Department of Spanish & Portuguese

3. Language Requirement. All Master’s students must show reading proficiency in a language other than English or Spanish. The language requirement must be completed prior to taking the Master’s comprehensive exam. Each student should consult with the appropriate language department
administering the examination to inquire about the standards and format of the test. Please see guidelines.

4. Comprehensive Examination. During the fourth semester of the program, students will complete a comprehensive written examination. The examinations are based upon the works listed in the department's Master’s Examination Primary Texts Reading List, available from the department’s office manager. Prior to taking the examination, students should consult with the faculty to discuss their intentions, and request further critical and bibliographical guidance. The student will choose to be examined in six of the following eight fields. Exams may be presented in English, Spanish, or Portuguese.

The examination will be given each year at the end of the spring semester. Students must notify the DGS that they plan to take an examination at least three weeks prior to its scheduled administration. A grade of “low pass” or higher is necessary to pass the M.S. exam, while a grade of “pass” or higher is required for authorization to continue on to the Ph.D. first exam. The examination must be completed by the fourth semester of study for the Master’s. Students not taking the examination within this time frame must petition the department for an extension. In the event of an unsuccessful outcome, the student may retake the examination only once, and within one year of the first exam. If the student does not pass one section, s/he may retake that section only. If a student receives a “no pass” in more than one section of the exam, the exam must be taken again in its entirety.

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For the PhD Degree (Maximum 5 years)

1. Director of Graduate Studies and Adviser. Students should consult with the DGS, currently Professor Francomano, any time they have questions about the program. Students are responsible for checking with the DGS at least once per semester to make certain that they are not only taking the appropriate courses, but are also following the correct sequence of courses. New students must meet with the DGS prior to the beginning of the Fall semester. Continuing students must meet with the DGS during pre-registration. All students must meet again with her during add/drop period if changes to their registration are necessary, as students cannot change their course selection without prior approval from the DGS.

By the second year of study for the Ph.D., students choose an adviser whose research interests coincide with their area of concentration. This adviser could be the student's potential dissertation mentor.

2. Prerequisites. Students wishing to pursue the Ph.D. must have completed successfully the eleven courses required for Master's candidates. They must also have passed the comprehensive examination taken to satisfy the Master’s requirements with a minimum grade of “pass,” plus obtain departmental approval to advance to the doctorate. Departmental approval to advance to the doctoral program will be based on a combined assessment of performance in courses and on the Master’s examination.

3. Courses. Students qualified to pursue the Ph.D. must complete six additional courses beyond the Master's chosen in consultation with a prospective dissertation mentor for a total of 17 courses beyond the B.A. (For students entering with a Master’s from another institution or program, see #7). At least one of these courses should be a graduate-level course offered outside the department in another discipline. Students may take a maximum of three graduate courses outside the department during the course of their graduate work.

4. Language Requirement. In addition to completing the requirements outlined under A 3, Ph.D., students will show reading proficiency in an additional language other than English, Spanish, or the one offered to satisfy the language requirement for the Master's. This requirement should be completed prior to the approval of the dissertation proposal outlined below. Please see guidelines.

5. Complete the Requirements in One Minor Field. In consultation with the mentor, DSG, and minor field specialist, the student will define a minor field. The requirement can be satisfied by completing four graduate level courses with a grade of B+ in the department or an interdisciplinary field.

6. Pass the Examination in One Major Field chosen from the eight area fields listed above with a minimum grade of “Pass”. In the major field, there will be a take-home exam divided in two parts. In the first part, the student will be examined in the area field he/she plans to write a dissertation. In the second part, the student will be examined on the theoretical framework of his/her dissertation as part of the preparation for writing the dissertation proposal. For the exam the student will develop two reading lists in consultation with the examining committee (usually two faculty from the field) and the DGS. The final lists should be submitted to the examining committee and the DGS at least 3 months prior to the exam. The first part of the exam will consist of five questions from which three will be selected, one of which will be a textual analysis (unless the major field requires an alternative format). In the second part of the exam, the student will be asked to elaborate on the theoretical framework of his/her dissertation. The student will have two (2) days for the first part and a week for the second part. This exam should be taken the semester after the last semester of coursework is completed. Grade options are: 1) Distinction, 2) High Pass, 3) Pass, 4) Fail. In the event of a failing grade, the student may take the exam once more the following semester.

7. Students with a a Master's from Another Institution: For students who enroll in the PhD program with a Master’s from another program, the department will review the student’s preparation to ensure near-equivalency with the Georgetown Master’s. Students who need additional background preparation may show proficiency by additional coursework or by taking the Master’s exam. Students entering the Ph.D. program in Literature and Cultural Studies with a Master's degree in Spanish and/or Portuguese from another institution will be required to complete twelve courses at Georgetown, including 461 and 500 or their equivalent. Up to five graduate courses will be accepted from another graduate program toward the total of seventeen courses past the Bachelor's degree.  If equivalents of 461 or 500 have not been taken at the Master’s level, they should be included. They must also pass successfully the PhD examination in the major field, complete the minor field requirement, and demonstrate reading proficiency in two languages other than English or Spanish.

8. Teaching Requirement. All Ph.D. students are required to teach under the supervision of a faculty mentor within the department in partial fulfillment or satisfaction of degree requirements. This requirement serves the purpose of furthering the students' education and professional training.

9. Dissertation Proposal. After successful completion of these requirements, the student will draft a dissertation prospectus for departmental discussion, to be presented one semester after the PhD exam. The prospectus will be more than an overview of the topic; considerable research on the subject must be evident so that rigorous discussion may take place. The proposal must be approved by a committee consisting of the mentor and two evaluators.

10. Dissertation. Upon approval of the dissertation proposal, the student will enroll in two successive courses of Thesis Research in the last year of study when the dissertation is written. The dissertation committee will consist of the faculty mentor, at least one reader from the department, and at least one reader from outside the department. The dissertation may be written in Spanish, Portuguese, or English. Upon completion of the dissertation and its approval by the dissertation committee, there will be a public presentation and defense of the dissertation in order to satisfy fully the requirements for conferral of the doctorate.

11. Academic Performance and Academic Integrity. Every student pursuing graduate studies in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese is required always to adhere to high standards of academic performance and integrity. They are responsible for knowing the policies and standards of the Graduate School and the department concerning the infringement of academic integrity.