I. GENERAL INFORMATION

a. The Program

The Ph.D. Program in Hispanic and Luso-Brazilian Literatures and Languages offers courses in all areas of Iberian and Latin American Literatures and Hispanic Linguistics leading to the Ph.D. degree. Major movements and literary genres Bepic, drama, lyric poetry, novel, and essayCare studied in their historical, ideological, and cultural contexts from their origins through the Renaissance, the Early Modern Period, and the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. In tracing the development of Latin American literatures, emphasis is placed on its relationship with Spain and Portugal, on the influence of other European Literatures, on the influence of indigenous cultures, and on the fusion of these and other elements in contemporary texts. The program is committed to such fields of study as Women=s Writing, Gay and Lesbian Studies, and Feminist Theory, as well as Hispanic Literature in the United States, and has also strengthened its offerings in Philology, Poetics, Rhetoric, Literary History, Literary Theory and Methods of Criticism, and Bibliographical Studies and Theories of Textual Criticism.
In the Hispanic linguistics track, students are introduced to major areas in the field. At the advanced level they can pursue research in phonology, grammar or lexis, and focus on the study of Spanish in its historical, cultural and social contexts.

b. Resources for Training and Research

All students in the Program have the opportunity to teach undergraduate courses, mainly beginning and advanced grammar courses, as Adjunct Lecturers or Chancellor’s Fellows in the various Senior and Community Colleges of The City University of New York. Teaching is supervised and monitored by experts in pedagogy and language acquisition in the language department of each campus. Students are urged to take advantage of the various programs, special sessions, and workshops organized by the CUNY consortium and the CUNY Council on Foreign Language Study (the LOTE Discipline Council of The City University of New York).

Students in the Program take full advantage of the vast resources provided by the research facilities of both the City University library system and the public and private libraries of New York City. Students can borrow and return books at any CUNY college. In addition to the Mina Rees Library at The Graduate Center and the significant collection of books (over six million) and journals in the libraries of the senior colleges, they also have access to the holdings of the library of the Instituto Cervantes, located at 211 East 49th Street, The New York Public Library, the Morgan Library, and The Hispanic Society of America, a unique private institution that for its rich collection of manuscripts, incunabula, and rare books can be compared only to the best National Libraries and Historical Archives of Spain. Many students in the program whose dissertations deal with Spanish Medieval, Early Modern, Modern and Contemporary Literature, or with Colonial Latin American subjects work with materials housed in The Hispanic Society that are not available anywhere else.

c. Program and Student Activities

Throughout the academic year, the program sponsors colloquia, symposia and a lecture series that brings to The Graduate Center internationally recognized scholars, writers and artists from the United States, Europe, and Latin America. Other cultural activities are co-sponsored with Instituto Cervantes, Instituto de Cultura Mexicana, The General Consulate of Spain in New York, The Consulate of Argentina, the University of Valladolid, and other Doctoral Programs at The Graduate Center, such as French, Comparative Literature, and Certificate Programs such as Renaissance Studies, Latin American Studies and the Foundation for Iberian Music.

In the year 2003 The Graduate Center signed an agreement for academic collaboration with the Junta de Castilla y León and the University of Valladolid for the creation of the Chair Miguel Delibes, to promote the study of contemporary Spanish literature and culture. This Chair, which has two permanent locations, at the Graduate Center in New York and at the University of Valladolid in Spain, supports the exchange of researchers and students between both universities in order to foster coordinated teaching activities, the organization of international conferences and seminars, and the publication of an academic journal, SIGLO XXI. Literatura y cultura españolas, co-edited by specialists of both institutions.

Our Program has also signed agreements with the Fundación Duques de Soria and the Hispanic Society of America, for the development of a series of special seminars in textual criticism, which started in the Fall of 2002. The Center for Galician Studies, established in 1985, has also allowed our students to take seminars on Galician culture, and linguistic issues. Other agreements have been signed with Institut Ramon Llull for the creation of the Mercè Rodoreda Chair, which sponsors a yearly seminar in Catalan literature, and some cultural activities, as well as with the Argentine Consulate-Banco Hipotecario, for the establishment of the Argentine Culture Chair, which also allows us to offer a yearly seminar on Argentine literary and historical topics. Finally, another agreement is being signed now between the Graduate Center and the Camões Institute, to promote the teaching of Portuguese Literature.

