Acceptance into the Ph.D. program is based on an evaluation of the following items, which the prospective candidate must provide the University:

• An Application, a registration form, and the application fee to be submitted to Graduate Studies Admissions (UNM Spanish and Portuguese M.A. students do not have to submit a new Application, but need to turn in a change of degree form)



• Official transcripts of all academic work sent directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions. (UNM M.A. students do not have to submit new transcripts, but an unofficial transcript is required by the department)



• A narrative statement of intent, following departmental guidelines.



• A sample research paper prepared in accordance with the MLA Style Sheet for literature students or the LSA Style Sheet for linguistics students.



• A taped autobiography according to departmental guidelines. The tape will be in Spanish; native speakers of languages other than English must also provide a taped statement in English of equal length.



• Graduates of U.S. universities must present GRE scores; native speakers of languages other than English who graduate from non-U.S. universities must successfully pass the TOEFL test (score of 550 or better or scores of at least 80 in all areas of the Michigan test) and are encouraged to submit GRE scores. Candidates who took their M.A. at UNM may use their earlier scores as part of their application.



• Three letters of recommendation, preferably from professors in the major field of study. Please use either the recommendation forms included with the application or request that departmental stationery be used for the recommendations.

The Ph.D. in Spanish and Portuguese at the University of New Mexico requires a minimum of 63 hours of graduate courses (not including dissertation hours), which may include up to 30 hours of M.A. coursework. The degree consists of a departmental concentration and twelve additional hours in a supporting field; a double major may be taken in lieu of additional coursework, with 48 hours of post-M.A. coursework required (total hours required, including M.A. = 78). All coursework in Spanish must be at the 500- or 600-level, with the exception of Mexican Literature (SPAN 438), and Cervantes’ Quijote (SPAN 423).

• DEPARTMENTAL CONCENTRATION: The two concentrations are Literature and Linguistics. The concentrations require a minimum of 24 hours. The concentration in Literature will consist of a group of courses in a genre (narrative, poetry, theater) and a period (Medieval, Renaissance/Golden Age/Colonial, 18th and 19th Centuries, 20th Century). The concentration in Linguistics requires a minimum of 24 hours. In addition to the 24 hours in either concentration an additional 12 hours in a supporting field is required.



• REQUIRED COURSES: Either SPAN 542 (History of the Spanish Language) or PORT 561 (History of the Portuguese Language) and PORT 461 “Portuguese Graduate Studies” are required of linguistics majors; SPAN 601 (Literary Theory) and six units of Portuguese 400 level or above are required of literature majors. These required courses may count toward the 24 hours for the major or the 12 hours of additional coursework.



• LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT: Research at the graduate and professional levels is enhanced by the mastery of several languages. Students are advised to consider their professional goals in selecting a language to fulfill the department’s requirement. Due to the linguistic similarities between Spanish and Portuguese as well as the strong cultural link between Spanish America and Brazil, coursework in Portuguese is strongly encouraged by the Department of Spanish and Portuguese.
  
  All Ph.D. candidates must demonstrate proficiency equivalent to two years of university-level study in a language apart from English and the student’s language of major study. This proficiency is normally demonstrated by completing, in consultation with the Departmental Graduate Advisor, a fourth-semester or above numbered language course with a grade of B or better. Alternately, the student may complete the requirement by demonstrating proficiency equivalent to one year of university-level study in two foreign languages, by completing second-semester or above numbered language courses in both languages with a grade of B or better. This requirement can be met through coursework done as part of the B.A. and/or M.A.
  
  * Graduate students in Spanish with an interest in Portuguese should consider enrolling first in Port. 461, a graduate level intensive language and culture class. The class is designed to prepare students with the necessary skills to take Portuguese content courses in literature and culture. The Portuguese language, as well as Brazilian literature and culture, share many similarities with the Spanish language and Spanish American literature and culture. Coursework in Portuguese will enhance students’ understanding and appreciation of both languages and of the literatures and cultures of Latin America.
  



• COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION: The doctoral examination encompasses both the concentration and the additional 12 hours in a supporting field. A reading list developed by the candidate in consultation with his or her Chair of Committee on Studies. The examination consists of three parts:

  1. A 72-hour written examination covering areas of the concentration as well as the supporting field.
  2. An assigned research essay in the student’s concentration. The research question is developed in collaboration with the Committee on Studies and is generally geared to prepare the student to work on the projected dissertation topic. The student will have two weeks to complete the essay.
  3. A comprehensive oral examination to be scheduled two weeks after the conclusion of the written examination.



• PH.D. DISSERTATION: Consult the information and requirements specified in the University of New Mexico Catalog. A dissertation proposal should be presented to the Dissertation Committee within six weeks of passing the comprehensive examination and must be officially approved within six months of taking the exams. An approved copy of the dissertation proposal must be turned in to the Graduate Administrative Assistant.