Spanish, PhD
Develop an advanced knowledge of Peninsular, Latin American and Mexican American literature and cultural production. Mentoring by renowned faculty to help you develop a sound knowledge of genre, periodization and scholarly research in the field.
Program Description
Degree Awarded: Spanish, PhD
The PhD program in Spanish consists of two specializations: Spanish literature and culture.
The specializations in Spanish literature and cultural studies, which are intended to be as flexible as possible, establish broad areas of competence through an individualized program of study set with the supportive guidance of the student's advisor.
Graduate courses in literature and cultural studies focus on the production, distribution and reception of texts and their linguistics, either written or visual (e.g., photographs, films, visual narratives), and their linguistic, rhetorical and literary structure and functions, with an emphasis on literary theories and aesthetics. Many literature courses explore issues relating to gender, class, race, ethnicity, globalization, environmental humanities, disability theories, post-human theories and digital humanities.
Fields of study
Literature studies: A typical doctoral program with a specialization on Literature will consist of a variety of graduate SPA courses in literature, selected among various geographical areas and historical periods, as approved by the student’s supervisory committee.
Cultural studies: A typical doctoral program with a specialization in cultural studies will consist of a variety of courses in culture, literature and linguistics, diversified between geographical areas and historical periods, as approved by the student’s supervisory committee.
Curriculum
84 credit hours, a foreign language exam, a written comprehensive exam, an oral comprehensive exam, a prospectus and a dissertation
| Degree requirements | Credit hours |
| Core courses | 3 |
| Literature and culture electives | 51 |
| Electives | 6 |
| Research | 12 |
| Culminating experience/dissertation | 12 |
| Total credit hours | 84 |
Courses and electives
The coursework for each student is individualized and based upon the student's previous training, research goals and mentor and committee consensus. Our research heavy program requires students to complete a written comprehensive exam, prospectus and dissertation.
At a Glance: program details
- Location: Tempe campus
- Second Language Requirement: No
Degree Requirements
Required Core (3 credit hours)
SPA 545 Concepts of Literary Criticism (3)
Literature and Culture Electives (51 credit hours)
Electives (6 credit hours)
Research (12 credit hours)
SPA 792 Research (12)
Culminating Experience (12 credit hours)
SPA 799 Dissertation (12)
Additional Curriculum Information
Coursework for the literature and culture electives must be SPA literature or culture content courses and approved by the student's supervisory committee. Students may not use SPA 596 Second Language Methodologies towards this requirement.
Each candidate is expected to demonstrate a reading knowledge of one language other than English and Spanish. This language requirement must be satisfied before the candidate is eligible to take the comprehensive examination.
The written and oral comprehensive examination, designed to ascertain the candidate's knowledge and orientation in the field of study and competency to proceed with the dissertation, is required at or near the end of coursework.
When approved by the student's supervisory committee and the Graduate College, this program allows 30 credit hours from a previously awarded master's degree to be used for this degree.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in Spanish or equivalent from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants from other academic backgrounds with relevant coursework in Spanish language and cultural studies also may be evaluated by the admissions committee.
Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.75 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.75 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.
All applicants must submit:
- graduate admission application and application fee
- official transcripts
- writing sample
- personal statement
- resume
- three letters of recommendation
- proof of English proficiency
Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
It is recommended but not required that students applying for admission to the program submit GRE scores; this is especially advisable for applicants for the Spanish Graduate Fellowship Award.
Candidates for the program are required to demonstrate a near-native oral proficiency in Spanish and to show that they have developed a high order of expository prose in English and Spanish by presenting a term paper or a chapter of the master's degree thesis as their writing sample.
Career Opportunities
Professionals with this degree can confidently move into the academic profession, careers in education, including in museums and libraries, and professions outside academia such as in the publishing industry, media, nonprofits and international relations. Skills developed through this program are valued for teaching positions, translation work or work in a larger sector such as governmental, diplomatic and international business career opportunities.
Career examples include:
- area, ethnic and cultural studies teachers and professors
- editors
- foreign language and literature teachers and professors
- instructional design coordinators
- interpreters and translators
- lawyers
- reporters and correspondents
- social and community service managers
Application fee waiver
We are no longer accepting requests for application fee waivers for this admission cycle. We may offer waivers again after Sept. 1 when the admission cycle for fall 2024 opens.
Applicants facing financial hardship may request a waiver for their application fee. Please complete the online application up to the fee payment page. Please send both Monica Hopkins (Monica.Hopkins@asu.edu) and Francoise Mirguet (Francoise.Mirguet@asu.edu) a brief essay (about 150 words) describing why paying the application fee is difficult in your situation, along with your application ID number. If your request is accepted, we will let you know that you can submit your application without paying the fee. The School of International Letters and Cultures has established a limited budget for these waivers. Requests will be considered as they are received until the budget is spent.
Career opportunities
Professionals with this degree can confidently move into the academic profession, careers in education, including in museums and libraries and professions outside academia such as in the publishing industry, media, nonprofits and international relations. Skills developed through this program are valued for teaching positions, translation work or work in a larger sector such as governmental, diplomatic and international business career opportunities.
Career examples include:
- Area, ethnic and cultural studies teachers and professors
- Editors
- Foreign language and literature teachers and professors
- Instructional design coordinators
- Interpreters and translators
- Lawyers
- Reporters and correspondents
- Social and community service managers
Testimonials
"The School of International Letters and Cultures has been very supportive. My advisor's guidance has been crucial in the development of my research. In addition, I have learned a lot from my peers. SILC has fostered a very inclusive and friendly working and learning environment."
Edurne Beltran de Heredia Carmona
Contact information
School of International Letters and Cultures | DH318
silc@asu.edu | 480-965-6281
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