Requirements for Phd, All Students Starting Fall Semester 2009

Requirements for Phd, All Students Starting Fall Semester 2009

Requirements for PhD, All students starting fall semester 2009

  1. 72 hours, 48 in residence
  2. Classes and evaluations
  3. Language requirement
  4. Comprehensive Exam
  5. Prospectus Defense
  6. Dissertation

1. Hours

Seventy-two (72) units of graduate work, 48 of which must be taken in residence at Washington University. Twelve (12) units are awarded to dissertation work.

2. Classes and Evaluation

At the end of the first year, all students will be reviewed on the basis of their performance in developing a comprehensive knowledge of Hispanic literature, culture and language, to be shown by superior performance in course work and the writing of papers. Should that performance not meet the standards of the program, the student will be placed on probation during the third semester with the understanding that if performance does not improve, an invitation to take the 50 text master's exam will be extended at the end of the fourth semester. Upon successful completion of that exam as well as a sufficient number of courses, the student may leave the program with a master's degree. All students will receive a yearly evaluation of their progress in the program.

3. Language Requirement

Option A. Reading knowledge of two languages other than Spanish or English, and which pertains to the proposed area of research for the dissertation. To demonstrate competence, the student may take either the ETS examination administered through the Graduate School office with a score of 650 or better, or an examination prepared by the department which would be two hours in length: one hour of translation without a dictionary from a book approved by the examiner and previously read by the student, and one hour with a dictionary of an unfamiliar passage of some 800 words in length.

Option B. A competence in one language other than Spanish or English which must be demonstrated by taking two 400-level literature courses in that language.

Note: Specialists in Latin America must use Portuguese as one of the two languages in Option A, Specialists in Medieval or Golden Age must use Latin as one of the two languages.

4. Comprehensive Exam

In the sixth semester (fourth semester for students entering with an MA), students will take an exam based on the following list that spans three days over the course of a week, with an eight hour exam covering four sections on Monday, a four hour exam covering the students primary field on Wednesday and a six hour exam covering three sections on Friday. Each section will consist of two hours to answer one of two questions, with the primary field exam being four hours to answer two of three. Questions will cover issues of literary history, cultural-historical contexts, relations to theoretical issues and leading critical debates, and can include transatlantic or trans-period topics. Successful answers will incorporate a clear understanding of the literary, historical and cultural context of the literature on the list as well as a deep familiarity with cultural and literary theory and criticism. Written exams will be followed by a 60-minute oral exam in which students defend their written answers as well as address questions that come from the list. Students may answer in the language they prefer, though they must answer at least one question each day in the other language (ie, if 3 questions are answered in English, one must be answered in Spanish).
Students found deficient in one area, will be allowed a retake the following semester in which they spend two hours answering one of two questions dealing with the particular period in its entirety. Students who receive a low pass will receive a Master’s degree based on classes taken and will not be allowed to continue in the program. Students who fail more than one area in the initial exam will not be allowed to continue in the program.
Reading List for the Comprehensive Exam:Works marked with asterisks are required readings. Students must read all works (with and without asterisks) within their primary field (1 out of the 8 areas listed). In consultation with the DGS and their advisor, students may substitute 1 of the 8 fields with a course taken at Washington University.

For a list of Latin American texts,click here.
For a list of Peninsular texts,click here.

5. Prospectus Defense

In the eighth semester (ninthfor certificate students) for students entering without an MA (6th for those entering with an MA) students who received a pass on their comprehensive exams will submit an extended ca. 40 ppprospectus, including the bibliography. The dissertation prospectus should follow the most recent MLA Style guidelines. The student must prepare the dissertation prospectus with the help of the principal adviser, and other advisers. The committee members must receive the prospectus four weeks before the date of the prospectus defense. The dissertation prospectusshould containthe following elements:

1. Statement of Thesis& Rationale for selecting Topic, Period, and Corpus.

2. Statement of Significance and Impact (also with regards to field and historical period)

3. Critical overview; State of the Discussion of this Topic

4. Expected Contribution of this Dissertation

5. Outline of Theoretical Frameworkand Methodology

6. Chapter Outline

7. PreliminaryBibliography

8. Timetable for Completion

The student will then defend the prospectus before a committee of our faculty members in a ninety-minute oral exam. The faculty members will include the thesis director, two members of the thesis committee, and the director ofgraduatestudies. Should there be overlap between the DGS and the thesis committee, another faculty member will participate to maintain the committee of four. Prospectus defense will be in the language of the dissertation.

6. Dissertation

Customarily 12 of the 72 units are devoted to the dissertation. The student has a dissertation committee to be determined by mutual agreement consisting of a professor in charge and two other members. The following steps must be completed:

The dissertation proposal to the department needs to be signed by the three faculty members in the student's dissertation committee;

The dissertation is submitted to the advisor chapter by chapter;

Once approved by the advisor, chapters should be submitted to two other members of the committee.

