Program Overview

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Program Overview

The Department of Spanish and Portuguese offers work leading to the Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy in Spanish and Portuguese, and to a Concentration in Second Language Acquisition and Teacher Education (SLATE). Fields of specialization are:

• Spanish linguistics
• Romance linguistics
• Spanish literature and cultural studies
• Latin American literature and cultural studies
• Brazilian Studies
• Luso-Brazilian literature and cultural studies A graduate course in Catalan literature is also available. Additionally, the department is affiliated with the Latina/Latino Studies Program.

Admission

The normal prerequisite for a graduate major is an undergraduate major in the corresponding Romance language or consent of the department. Students doing graduate work for any advanced degree in Spanish or Portuguese must possess a command of the language. Applicants should submit a statement of purpose, three letters of recommendation, and a writing sample of approximately 10-20 pages in the form of one or two papers, at least one of which must be written in Spanish or Portuguese. Original transcripts showing all undergraduate and graduate work completed should also be submitted. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are recommended of all domestic applicants. International applicants who have taken the GRE are encouraged to submit their scores as well. Applicants whose native language is not English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and must score at least 88 on the internet-based test (iBT); they must also pass the speaking sub-section of the iBT with a minimum score of 24. Applications are accepted for fall admission only.

Centers, Programs, and Institutes

The option to pursue a concentration in SLATE (Second Language Acquisition and Teacher Education) is available to doctoral students in the department's programs in linguistics. Candidates selecting this option are required to complete courses in linguistics, psycholinguistics/sociolinguistics, second language studies, and research methodology in addition to advanced study in linguistics of the particular language.

Graduate Teaching Experience

Although teaching is not a general Graduate College requirement, this department requires degree candidates to teach as part of their academic work. Such experience is considered a vital part of the graduate program. Non-native English speakers must first pass a test of their oral English ability.

Financial Aid

The department offers financial aid (in the form of fellowships, teaching assistantships, and research assistantships) to all of the students it admits. Other kinds of fellowships and research support are also available on a competitive basis to qualified candidates; they include dissertation research and travel grants, conference travel grants, and summer fellowships.

Master of Arts in Spanish, Spanish Linguistics Concentration

The M.A. in Spanish, Concentration in Spanish Linguistics is administered through the Department of Spanish and Portuguese. Its goal is to provide graduate students with rigorous training in all main areas of Spanish Linguistics. It requires coursework on the phonological, morphological, and syntactic structure of the Spanish language, as well as its history, sociolinguistics, and acquisition as a second language.

Course Requirements

• One course in each of the departmental areas (syntax, phonology, morphology, sociolinguistics and dialectology, historical linguistics, second language acquisition)
• Total Spanish Linguistics-specific Hours: 24
• Concentration-specific course requirements (24 Hours)
• Two 500-level courses chosen in consultation with the advisor: 8
• Total Hours: 32

Other Requirements

• A concentration is required
• SPAN 571 is required of all teaching assistants
• Research paper completed in consultation with advisors
• Minimum 500-level Hours Required Overall: 12
• Minimum GPA: 3.0

Learning Outcomes

1. Students will acquire basic knowledge in all sub-areas of Hispanic linguistics including syntax, phonology, morphology, dialectology, sociolinguistics, diachronic linguistics, and second language acquisition and will develop a critical and reflective orientation toward the language and cultures of the people of the Spanish-speaking world
2. Students will develop understanding of the major theoretical and empirical problems in all sub-areas of Hispanic linguistics
3. Students will acquire basic knowledge of theory and research methods in linguistics to be able to conduct linguistic analysis in syntax, phonology, and morphology related to Spanish with human subjects or texts from the Spanish-speaking world
4. Students will acquire ability to communicate research findings in a variety of academic venues in spoken and written English and in Spanish
5. Students will acquire knowledge of teaching methodologies and will be able to teach at the undergraduate level

Graduate Degree Programs in Spanish & Portuguese

• Spanish, MA
  • optional concentrations:
    • Medieval Studies
    • Spanish Linguistics
    • Spanish Literatures & Cultures
• Spanish, PhD
  • optional concentrations:
    • Medieval Studies
    • Romance Linguistics
    • Second Language Acquisition & Teacher Education
• Portuguese, MA
  • concentration:
    • Brazilian Studies
• Portuguese, PhD

Department Information

• Head of Department: Melissa Bowles
• Director of Graduate Studies: Jonathan E. MacDonald
• Department Office: 4080 Foreign Languages Building, 707 South Mathews, Urbana, IL 61801