Literature- Course Requirements
Information | Course Requirements | Preliminary (Comprehensive) Examination
Literature Course Requirements
The minimum requirements are: twelve credits in the major, six in each suppporting field and three in each of the two remaining fields. Course credits earned in the M.A. program, with the exception of Spanish 545, Spanish 702 (the proseminar), Spanish 323, Spanish 324 and any transfer credits used to satisfy M.A. requirements, do satisfy the Ph.D. course requirements.
A minimum of five semesters of seminars (at least two in the major) are required. At least four semesters of seminars are required beyond the M.A. One of these seminars may be taken outside the Department, with the advisor's consent.
Three credits of course or seminar work is the minimal requirement in literary theory.
Language Requirements. A knowledge of other languages is essential for doctoral research. Therefore, students are urged to fulfill the language requirements as early as possible in their doctoral studies. In any case, they must be fulfilled prior to the Preliminary Examination. The candidate must demonstrate advanced proficiency in a minimum of two languages, to be determined in consultation with the adviser. The most common languages are Portuguese, French, Italian, Latin, German and Arabic, depending on the candidate's major and minor. Advanced proficiency is defined as six college semesters with a grade of B or better. An advanced pass on the U.W.-Extension Reading Knowledge Examinations in French and German for graduate students will be accepted as an alternative. Exceptions to the above policies may be petitioned by the adviser to the Departmental Committee.
Teaching Requirement. All candidates for the Ph.D. degree must teach courses in their language specialty within the Department (or teach courses outside approved by the Department) for a minimum of two semesters. Such teaching is for the purpose of professional training, and the candidate's performance will be monitored by course supervisors and the Departmental evaluation committee. The degree will not be conferred until this requirement has been satisfied. Please note the following requirements for teaching:
Spanish 545 or the equivalent is a requirement for teaching in the department.
Since teaching is a requirement for the Ph.D., so then is Spanish 545 or the equivalent by virtue of item (a).
If a graduate student is appointed exceptionally for a semester or session when 545 is not being offered, the student will take the course the next time it is offered.
In special cases, students may be exempted from the requirement with prior written consent of the instructor of Spanish 545, in consultation with the chair.
Residency Requirement. Prior to taking the Preliminary Examination, the candidate must have taken a minimum of two semesters of six credits each in the Department. This does not include Independent Study.
Ph.D. Minor. The doctoral candidate must present a minor in work done outside of Spanish. The minor should be in an area related to the major field of interest. Portuguese, French, Comparative Literature and Ibero-American Studies are among the most common minors. Distributed minors must be approved by the Department of Spanish and Portuguese. Requirements for the minor are established by the respective department. Since the minor should complement the student's major area of concentration, the student should arrange his/her program with the minor department as early as possible in the doctoral career.