Graduate Bulletin

Spanish, Ph.D.

COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

Application Deadline:

Fall: January 15

Spring: October 15

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

Letters of Reference:

Number Required: 2

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

Coursework Required for Admission Consideration:

TBA

Master's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline:

Yes. Spanish with emphasis in Literature and/or Linguistics.

Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline:

No.

Statement of Goals:

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

Standardized Test Scores:

The GRE is required. Typical GRE scores range from 500 to 700 each for the verbal, quantitative, and analytical sections of the exam. Special consideration is given to applicants who have studied in the U.S. but whose native language is not English. Applicants holding degrees from non-English-speaking countries are not required to submit GRE scores.

Resume:

A resume is required.

Advanced Standing:

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

Test Waivers:

The GRE examination requirement is waived for students with degrees from Spanish- and other non-English-speaking countries.

Program Requirements

Campus Location:

Main Campus

Summer graduates courses are available at Ambler campus.

Full-Time/Part-Time Status:

Students are required to complete the degree program through classes offered before and after 4:30 p.m.

General Program Requirements:

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

Required Courses:

Specific course requirements for the Ph.D. degree include Bibliography and Research (Spanish 990), Literary Criticism (Spanish 430), and two to three approved courses in related fields outside of the Department. Course work (including the Masters-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 minimun of 5 advanced courses. A total of 21 courses is required, including those of the Masters degree.

Internship: No internship is required.

Language Examination: Yes, a language examination is required. Students must pass written reading-comprehension examinations in two foreign languages other than Spanish. Exams are usually taken in 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 ten 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.

Subject Areas/Major Components of the Preliminary Examination Examination areas are drawn from the three fields of study within the Department: Spanish Peninsular Literature, Spanish American Literature, and Hispanic Linguistics as represented in the graduate reading list.

At what point in the program is the student expected to take the preliminary examination The Preliminary Examination should be completed no more than one semester after the student completes the coursework component of the program.

Writing the Questions for the Preliminary Examination Graduate Faculty members specializing in the subject areas selected for the examination write the questions for the Preliminary Examination.

Evaluating the Preliminary Examination Graduate Faculty members of the Department will evaluate the examination. Each member grades examination answers on a scale of A to F.

Criterion for Passing the Preliminary Examination. A grade of B- or higher must be achieved in response to each Preliminary Exam question. The evaluators look for (a) breadth and depth of understanding of specific research areas, (b) the critical application of knowledge in the response to specific exam questions, and (c) an ability to write in a clear and concise manner using appropriate terminology.

Administering, Scheduling, and Proctoring the Preliminary Examination 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 the Administrative Assistant will proctor all examinations.

Dissertation:

Dissertation Advising Committee Information The Dissertation Advising 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 his or her academic progress.

Dissertation Examining Committee Information The Dissertation Examining Committee is comprised of the Dissertation 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 will defend the dissertation. The Examining Committee evaluates the student's dissertation and public oral examination.

Advisor/Committee Information 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.

Dissertation/Monograph Philosophy 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 his or her primary area of research. Dissertations 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.

Philosophy of the Proposal The dissertation proposal demonstrates the student's knowledge and ability to conduct the proposed research. The proposal typically consists of the following: (a) presentation of the context and background surrounding a particular research question or problem, (b) a survey and review of pertinent literature, and (c) a detailed methodological plan for carrying out the proposed research. The proposal should be completed and aproved by the student's Dissertation Committee no more than one year after completing coursework.

Criterion for Passing the Dissertation and the Defense. The Dissertation Examination Committee will evaluate the student's ability to express verbally his or her research question, methodological approach, primary findings and implications. The Committee will vote to pass or fail the dissertation and the defense at the conclusion of the public oral defense.

Dissertation Defense Scheduling Students who are preparing to defend their dissertation must confirm a time and date with their Dissertation Advisory Committee Chair at least 15 days before the defense is to be held.

Announcing the Dissertation Defense After the Dissertation Advisory Committee 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 (501 Carnell Hall) by the student at least 10 days before the defense. The Department will post fliers announcing the defense.

Contacts

Program Contact Information:

www.temple.edu/spanpor/

Department Information:

Dept. of Spanish and Portuguese
Anderson Hall, 4th Floor
1114 W. Berks Street
Philadelphia, PA 19122

galorenz@temple.edu
215-204-8285

Department Contacts:

Admissions:

Gerardo Augusto Lorenzino
galorenz@temple.edu
215-204-6035

Program Coordinator:

Gerardo Augusto Lorenzino
galorenz@temple.edu
215-204-6035

Graduate Chairperson:

Gerardo Augusto Lorenzino
galorenz@temple.edu
215-204-6035

Chairperson:

Jonathan C. Holmquist
jonathan.holmquist@temple.edu
215-204-1710

About the Program

The Graduate Program integrates the traditional fields of Hispanic Studies (Spanish Peninsular Literature, Spanish American Literature, and Hispanic Linguistics). At the Ph.D. level the program provides opportunities for advanced study and research in selected areas of the above fields, and trains scholar/teachers for careers in institutions of higher learning.

Time Limit for Degree Completion: 7 years

Campus Location:

Main Campus

Summer graduates courses are available at Ambler campus.

Students are required to complete the degree program through classes offered before and after 4:30 p.m. Students are 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 W. Berks Street
Philadelphia, PA 19122

montserrat.piera@temple.edu
215-204-8285

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 in placing graduates as tenure-track and full-time faculty in public and private universities in the Philadelphia region and throughout the United States.

Affiliation(s):

Not applicable.

Interdisciplinary Study:

The program offers opportunities for study in the related fields of Latin American Studies and Linguistics.

Study Abroad:

No.

Licensure:

Not applicable.

Non-Degree 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 provide a monthly stipend and tuition remission. Candidates for Teaching Assistantships should express their special needs as an addendum to their personal for the application to the graduate program.

Other Financial Opportunities