Semester | ||
3 courses (including SPAN 8000); no teaching assignment | ||
Comprehensive Written Exam | ||
Both Foreign Language Requirements Satisfied; 20 Courses Completed | ||
| Year 4- Teaching/Research Fellow | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
ABD Status | ||
1 teaching assignment | ||
Dissertation Proposal due September 15th | ||
| Spring Semester | ||
ABD Status; no teaching assignment | ||
Dissertation Research and Writing | ||
| Year 5- Educational Fellow | ||
ABD Status; no teaching assignment | ||
Dissertation Defense by the end of spring semester | ||