As soon as the dissertation begins to take shape, the student must file a "Scope of Dissertation" with the Graduate School office (no later than six months before the granting of the degree). When a near-final draft of the dissertation has been approved by the three members of the committee, the student must carefully prepare the typescript according to the rules of the Graduate School (a copy of which can be obtained in the Graduate School office). The department usually recommends following the MLA Style Sheet for footnotes and bibliography. The student will prepare a curriculum vitae and an abstract of the dissertation, which must be turned in to the Graduate School two weeks before the defense. There is no time limit on the defense, but it usually lasts no more than two hours. The committee often requests corrections before the dissertation is finally turned in.

Please click here for a link to the new Dissertation guide.

Semester-by-Semester Description of Spanish Graduate Program for Students Entering without an MA

For students entering Fall 2014 or later,please click here.

1st Year

  • Semester 1 (Fall):Fellowship. Take four courses in Latin American and Iberian literature/culture/language
  • Semester 2 (Spring):Fellowship. Take four courses in literature/culture/language

2nd Year

Note:Certificate students may begin to take courses for the certificate at the beginning of the second year.

  • Semester 3 (Fall):TA or RA. Take Spanish 501 (Language Teaching Methodology) and other courses toward completion of degree requirements (including certificate requirements for certificate students). Students begin to teach courses in Spanish as TAs
  • Semester 4 (Spring):TA or RA.

3rd Year

  • Semester 5 (Fall):TA or RA. Take courses toward completion of degree requirements (including certificate requirements for certificate students).
  • Semester 6 (Spring):TA or RA Take PhDComprehensive Exam. (Students completing a certificate program postpone taking this exam by one semester.)

4th Year

  • Semester 7 (Fall):TA or RA. Take courses toward completion of degree requirements (including certificate requirements for certificate students).
  • Semester 8 (Spring):TA or RA.Prospectus Defense(Students completing a certificate program postpone taking this exam by one semester.)

5th Year

  • Semester 9 (Fall):TA or RA.
  • Semester 10 (Spring):TA or RA. Apply forDissertation Fellowshipby February 20

6th Year

  • Semester 11 (Fall):TA or RA
  • Semester 12 (Spring):TA or RA

Semester-by-Semester Description of Spanish Graduate Program for Students Entering with an MA

NOTE: Credits from other institutions do not transfer automatically. In the student’s second year graduate faculty reviews the student’s courses taken and other institutions and makes a recommendation about the number of credits that may be transferred. Only courses comparable to those regularly offered in the Spanish section of the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures may transfer.

1st Year

  • Semester 1 (Fall):Fellowship. Take four courses in Latin American and Iberian literature/culture/language
  • Semester 2 (Spring):Fellowship. Take four courses in literature/culture/language

2nd Year

  • Semester 3 (Fall):TA or RA. Take Spanish 501 (Language Teaching Methodology) and other courses toward completion of degree requirements (including certificate requirements for certificate students). Students begin to teach courses in Spanish as TAs
  • Semester 4 (Spring):TA or RA. Take PhDComprehensive Exam(Students completing a certificate program postpone taking this exam by one semester.)

3rd Year

  • Semester 5 (Fall):TA or RA. Take courses toward completion of degree requirements (including certificate requirements for certificate students).
  • Semester 6 (Spring):TA or RA.Prospectus Defense. (Students completing a certificate program postpone taking this exam by one semester.)

4th Year

  • Semester 7 (Fall):TA or RA
  • Semester 8 (Spring):TA or RA. Apply forDissertation FellowshipbyFebruary 20

5th Year

  • Semester 9 (Fall):TA or RA
  • Semester 10 (Spring):TA or RA

Dissertation Fellowship

Departmental Dissertation Fellowship Policy

The Dissertation Fellowship (DF) is a year of funding provided on a competitive basis by the Dean of the Graduate School with Departmental recommendation. This fellowship is intended to provide students with two semesters of funding during which to write intensively and to advance their dissertation so as to complete their doctorate within the funding cycle. Students on DF have no teaching (TA) obligations. Certificate students receive an added semester of TA support and therefore will most often apply to receive the DF for the calendar (rather than academic) year beginning in January. Similarly, students admitted, exceptionally, in January will apply to receive the fellowship for the calendar year beginning in January, rather than according to the academic year schedule explained above, which starts in August.

GRADUATE STUDENTS ON A DISSERTATION FELLOWSHIP ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN RESIDENCE IN ST. LOUIS AND TO FULLFILL ALL DEPARTMENTAL OBLIGATIONS, INCLUDING PARTICIPATION IN LECTURES, WORKSHOPS, AND THE LIKE. HOWEVER, RESEARCH-RELATED TRIPS, USUALLY OF NO MORE THAN 2-3 MONTHS IN DURATION, MAY BE TAKEN DURING THIS TIME WITH THE PERMISSION OF THE DEPARTMENT AND THE GRADUATE SCHOOL.

