Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese
Director of Graduate Studies: Melissa Bowles
4080 Foreign Languages Building
707 South Mathews Avenue
Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 244-3250
E-mail: SIP@illinois.edu
Major: Italian
Degrees Offered: M.A., Ph.D.
Graduate Concentration: Medieval Studies (available to all), Romance Linguistics (Ph.D.), Second Language Acquisition and Teacher Education (Ph.D. only)
Major: Portuguese
Degrees Offered: M.A., Ph.D.
Graduate Concentration: Medieval Studies (available to all), Romance Linguistics (Ph.D.), Second Language Acquisition and Teacher Education (Ph.D. only)
Major: Spanish
Degrees Offered: M.A., Ph.D.
Graduate Concentrations: Medieval Studies (available to all), Romance Linguistics (Ph.D.), Spanish Linguistics (M.A. only), Spanish Literatures and Cultures (M.A. only), Second Language Acquisition and Teacher Education (Ph.D. only)
Medical Scholars Program: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Spanish, Italian or Portuguese and Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) through the Medical Scholars Program
Graduate Degree Programs
The Department of Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese offers work leading to the Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy in Spanish, in Italian, and in Portuguese, and to a Certificate of Advanced Study in Second Language Acquisition and Teacher Education (SLATE) in Spanish, Italian, or Portuguese. Fields of specialization are Spanish linguistics, Romance linguistics, Spanish literature and cultural studies, Latin American literature and cultural studies, Italian linguistics, Italian literature and cultural studies, and Luso-Brazilian literature and cultural studies. A graduate course in Catalan literature is available. Also, the department is affiliated with the Latina/Latino Studies Program. Students in the area of Latina/Latino studies may be able to work with experts in the other disciplines in Latina/Latino studies such as anthropology, history, political science, sociology, and so forth in order to design and complete a program of studies in a particular area.
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, Italian, or Portuguese must possess a command of the language. Applicants should apply online (www.grad.illinois.edu/admissions/apply) and 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. Original transcripts (with English translations if applicable) showing all undergraduate and graduate work completed should also be uploaded. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are required of all domestic applicants and should be submitted to institution code 1836. 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 (see www.grad.illinois.edu/Admissions/instructions/04c). Applications are accepted for fall admission only. Application questions may be directed to SLCL Graduate Student Services at slclgradservices@illinois.edu.
Degree Requirements
*For additional details and requirements refer to the department's guidelines for graduate students and the Graduate College Handbook.
Master of Arts
In addition to fulfilling the general requirements of the Graduate College, candidates must pass a comprehensive examination based on coursework and a general reading list.
All students enrolled in the Spanish M.A. program must choose one of two concentrations: Spanish with concentration in Spanish Linguistics; or Spanish with concentration in Spanish Literatures and Cultures.
Areas of specialization offered in Italian are Italian literature and cultural studies and Italian linguistics.
Areas of specialization offered in Portuguese are Luso-Brazilian literature and cultural studies. Detailed statements of the requirements for each specialization may be obtained from the department.
Spanish
| Required Courses: | Required Hours - Concentration in Spanish Literatures and Cultures | Required Hours - Concentration in Spanish Linguistics |
|---|---|---|
| Two 500 level courses in Spanish or Luso-Brazilian literature/cultural studies and/or in related fields, chosen in consultation with the advisor | 8 | |
| To ensure basic professional preparation, complete the following: SPAN 572 (Theory and Literary Criticism) or equivalent |
4 | |
| To ensure broad knowledge of the field of Spanish-language literatures and cultures: Choose one course from each of groups 1-5 below Group I: Pre-18th Century Peninsular Group 2: Colonial Spanish American (Pre-Columbian to 1810) Group 3: Modern and Contemporary Spanish American Group 4: Modern and Contemporary Peninsular Group 5: Luso-Brazilian Studies |
20 | |
| Two 500 level courses in Hispanic linguistics | 8 | |
| One course in each of the departmental areas (syntax, phonology, morphology, sociolinguistics and dialectology, historical linguistics, second language acquisition). | 24 | |
| Total Hours | 32 | 32 |
Minimum 500-level Hours Required Overall: |
16 | 12 |
| Other Requirements:* | Students must also complete three comprehensive exams on areas chosen in consultation with their advisors. | Students must also submit a research paper completed in consultation with their advisor. |
| A concentration is required. | ||
| SIP 571 is required of all teaching assistants | ||
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 | 3.0 |
The M.A. Concentration in Spanish Literatures and Cultures is administered through the Department of Spanish, Italian and Portuguese. Its goal is to provide graduate students with rigorous training in all main areas of Spanish Literatures and Cultures, as well as a working knowledge of Brazilian/Lusophone literatures and cultures. It requires a minimum of 32 graduate hours, including coursework in both Latin American and Spanish peninsular literary and cultural production in each of the general chronological periods.