Students in the Program organize a yearly International Student Congress at the Graduate Center. These meetings have attracted doctoral students from American as well as European and Latin American universities. Their published Proceedings give proof of the quality of our students work, and of the variety of scholarly interests that characterize them. Since the year 2006 our students also edit the electronic LL Journal, in which important articles on Hispanic and Luso-Brazilian literatures, cultures and linguistics have been published. This refereed journal, which is listed in the MLA bibliography and the Library of Congress, has been highly praised for the quality of the articles accepted for publication, which explains its successful reception in this country and abroad.

II. FINANCIAL AID

Financial assistance is available to full-time students enrolled in the Program. It comes in the form of fellowships (both service-connected and non-service-connected), Assistantships, Tuition Fellowships, loans, and College Work Study assignments. Awards are granted on the basis of merit and need.

For more information go to http://web.gc.cuny.edu/provost/fellowships.htm

III. STUDENT TRAVEL AND RESEARCH FUND

Eligibility: Applicants must be matriculated students registered during the semester for which the stipend is requested.

Purpose: The Student Travel and Research Fund provides stipends (limited to one per academic year per student) of up to $300.00.

Procedure: Applicants must submit an application form (available in the Provost=s Office) endorsed by the Executive Officer. Applicants must also have on file the general application for financial assistance (CSAF). Funds distributed are one-half the amount spent. Students must be listed in the program of the event as attending The Graduate Center, CUNY.

Awards: Notice of an award is given after each completed application is reviewed by both the Director of Financial Aid and the Office of the Provost.

Receipts must be kept. Stipends are paid upon presentation of receipts for expenditures after they have been incurred. Receipts must be submitted within two weeks of travel which they were requested.

IV. TEACHING

Students may be recommended for teaching positions in Senior and Community Colleges. Students are notified of openings at other educational institutions throughout the tri-state area. Check the program bulletin board regularly for these notices.

The program sometimes receives last-minute calls from department chairs looking for adjunct teachers. Make sure to inform the Assistant Program Officer that you are interested in teaching and that she has your current e-mail and phone number.

Students may also write directly to the chairs of the various departments at colleges within the area. Divisions of The City University of New York are expected to give preference to

CUNY doctoral students when hiring adjuncts. A list of CUNY colleges and department chairs is available in the Hispanic and Luso-Brazilian Literatures and Languages office.

V. PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Students are encouraged to join, in their own best interest, professional organizations such as MLA, AATSP, IILI, LASA, etc., and to participate in national and local conferences, reading papers, chairing and organizing panels, etc.

VI. PUBLICATIONS

Students are encouraged to submit works recommended by their professors to the editors of various journals for publication. Faculty members can provide guidance with proposed publications and recommend the most appropriate journals

When planning to submit an article for consideration by any journal, the student should first examine a current issue, not only for the address of the editor, but for brief instructions on the page about procedures. Most journals publish detailed "Notes for Contributors" in the back of at least one issue each year specifying stylistic and other requirements. Additionally, perusal of several articles in a journal may yield information about models of form to be followed. .

VII. GENERAL ORIENTATION

a. At the beginning of each semester, there will be a general meeting chaired by the Executive Officer to which all doctoral faculty and students will be invited.

b. At the beginning of each semester there will be a meeting between new students and the student representatives of all existing committees, to answer any questions the students may have regarding services available at The Graduate Center (use of library, student services, facilities, etc.).

c. At the beginning of each semester, every student will receive an information sheet concerning all members of the doctoral faculty. Where appropriate and possible, the information sheet will contain:

VIII. ADVISORY SYSTEM

a. During the first year, the Executive Officer and the Deputy Executive Officer will serve as advisers to all incoming students.

b. Students are encouraged to maintain regular contact with their advisers. There should be at least one consultation conference between student and adviser per semester.

c. All student records will be available to the adviser upon request.

d. At the end of each year, a student's record will be reviewed by the Executive Officer to determine the student's progress.

