Hispanic Studies, Cooperative Ph.D.

Degree Plan and Course Requirements

The interdisciplinary Ph.D. cooperative program in Hispanic Studies is grounded in a solid knowledge of the language, culture and literature of Spanish-speaking peoples and is designed to meet the needs of selected students who enter the program with well-defined goals for their course of study. The program permits a student to integrate the subject matter of different disciplines into a course of study relevant to her or his specific interests in the national and international Hispanic world. The Ph.D. in Hispanic Studies consists of one curriculum and one set of overarching educational objectives. Within the general framework of the curriculum, however, there are four concentrations, each of which overlap. Every Ph.D. student must take a core of four courses that will introduce him or her to the various methods and resources for the study of:

Hispanic literature, language, culture and socio-economic issues;
the research and methodological skills necessary to conduct and present research;
the linguistic variations of the Southwest; and
U.S. Latino/a literature(s).

Once a student has chosen a particular concentration, he or she will be required to take 15 hours of courses in that concentration, and 18 hours of prescribed and free electives.

Additional Requirements

Each Ph.D. student will be required to write a doctoral dissertation. Nineteen (19) semester credit hours of dissertation credit (HISP 691: “Research”) are required.

Each Ph.D. student will be required to demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English and Spanish by taking a translation exam (dictionary allowed) or by passing a 300-level class in that language with a grade of B or better. Students may satisfy this requirement at any point before completing their 45 semester credit hours of regular course work.