The M.A. Concentration in Spanish Linguistics is administered through the Department of Spanish, Italian and Portuguese. Its goal is to provide graduate students with rigorous training in all main areas of Spanish Linguistics. It requires a minimum of 32 graduate hours, including coursework on the phonological, morphological and syntactic structure of the Spanish language, as well as its history, sociolinguistics, and acquisition as a second language.
Italian
| Required Courses: | Required Hours |
|---|---|
| Coursework selected in consultation with advisor | 32 |
| Total Hours | 32 |
Minimum 500-level Hours Required Overall: |
12 |
| Other Requirements:* | |
| SIP 571 is required of all teaching assistants | |
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 |
The M.A. in Italian is administered through the Department of Spanish, Italian and Portuguese. Its goal is to provide breadth in the various areas of Italian Literature or Linguistics. It requires a minimum of 32 graduate hours. Students must also successfully complete exams in four areas of Italian literature/cultural studies or three areas of Italian linguistics, chosen in consultation with their advisor.
Portuguese
| Required Courses: | Required Hours |
|---|---|
| Course work in Luso-Brazilian literature/cultural studies selected in consultation with advisor. | 32 |
| Total Hours | 32 |
Minimum 500-level Hours Required Overall: |
12 |
| Other Requirements:* | |
| SIP 571 is required of all teaching assistants | 4 |
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 |
The M.A. in Portuguese is administered through the Department of Spanish, Italian and Portuguese. Its goal is to provide to provide breadth in the various areas of Luso-Brazilian Literature as well as develop the student's ability to interpret and analyze literature. It requires a minimum of 32 graduate hours. Students must also successfully complete exams in four areas of Luso-Brazilian literature/cultural studies, chosen in consultation with their advisor.
Doctor of Philosophy, Spanish, Italian or Portuguese
| Required Courses: | Required Hours |
|---|---|
| Coursework selected in consultation with advisor | |
| SIP 571 is required of all teaching assistants | 4 |
| Language Requirement: Students in all SIP doctoral programs except SLATE must demonstrate reading proficiency in two languages besides the foreign language of specialization (not including English). | |
| Thesis Hours Required SPAN/ITAL/PORT 599 (min/max applied toward degree): | 32 max |
| Total Hours | 64 |
Minimum 500-level Hours Required Overall: |
16 |
| Other Requirements:* | |
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 |
| Masters Degree Required for Admission to PhD? | Yes |
| Qualifying Exam Required | No |
| Preliminary Exam Required | Yes |
| Final Exam/Dissertation Defense Required | Yes |
| Dissertation Deposit Required | Yes |
Areas of specialization offered in Spanish are Medieval, Early Modern, Modern and Contemporary Spanish (Iberian) Studies, Latin American colonial studies, and modern and contemporary Latin American studies, Spanish linguistics (with various subfield specializations), and Romance linguistics (with various subfield specializations). Areas of specialization offered in Italian are literary and cultural studies, Italian linguistics, and Romance linguistics. Areas of specialization offered in Portuguese are Luso-Brazilian literary and cultural studies and Romance linguistics. We also teach Catalan and Basque.
Medical Scholars Program
The Medical Scholars Program permits highly qualified students to integrate the study of medicine with study for a graduate degree in a second discipline, including Spanish, Italian and Portuguese. Students may apply to the Medical Scholars Program prior to beginning graduate school or while in the graduate program. Applicants to the Medical Scholars Program must meet the admissions standards for and be accepted into both the doctoral graduate program and the College of Medicine. Students in the dual degree program must meet the specific requirements for both the medical and graduate degrees. On average, students take eight years to complete both degrees. Further information on this program is available by contacting the Medical Scholars Program, 125 Medical Sciences Building, (217) 333-8146 or at www.med.illinois.edu/msp.
Centers, Programs, and Institutes
The option to pursue a certificate of advanced study 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, theories of second language acquisition, and research methodology in addition to advanced study in linguistics of the particular language. For information about SLATE go to www.slate.illinois.edu.
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 (see www.grad.illinois.edu/admissions/taengprof.htm).
Financial Aid
The department offers fellowships to outstanding students in the graduate program and regularly provides a large number of teaching assistantships and research assistantships. Graduate College fellowships are available on a competitive basis to qualified candidates; they include dissertation research and travel grants, summer fellowships, and other types of awards. Additional fellowships and grants are available through the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies.