The Ph.D. in Literary, Cultural, and Linguistic Studies offers two major concentrations: 1) Literary and Cultural Studies and 2) Critical Studies of Language/Linguistics. Students in each concentration may opt to develop a secondary field of expertise in the other.
The program is designed primarily to prepare students for careers as university professors and research scholars. Students develop advanced language, teaching, and research skills that lend themselves to other professions, as well. A variety of geographic, temporal, and theoretical concentrations allow students to carry out innovative and interdisciplinary research projects, often with a transnational focus.
The Ph.D. in LCLS moves beyond the traditional Spanish/French binary of Romance Studies to bridge those two critical areas of emphasis with one another, as well as with additional areas of expertise offered by our tenured and tenure-track faculty in Arabic, Chinese, Italian, and Luso-Brazilian Studies. Graduate training in MLL prepares students to work as teachers and researchers of literary, linguistic, and cultural studies at universities and four-year colleges, as well as to serve in administrative, advocacy, and leadership positions in a range of educational and cultural institutions.
The Department seeks: 1) to train innovative and productive intellectuals whose work can contribute to the creation of more knowledgeable and just societies; 2) to help students prepare for fruitful and fulfilling careers in scholarship, research, teaching, community service, and related professions; and 3) to guide and support graduating students in the successful pursuit of academic or non-academic employment.
Successfully defending a dissertation prospectus. Completing and defending satisfactorily a dissertation.
The Requirements
a.
for students entering on the “five-year plan” (with a B.A. or M.A., see below), passing satisfactorily a minimum of 60 graded credit hours in approved courses, 30 of which must be open to graduate students only;
b.
for students entering on the “four-year plan” (with an M.A. in a closely related field, see below), passing satisfactorily a minimum of 48 graded credit hours in approved courses, 24 of which must be open to graduate students only;
Passing the following courses and a minimum of 18 graded credit hours in the area(s) of research emphasis to be determined on an individualized basis in collaboration with the graduate advisors.
Credit Hours
MLL 701
Intro to Second Language Teaching: Theory and Practice.
3
MLL 711
Introduction to Critical Theory
3
MLL 799
Dissertation and Professional Writing Seminar
1-3
For students in the Literary and Cultural Studies concentration
Credit Hours
Critical Studies of Language/Linguistics
3
any Arts and Sciences discipline focusing on Colonial or Early Modern Studies (18th century or earlier).
3
Approved cognate discipline to be determined in consultation with graduate advisors.
6 Credit Hours
For students pursuing an optional minor concentration
9 Credit Hours
Literary/Cultural Studies or
Critical Studies of Language/Linguistics
In addition to proficiency in English and the major language of study, demonstrating the following:
a.
reading knowledge of two other languages; or
b.
holistic knowledge of one other language (for example, by passing the equivalent of a course at the 300-level). Note: Appropriate languages of study will be determined in collaboration with the student’s advisors (e.g. students of Latin America may be encouraged to study Portuguese or an indigenous language; students focusing on early modern Spanish or French studies may be encouraged to study Italian; students working in the French-speaking Caribbean many need to take Haitian Kreyòl; etc.);
c.
if areas of specialization include Medieval, Early Modern, or Colonial Latin American Studies, students must demonstrate reading knowledge of Latin.
Passing a Breadth Exam. Depending on the student’s interests, the exam shall consist of three parts, according to one of the following configurations:
a.
one geographic region over three time periods;
b.
two geographic regions over two or three time periods;
c.
two geographic regions over one or two time periods and one area of critical sociolinguistics;
d.
two areas of critical sociolinguistics and one geographic region over one-time period. Note: Students entering the doctoral program with an MA in a relevant field may petition to waive the Breadth Exam (normally taken in the spring semester of the second year) after the first semester of study. The Graduate Studies Committee will consider petitions on an individualized basis.
Passing a Qualifying Exam on an approved topic. The exam typically includes three general approaches focusing on:
a.
literature, cultural studies, or sociolinguistics;
b.
critical theory;
c.
a cognate discipline (e.g. history, sociology, philosophy, law, art, film, etc.).
Satisfying the requirements of the Graduate School as stated in the Graduate Bulletin.
Students are expected to complete their degrees on time and with sound scholarly achievement. Every student is reviewed annually to evaluate progress toward the degree. While personal matters may understandably cause delay, lack of timely progress may result in non-renewal of the teaching assistantship and/or dismissal from the program. MLL 797 (three credits of Breadth Exam readings) If you have waived the Breadth exam: 2 course and FRE/SPA 830 - 3 credits MLL 797 (three credits of Breadth Exam readings) If you have waived the Breadth exam: 2 courses and FRE/SPA 830 - 3 credits FRE/SPA 830 - 3 Credits If you have waived the breadth exam: 2 courses and MLL 797 FRE/SPA 830 - 3 credits If you have waived the breadth exam: MLL 799 (Dissertation and Professionalization Seminar) and FRE/SPA 830 - 3 credits FRE/SPA 830 - 3 credits If you have waived the breadth exam: 1 course and MLL 797 and FRE/SPA 830 - 3 credits If you have waived the breadth exam: FRE/SPA 840 – 3 credit
Some elements of the plans outlined below are suggestions (e.g. the timing for fulfilling the language requirement) while others define expected progress (e.g. the timing of exams). While most students are expected to complete the degree in five years, those entering with an M.A. may petition during their first semester to follow the accelerated 4-year plan of progress. If approved, this choice is irrevocable for funding purposes.
