PhD Program; Field: Hispanic Literatures and Cultures

Minimum Admission Requirements

• Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Department of Spanish's additional admission requirements stated below.

• Master's degree from a recognized university in an appropriate discipline with an average of A– or higher. Applicants apply online and should arrange for electronic submission of the following material:

  • A one-page statement of purpose, outlining the applicant's areas of interest (in English).

  • A sample of written work in Spanish (10 to 12 pages double spaced).

  • Two letters of recommendation, ideally in English (one of the letters must comment on the applicant's fluency in Spanish).

  • A curriculum vitae in English.

Completion Requirements

• Students must specialize in one geographic area of study in accordance with distribution requirements for the field:

  • Latin American Literature and Culture.

  • Spanish Peninsular Literature and Culture.

• Coursework. Students must successfully complete a total of 4.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs). Course selection is proposed to the Associate Chair, Graduate Studies, who reviews and approves the plan in consultation with the faculty supervisor to ensure they relate to the proposed research area of the dissertation:

  • A minimum of 1.5 FCEs in their chosen geographic area of study.

  • 0.5 FCE in the other geographic area of study.

  • For students specializing in Latin American Literature and Culture, an additional 0.5 FCE in pre-1700 literature and culture if not previously completed at the master's level.

  • 0.5 FCE in Hispanic Linguistics, if not previously completed at the master's level.

  • SPA1096H From Reflective Planning to Delivery in Language Teaching.

  • Of any remaining coursework, up to 1.0 FCE may be taken outside the department from a cognate unit.

  • Students are expected to complete their coursework in Year 1. However, with the approval of the Associate Chair, Graduate, up to 1.0 FCE may be taken in Year 2.

  • Students must maintain a minimum average of A– in order to remain in good academic standing.

• By March 25 of Year 1, each student must seek approval from the Graduate Advisory Committee for the proposed area of his/her dissertation and the membership of the Field Examination Committee (normally the proposed dissertation supervisor and two other members of the graduate faculty). The Graduate Advisory Committee will respond in writing by May 1 of the same year. The final decision in this matter rests with the Graduate Advisory Committee. In consultation with their committee, students must start their preparation for their field exams in the Summer session of Year 1.

• The field examination centres on two subfields: the subfield of the student's proposed dissertation research and a subfield relevant to the student's research and general preparation.

• By October 1 of Year 2, each student must submit to the Associate Chair, Graduate Studies a brief statement (three to four pages double spaced) concerning the primary and secondary subfields for their field examination and two reading lists (one for each subfield). Each reading list should consist of 25 to 30 items and should include primary and secondary sources. The student's Field Committee will review this material and meet with the student to indicate revisions or additions to the reading lists. The student must file final copies of the two reading lists and statements, as approved by the committee, with the Associate Chair, Graduate Studies by November 1.

• The field examination will take place between January 15 and February 15 of Year 2. It has two parts: a written examination of six hours and an oral examination of two hours. Each part will cover the primary and secondary subfields that the student has prepared.

  • The written examination will consist of three questions. At least one of the questions must be answered in Spanish, and at least one of the questions must be answered in English.

  • The oral examination will follow two weeks after the written exam; it will normally be conducted in Spanish, although English may be used to accommodate committee members from cognate units. The Field Committee will grade the two parts of the examination together, on a credit/non-credit basis. A student who does not receive credit on the first attempt must retake both parts of the examination by May 10.

• Each student must submit a written dissertation proposal to the Associate Chair, Graduate Studies by April 25 of Year 2 of enrolment in the program. The written proposal articulates the topic, the research questions and methodology of the student's proposed research, and presents a sample of analysis, in approximately 25 pages double spaced. In addition, the proposal should include a bibliography, an outline of the dissertation, and a plan of action which associates the outline with activities of research and writing within a timeline for the three sessions per year. The proposal should be written in the language that the student intends to use in writing the dissertation (Spanish or English).

  • Each student must defend their dissertation proposal (including the outline and plan of action) in a two-hour, public oral examination to be held by May 15, normally conducted in the language of the student's proposal.

  • The student's Field Committee will grade the written proposal and the oral examination on a credit/non-credit basis. A student who does not receive credit on the first attempt must revise and resubmit the dissertation proposal by September 15 of Year 3 of enrolment and retake the oral examination on the proposal by October 15 of that year.

• Language requirements must be fulfilled before registering for Year 4. Each student must demonstrate a reading knowledge of French and of a third non-English language relevant to their area of research. These language requirements may be satisfied by passing the appropriate reading knowledge courses or examinations offered by the corresponding departments of the Faculty of Arts and Science at the University of Toronto (including the exams offered in-house by the Department of Spanish and Portuguese).

  • Significant prior training in a language (such as an undergraduate major or minor) will also be accepted as demonstration of reading knowledge.

  • Native speakers of languages other than English and Spanish, who have received their formal education in that language (minimum of a high school diploma) may request an exemption for the third-language requirement.

• Years 3 and 4 are devoted to researching and writing the doctoral dissertation. The Supervisory Committee must normally approve the complete draft of the dissertation before the candidate can proceed to the Doctoral Final Oral Examination.

• Students fulfil the residence requirement by being registered as full-time on-campus and must reside in sufficient geographical proximity to enable them to fulfil the requirements of the program in a timely fashion. They are also expected to participate fully in departmental activities. While writing the dissertation, candidates are expected to be in residence, with the exception of absences for research purposes and approved leaves.

Mode of Delivery: In person
Program Length: 4 years full-time (typical registration sequence: Continuous)
Time Limit: 6 years full-time