IX. TRANSFER OF CREDITS

a. Transfer students must file a written request within the first year at The Graduate Center to the Executive Officer, specifying those courses for which they wish to transfer credit. They must include all supporting material such as transcripts, course descriptions, material covered in class, works read for course, term papers, etc.

b. The Executive Officer will decide within two months of receipt of application the number of credits to be granted, up to a maximum of thirty, and the student will be notified.

X. COURSES

a. The final decision on course offerings rests with the Executive Officer.

b. Course descriptions and lists of texts should be presented to the Executive Officer before the beginning of each semester for copying and distribution to students.

c. All students are expected to comply fully with the MLA Style Sheet regarding the format and style of papers, reports, bibliographies, etc. Faculty will consider adherence to the MLA Style Sheet in the determination of final grades.

d. Students must register for a minimum of seven credits; students may register for a maximum of four courses each semester until their course work is completed. Exceptions may be made at the discretion of the Executive Officer.

e. Students are entitled to take a maximum of nine credits outside of the Ph.D. Program in Hispanic & Luso-Brazilian Literatures and Languages with the consent of the Executive Officer.

f. Reference syllabi and bibliographies will be on file for courses previously offered. This material will be available to all students upon request.

XI MASTER'S DEGREE “EN ROUTE”

The en-route master’s degree is awarded by a senior college to currently enrolled doctoral students who have fulfilled the following requirement: a minimum of 45 GPA credits with an average grade of “B” (courses taken for “P” credit ordinarily cannot be included), passing of the First Examination, satisfactory completion of a major research paper (50 pages), and any other requirements that may be established by the degree-granting college for an en-route master’s degree. Applying students must abide by the deadline for filing established at each college. Further information may be obtained from the Registrar at the Graduate Center.

XII. COURSE OFFERINGS

a. On the 70000 level, courses should be carefully planned to prepare the
students for the First Examination.

b. At the 80000 level, a plan should be designed taking into consideration students' special interests and needs.

c. In the event that a course is not offered at The Graduate Center, the student will be allowed to take an equivalent course at another institution with the consent of the Executive Officer.

XIII. INCOMPLETE GRADES

a. The general regulation regarding incomplete grades as stated in the Student Handbook will be observed: "To resolve incomplete grades, students must fulfill their obligations within two semesters after completion of the course. After two semesters an incomplete (INC) will be automatically transformed into an INP (permanent incomplete)."

b. Extensions will be granted only in exceptional circumstances and with the permission of the faculty member, the Executive Officer, and the Vice President for Student Affairs. Permanent incompletes will accrue no credit.

c. Once a student has fulfilled the requirements to remove a grade of Incomplete the professor should file the grade within that semester.

d. It is strongly recommended that students with two incomplete grades during one semester register for no more than two courses in the following semester. Those with more than two incompletes may not be permitted to register for any courses in the following semester.

e. Students with more than two incompletes will be brought to the attention of the Executive Officer who will determine whether they are making satisfactory progress. Students will normally be regarded as making satisfactory progress toward their degrees only if they have no more than two incomplete courses on their record, pass their first examination before the completion of 45 credits, and get their degree within the allotted time period (see the Student Handbook).

XIV. PROGRAM OF STUDY

a. Literature track: A minimum of 60 credits beyond the bachelor's degree are required for the Ph.D. The first 30 credits must include at least 21 credits in Peninsular and Latin American Literatures. The second 30 credits must include a minimum of four doctoral seminars at the 80000 level. It is advised that the students take an equal number of seminars in Peninsular and Latin American Literatures.

b. Required Courses


c. Linguistics track: A minimum of 60 credits beyond the bachelor's degree are required for the Ph.D. The first 36 credits must include the required core courses (see below). The remaining credits must include a minimum of three doctoral seminars at the advanced level (two of these three seminars must be in Hispanic linguistics), and at least one course in Hispanic literatures. All courses taken outside the program must be approved by the Executive Officer or her/his appointed program adviser.

d. Required Courses
 

XV. LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT

a. Literature track: two languages are required: Latin and either French, German, Italian or Portuguese (only for students in Peninsular or Latin American literatures). Any other language with a significant body of critical studies in Peninsular and/or Latin American Literature may be approved by the Executive Officer.

b. Linguistics track – any two of the following languages are required: French, German, Italian or Latin. Any other language with a significant literature in Hispanic linguistics or relevance to the student’s doctoral work may be approved by the Executive Officer.