Application for the Dissertation Fellowship

The application and all supporting materials, including your advisor's letter, must be delivered to the Department Chair by the Department's February 20 deadline; otherwise, your application will not be considered. The Dissertation Fellowship application form and all supporting materials must be presented in English.

Forms

  1. A student must file theDissertation Scope formwith the Graduate School prior to applying for the Dissertation Fellowship. This form establishes one's status as an ABD, the Graduate School's first requirement in considering students for the Dissertation Fellowship award.
  2. A student must write a one-page description of the planned chapters of the dissertation, submit it to his/her director for approval, and turn in a final copy to the Chair by February 20.The dissertation director must write a one-page letter verifying the student's progress in writing the first and any other chapter(s) and her/his committee's approval of the application for the Dissertation Fellowship, and give it to the Chair by February 20.
  3. The dissertation director must write a one-page letter verifying the student's progress in writing the first and any other chapter(s) and her/his committee's approval of the application for the Dissertation Fellowship, and give it to the Chair by February 20.
  4. The Chair signs theDissertation Fellowship Certification Form, filled out by each applicant, combines it with numbers 2 and 3, adds a departmental letter of support, and sends the materials for each student to the Graduate School prior to March 1. Note that a condition of this award is that you not accept additional part-time employment, unless it has been specifically approved by your Research Advisor and the Graduate School.

Usual Schedule

Students will be supported by the Graduate Faculty of their language section and by the Department and Chair in their application for the Dissertation Fellowship from the Graduate School after they have successfully completed their doctoral exams and if they have written and had approved by the three members of their dissertation committee one well-researched and developed (not provisional) chapter of the dissertation prior to the GSAS March 1 deadline for application.

Students who complete their doctoral exams in spring of their fourth year or of their third year (if they were admitted with M.A. to the doctoral program) will have the following summer and fall to write more than one acceptable chapter, and should be able to complete these requirements prior to the GSAS March 1 deadline during their fifth (or fourth) year. They will be supported by the Department unconditionally in their application to the Dean.

Alternate Schedule

Students who complete their doctoral exams in the fall of their fifth year (or fourth, if they entered with M.A.), because they are doing an additional degree certificate in Women's Studies or another area, because they entered the graduate program at mid-year, or because they postponed or redid their exams, will probably not have time to write and have approved a chapter of their dissertation in the three months intervening between their exams and the GSAS Dissertation Fellowship application deadline of March 1.

Students in this situation will need to write and have approved by the three members of their dissertation committee a ten-page prospectus plus bibliography, indicating what they plan to do in their dissertation. Students of this group who do so will receive provisional support from the Department on their GSAS Dissertation Fellowship application of March 1, and will need to complete and have accepted one chapter by August of the next summer, in order to be eligible to receive the fellowship.

Certificate students, such as those in Women's Studies, receive an added semester of TA support and therefore receive the fellowship for the calendar year beginning in January, rather than starting in September for the academic year. Students admitted at midyear will, similarly, receive the fellowship according to the calendar year.

Students who retake or delay their Ph.D. exams until November will, however, not receive an additional semester of TA funding, and will receive the fellowship for the academic year beginning in late August only if they successfully complete an accepted first chapter on time. Please note: For the Department to process the financial paperwork by the mid-August deadline, these students will need to have their chapter accepted by August 10. We strongly advise students to have a chapter draft prepared for their committee members by May 1, to allow time for revisions or expansions that the committee may deem necessary for an acceptable chapter.

Departmental expectations of students during their year of Dissertation Fellowship.

RLL's continued support for the second semester of DF funding depends upon the student's significant progress during the first semester of DF funding. Typically, such progress would mean, minimally, the approval by the director and two readers of the first chapter of the dissertation, and the director's approval of a completed second chapter (not a draft). Please note the recommended schedule below.

The Department will notify the Graduate School of a student's eligibility for continued funding based on the student's progress (i.e., two accepted chapters) on the dissertation; funding will NOT automatically continue into the second semester. This policy aims to ensure that students will finish their degrees while still funded, and enter the job market in a competitive position for tenure-track job openings. It also seeks to protect the Department's ability to obtain dissertation fellowships for future students, since those who receive the fellowship and do not finish their degree raise questions in the Dean's mind about the efficacy of this year of funding in enabling doctoral candidates to graduate.

We therefore recommend students to adhere to the following writing schedule during the dissertation fellowship year:

First semester of fellowship:

  • Second chapter drafted, given to committee, and revised by Nov 1 (or March 1) of the first semester of funding.
  • Third chapter in draft by end of first semester of fellowship funding.

Second semester of fellowship:

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