5-year Plan
4-year Plan
1st Semester
2nd Semester
3rd Semester
4th Semester
5th Semester
6th Semester
7th Semester
workshops
8th Semester
9th Semester
10th Semester
(students entering in 2021 may be grandfathered into old Breadth Exam format. All subsequent cohorts must take the exam in the new format). The purpose of the Breadth Exam is to assess students’ mastery of fundamental issues in literary, cultural, and/or linguistic studies. The Breadth Exam demonstrates sufficient knowledge of works and problems of fundamental importance to students’ selected fields of study across a broad range of materials, time periods, and cultural forms. It also demonstrates that they master the major debates and theoretical approaches of their selected research fields. It establishes that students have the basic knowledge necessary to identify specialized topics for dissertation research and will be qualified to teach those fields when they graduate. There are four possible configurations of research areas for the exam: Students are free to propose diverse configurations meeting the above definitions, or that incorporate a field represented by expertise from the research assignment that will be transformed into a publishable scholarly essay (course offerings will vary from year to year, changing possible research areas for the publishable article). Thus, diverse configurations may be proposed for consideration by student’s examination committee and the GSC. Examples include: Breadth Exam reading lists include key genres and canonical texts of the period, and should be reflected in the syllabi crafted for undergraduate (and graduate) courses. Reading lists for critical language analysis include fundamental texts in the fields of critical discourse analysis, sociolinguistics, sociocultural theory, socio-cognitive approaches to second language acquisition, and ideologies of language. Students whose focus in the program is literary and cultural studies should also have knowledge of the Core Reading Lists, intended to ensure basic knowledge of canonical texts beyond the students’ areas of specialization. Students may be queried on the list during the oral portion of the Breadth Exam. The student will assemble committee of 3 faculty members, one of whom will serve as Chair of the exam and they will work with members throughout year two and submit before spring deadline at the end of the year. The Breadth Exam committee includes one faculty member from each exam area (this may include the faculty member with whom they have authored the original research paper selected for expansion but does *not* have to be the same person). Students are responsible for asking professors to serve on their committees and should seek advice from the advisor they were assigned during the first two years. The advisor does not necessarily need to be on the committee, but should serve as a resource for the student and facilitate the work between the respective committee members. Committee chairs, however, solicit questions from committee members and assemble the exam. Administrative decisions regarding the exam are made in consultation with the DGS. Students take the Breadth Exam in their fourth semester of study. Oral defense Students will be asked to make an opening statement in which they supplement their written documents – the research article and two syllabi. The committee will then ask questions about the research essay and syllabi, interrogating theoretical as well as bibliographic choices, as well as scholarly debates chosen for the focus of the respective courses. The student may be examined about *any* work included in the research paper, the reading lists, and/or their annotated bibliographies. Grading Scales Students failing one or more areas may retake the failed area(s) within one month but at least ten days before the end of the semester in a format determined by the committee. Remediation may not take place later than the beginning of the following semester. Students who fail a second time in one or more areas must withdraw from the program by the end of the academic year. Students who pass the Breadth Exam but who do not complete the Ph.D. may request a terminal M.A. degree. Reading Lists Reading lists are available on-line. The Core reading lists include additional, fundamental works from all periods and all genres. Once the exam committee is established, students should consult with the members responsible for each area regarding their exam preparation. These reading lists should serve as a guide for the design and crafting of the two syllabi that will demonstrate mastery and command of major research areas. Studying for the exam Each student brings a different set of prior readings to the Breadth Exam and will devise a personalized method of study. Committee members can provide general guidance and should be consulted regularly to verify understanding of terms and classifications (i.e. movements, genres, critical debates, etc.). Students should submit drafts of their publishable essay and syllabi and complete all readings before the semester of the exam to allow at least one month for additional consultation with committee members prior to the due date. The student may not consult with the committee members after turning in the written materials, and before the oral exam, however, can seek guidance from the advisor (if not on the committee) or the DGS. Language of the exam Students must answer one question in English and another in the primary language of study. The third area may be answered in either language. Students should make these decisions in advance of the exam and in consultation with faculty in order to prepare accordingly..
The Breadth Exam consists of two parts, described in greater detail below:
Breadth Exam Format: Students will defend each of the following three artifacts (one essay and two syllabi) in a scheduled 3-hour oral examination within one week of submission of the written documents.
Protocol for Breadth Exam preparation
An oral defense lasting 2-3 hours will take place one week after the written exam. The discussion may be in English, the language of concentration, or both (students should consult with committee members regarding language of the exam ahead of time). In addition to discussing the written exam, students will consider relationships among the different approaches represented by the list areas and projected dissertation interests. One express purpose of the oral exam is to help students transition to the dissertation proposal.
Committee members will communicate exam results (pass or fail) to students at the conclusion of the oral exam. In order to pass, examinees must pass each area. Students failing one or more areas must retake the exam by no later than the beginning of the following semester in a format to be determined by the committee. Students who fail the exam a second time will withdraw from the program by the end of the academic year and may petition to receive an M.A. degree.
Note: Enrollment in these courses, even if for one credit, indicates full-time student status.
Upon filing the dissertation, students must apply to graduate by filing a form with the Graduate School. There are four application deadlines per year (Fall, Spring, and two in Summer) available on the current academic calendar. Graduation ceremonies take place in Fall and Spring (the Spring one is substantially larger). Students graduating in Summer are eligible to participate in ceremonies the preceding Spring or following Fall or Spring.
Advisors and advisees should meet throughout the semester (at least twice) to review progress, plan courses, configure exam committees, and review performance and accomplishments in general, and should use this form as a general guide. This form should be updated, signed by advisor and submitted at the end of every semester (no later than the first week of the following semester) along with the unofficial transcript through the duration of the student’s program. Form should be submitted to both the DGS and Graduate Secretary and it will be uploaded and archived in student’s file and reviewed by DGS and GSC.