Spanish

Return to: Graduate School of Arts & Sciences: Departments/Programs

444 Cabell Hall
University of Virginia
P.O. Box 400777
Charlottesville, VA 22904-4777
(434) 924-7159 Fax: (434) 924-7160
www.virginia.edu/span-ital-port

Degree Requirements

Master of Arts in Spanish

Thirty credits of courses at the 5200 level or above, at least twelve of which must be at the 7000 level or above; none of the thirty credit hours may be derived from non-topical research; SPAN 7220 and SPAN 8210 are required courses; a comprehensive written examination; and a one-hour oral examination. The written and oral examinations are based exclusively on the departmental M.A. reading list.

Doctor of Philosophy in Spanish

For students entering the program holding a B.A. degree, a minimum of 54 graded course credits, of which a minimum of 36 must be at the 7000 level or above, together with successful completion of the en-route qualifying (M.A.) examinations (written and oral) and official departmental permission to proceed. For students entering the program holding an M.A. (or equivalent) from another institution, a minimum of 36 graded course credits at the 7000 level or above. For all students: one course must be in literary theory; at least two others must be at the level of 8000 or above; SPAN 7220 and SPAN 8210 are required courses; a reading knowledge of two other foreign languages (or the mastery of one) pertinent to the major research area, tested by examination; a written and oral comprehensive Ph.D. examination, which includes a master class presentation; an approved dissertation; and an oral defense examination on the field of the dissertation. The guide for the written and oral qualifying examinations will be the departmental M.A. reading list, and the guide for the written and oral comprehensive examinations will be the departmental Ph.D. reading list.

Permission to Proceed to the Ph.D. in Spanish

After completion of the M.A. requirements and acceptance into the Ph.D. program, all students in their first year of Ph.D. course work will be evaluated by the department before permission to proceed is granted. Students are expected to complete all pre-dissertation requirements, including coursework, language proficiency examinations, and qualifying examinations, by the conclusion of their eighth term of study (i.e., at the end of the fourth semester of study after completion of the M.A.).

Teaching Requirement for Spanish

Because this department considers language teaching an integral part of its graduate degree program, and in order that our graduate students may fully develop their teaching abilities at several levels under the close supervision of the Spanish Language Coordinator and the course heads, the department requires that graduate students serve as teaching assistants. Exceptions may be made for part-time and non-resident students; exceptions in other cases must be approved by the graduate advisor.

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