Admission Requirements

• Master of Arts
• Doctor of Philosophy

Degree Requirements

• Master of Arts
• Doctor of Philosophy

Mailing Address:
Department of Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese (MC 315)
601 South Morgan Street
Chicago, IL 60607-7117

Campus Location: 1733 UH
Program Codes: 20FS1312MA (MA); 20FS1900PHD (PhD)
Telephone: (312) 996-5218
E-mail: mexotic@uic.edu
Web Site: http://www.uic.edu/depts/sfip/
Head of the Department: Rosilie Hernández-Pecoraro
Director of Graduate Studies: Margarita Saona

The Department of Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese offers work leading to degrees in Hispanic Studies at both the master’s and doctoral levels. The master’s program offers three concentrations: Hispanic Literary Studies, Spanish Applied Linguistics, and Spanish Descriptive and Theoretical Linguistics. At the doctoral level, concentrations are available in Descriptive and Theoretical Linguistics, Hispanic Literature and Cultures, and Second Language Acquisition. Interdepartmental concentrations in Gender and Women’s Studies, Latin American and Latino Studies, and Second Language Teaching are available to students in both the master’s and doctoral programs. The department also offers work leading to the Master of Arts in French; consult the appropriate section of the catalog for more information on this program.

Admission Requirements

Applicants are considered on an individual basis. In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, applicants must meet the following program requirements (please consult the department Web site http://www.uic.edu/depts/sfip/ for details):

Master of Arts

• Baccalaureate Field Spanish or related field.
• Grade Point Average At least 3.50/4.00 for the final 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) of study.
• Tests Required Applicants are urged to take the GRE.
• Language Proficiency Applicants must give evidence of proficiency in spoken and written formal standard Spanish.
• Minimum TOEFL Score 550 (paper-based); 213 (computer-based); 80, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Speaking 20, and Writing 21 (new Internet-based TOEFL).
• Sample of Writing in Spanish Applicants are required to submit one sample of their written work in Spanish in the form of an essay for an academic course.
• Letters of Recommendation Three required from professors; at least one should be from a professor in an upper-level or graduate Spanish course.
• Personal Statement A statement of 300 words is required in which applicants should address their reasons for applying to a Spanish graduate program in the option selected.
• Nondegree Applicants Nondegree applicants must apply and pay online, as well as submit transcripts from all institutions where a degree or academic credit was earned during the last eight years.

Doctor of Philosophy

• MA or Equivalent Spanish or related field.
• Grade Point Average At least 3.50/4.00 for all graduate courses.
• Tests Required Applicants are urged to take the GRE.
• Minimum TOEFL Score 550 (paper-based); 213 (computer-based); 80, with subscores of  Reading 19, Listening 17, Speaking 20, and Writing 21 (new Internet-based TOEFL). For applicants to SLA concentration, the following minimums are required: 570 (paper-based); 230 (computer-based); 80, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Speaking 20, and Writing 21 (new Internet-based TOEFL).
• Samples of Writing in Spanish Applicants are required to submit two samples of their written work in Spanish in the form of an essay for an academic course.
• Letters of Recommendation Three required; at least two from professors in Spanish and at least two from professors in the applicant’s MA program.
• Personal Statement A 500-word statement addressing the applicant’s purpose and goals.
• Nondegree Applicants None at the PhD level.

Note: All application documents for master’s and doctoral students, including transcripts, must be forwarded directly to the program office: Rocio Garcia, UIC Department of Spanish (MC 315), 601 South Morgan Street, Chicago, Illinois 60607-7117. In addition, please contact the department for information on current program changes and updates.

Degree Requirements

In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, students must meet the following program requirements:

Master of Arts

• Minimum Semester Hours Required 37.
• Course Work Required Courses for All Concentrations: SPAN 502 or equivalent; SPAN 503; and three additional courses at the 500-level which may not be taken as independent study hours.
• Concentration Courses:
  • Hispanic Literary and Cultural Studies—SPAN 407 or the equivalent; four courses chosen from the following: SPAN 411 or 414, 421, 422, 430, 431, 434 or 435; plus three additional courses at the 500-level chosen in consultation with the graduate advisor, for a total of 37 hours. Electives may be taken in other UIC programs and departments as long as they relate to the student’s concentration.
  • Spanish Descriptive and Theoretical Linguistics—SPAN 401, 402, 404, and 505; two additional courses at the 500-level; plus two electives chosen in consultation with the graduate advisor, for a total of 37 hours.
  • Spanish Applied Linguistics—SPAN 401, 402, 404, 556, and 507; one other course at the 500-level; plus two electives chosen in consultation with the graduate advisor, for a total of 37 hours.
• Comprehensive Examination Required.
• Thesis, Project, or Course-Work-Only Options Thesis or course work only. No other options available.
• Thesis: Permission of the department’s graduate committee is required.

Doctor of Philosophy

• Minimum Semester Hours Required 96 from the baccalaureate.
• Course Work Required for All Concentrations: SPAN 502 or equivalent.
• Concentration Courses:
  • Hispanic Literature and Cultures—A minimum of eight graduate courses (32 hours) of which three related to the field of study may be taken outside the department. A course in literary theory is required. It may be taken within or outside the department.
  • Descriptive and Theoretical Linguistics—A minimum of eight graduate courses (32 hours), which should include SPAN 403 and 405. Three courses may be taken outside the department. At least two courses for the concentration must be in general linguistic theory.
  • Second Language Acquisition—A minimum of 10 courses (40 hours) distributed in three areas: SLA (SPAN 556, SPAN 557, and 2 other courses); Linguistics/Language Analysis (4 courses); and Research Methods (2 courses).
• Examinations Preliminary Examination: Required; written and oral. For students in literature, the written exam will cover the area of concentration as well as two minors. For students in linguistics, the written exam covers three areas of equal weight. The oral part of the exam will consist of a defense of the dissertation prospectus submitted by the candidate.
• Dissertation Required. No more than 28 hours of SPAN 599 can be applied to the degree. The dissertation should be based on original research in the candidate’s concentration. The emphasis may be on any of the approaches covered by the areas of research (literary, linguistics, cultural).
• Other Requirements Unless exempted by the director of graduate studies, all students must serve as teaching assistants for at least a year.
• All applicants must present evidence of advanced knowledge of a modern Romance language in addition to Spanish and reading knowledge of one other ancient or modern language. The requirement for competence in foreign languages may be satisfied by evidence from the applicant’s prior record (university grades, supervised study in a foreign country, etc.) The requirement may also be satisfied by passing a proficiency test prior to the doctoral examination.

Interdepartmental Concentration in Gender and Women’s Studies

Students earning a graduate degree in this department may complement their courses by enrolling for a concentration in Gender and Women’s Studies after consulting with their graduate advisor. See Gender and Women’s Studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for more information.

Interdepartmental Concentration in Latin American and Latino Studies

Students earning a graduate degree in this department may complement their courses by enrolling for a concentration in Latin American and Latino Studies. See Latin American and Latino Studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for more information.

Interdepartmental Concentration in Second Language Teaching

Students earning a graduate degree in the department may complement their courses by enrolling for a concentration in Second Language Teaching. See Second Language Teaching in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section of the catalog for more information.