نظرة عامة على البرنامج

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Hispanic Studies, PhD

The PhD in Hispanic Studies program at Washington University in St. Louis is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in Latin American and Iberian studies. The program requires students to complete 45 units of coursework, maintain a B average, and pass comprehensive exams.

Program Requirements

• Total Units Required: 45
• Degree Length: 6 years
• Grade Requirement: Students need to take courses for a letter grade and earn a B- or better, with a B average overall.

PhD in Hispanic Studies

Students in the PhD in Hispanic Studies program take courses in all areas of Latin American and Iberian studies. During the fifth semester, students take comprehensive exams from among the three options offered to them. After passing their comprehensive exams, students submit and defend a dissertation prospectus. Students then research, write, defend, and submit their doctoral dissertation.

Required Courses

Students must complete 15 courses in the department, including:

• SPAN 5011: Cultural Theory
• SPAN 5031: Global Hispanic Studies
• SPAN 5041: Media, Material & Popular Cultures
• SPAN 5051: Gender & Sexuality
• SPAN 5061: Race & Ethnicity

Qualifying Examinations

Progress toward the PhD is contingent upon the student passing examinations that are variously called preliminary, qualifying, general, comprehensive, or major field exams. The qualifying process varies according to the program.

Mentored Experience Requirements

Doctoral students at Washington University must complete a department-defined Mentored Experience. The Mentored Experience Requirement is a doctoral degree requirement that is notated on the student’s transcript when complete.

The Doctoral Dissertation

A Research Advisory Committee (RAC) must be created no later than the end of the student's third year. As evidence of the mastery of a specific field of knowledge and of the capacity for original scholarly work, each candidate must complete a dissertation that is approved by their RAC.

The Dissertation Defense

Approval of the written dissertation by the Research Advisory Committee (RAC) is strongly recommended before the student can orally defend the dissertation. The Doctoral Dissertation Committee that examines the student during the defense consists of at least five members.

Submission of the Dissertation

After the defense, the student must submit an electronic copy of the dissertation online to the Office of Graduate Studies, Arts & Sciences.

Mentored Experience Requirements (MERs)

Philosophy of Teaching

Teaching development for graduate students in Hispanic Studies features a comprehensive and systematic apprenticeship in the theory and practice of teaching Romance Languages with ample supervision throughout.

Preparatory Engagement

Preparatory Engagement activities are those that represent an introduction to the foundational skills associated with teaching or communication.

Mentored Teaching Experiences (MTEs)

• Assistant in Instruction (AI): An AI is a PhD student who is directly engaged in the organization, instruction, and/or support of a semester-long course primarily taught by a faculty member.
• Mentored Independent Teaching (MIT): MIT is a semester-long experience for PhD students who engage as the primary instructor or co-instructor of a course under the mentorship of a faculty member as part of the MER.

Mentored Professional Experiences (MPEs)

The MPE is an unpaid professional experience for PhD students that allows students to develop skills and experiences relevant to their intended career outcomes.

Required Pathways for Completion

Students work with their faculty mentor and their Director of Graduate Studies to plan how and when they will complete their MERs. Students register during the normal registration period for courses in accordance with one of these approved pathways.