c. To fulfill this language requirement, the students may either:

XVI. FIRST EXAMINATION

a. For students enrolled in the literature track: Before completing more than 45 credits, students will be required to pass a written examination to determine their capability to pursue advanced doctoral studies. The First Examination, to be given in Spanish, will test the student's critical ability to analyze selected major works of different periods in the fields of Peninsular and Latin American Literature. Students must bear in mind that questions on literary criticism are an integral part of the examination.

b. The Annual Examination Committee designated to make up, administer, and evaluate the First Examination will generally consist of six members of the faculty (three in Peninsular Literature and three in Latin American Literature) including the Executive Officer or his/her designee. The five professors will be appointed annually by the Executive Officer.

c. A list of 6 works (3 in Peninsular and 3 in Latin American Literature) selected by the Annual Examination Committee will be made available at the office of the Executive Officer no later than three months before the date set for the examination.

d. The examination will consist of two parts: 1) Peninsular Literature and 2) Latin American Literature, to be given on two separate days. The first part will be generally given on a Friday and the second part on the following Monday. Each part will last four and one-half hours and will be distributed in the following manner: three hours in the morning and one and one-half hours in the afternoon.

e. The examination in Peninsular Literature will be divided into three sections:

f. Latin American Literature will be divided into three sections:

g. First Examination in Hispanic linguistics: The First Examination will test the students' knowledge of the facts, concepts, principles, and theoretical frameworks that define each of the disciplines studied, and their ability to write coherent essays that are relevant to the main questions addressed by those same disciplines. The First Examination will cover the four areas of Spanish syntax, phonology, sociolinguistics and historical linguistics and will be based on coursework and a core list of required readings. On each area-examination the student will answer 5 out of 7 short questions and write 1 essay on 1 out of 2 given topics.

h. The First Examination will be given generally the week before the beginning of each semester.

i. Students will be notified of the results of the examination in writing within two weeks.

j. No student with incompletes and/or less than a B average will be permitted to take the First Examination.

k. Students entering with a bachelor=s degree must take the First Examination no later than their fourth semester of study. Students entering with a master=s degree must take the examination no later than their second semester.

XVII. FIRST EXAMINATION – FAILURES

a. A student who fails either or both parts of the First Examination or a section of either part (Peninsular and/or Latin American Literature) must repeat the
part(s)/section(s) the following semester; failure to do so may result in dismissal from the program.

b. A student who fails either or both parts of the First Examination a second time will be dismissed from the program. (See the Student Handbook for appeal procedures.)

XVIII. SECOND EXAMINATION

a. After completing a minimum of 60 credits and fulfilling all requirements [1) languages (Latin and a modern language); 2) seminars (four seminars); 3) required courses (History of the Spanish Language; Methods of Research; Spanish Literary Theory)], the student must pass a comprehensive written examination in Spanish. The Second Examination tests the student's knowledge of the entire field of Peninsular and Latin American Literature and is based on the works included in the Reading List. Students must bear in mind that questions on literary criticism are an integral part of the examination.

b. The Reading List upon which the Second Examination is based is available at the office of the Executive Officer.

c. The Annual Examination Committee will prepare, administer, and evaluate the Second Examination. The Annual Examination Committee will consist generally of six members of the faculty (three in Peninsular Literature and three in Latin American Literature) including the Executive Officer or his/her designee. These professors will be appointed annually by the Executive Officer.

d. The Second Examination will consist of two parts: 1) Peninsular Literature and 2) Latin American Literature, to be given on two separate days, the first part on a Friday and the second part on the following Monday. Each part will last five and one-half hours and will be distributed in the following manner: three hours in the morning and two and one-half hours in the afternoon.

e. The examination in Peninsular Literature will be divided into six sections:

f. Latin American Literature will be divided into six sections:

g. The Second Examination in Hispanic linguistics: After completing a minimum of 60 credits and fulfilling all requirements, students must pass a Second Examination. For each student, the Executive Officer will appoint a committee of three professors including the student's mentor, who will serve as chair. The examination will have a written and an oral component. In consultation with the committee, each student must designate and describe a primary and a secondary area of concentration. For the secondary area, students will prepare an annotated bibliography. For the primary area, in addition to preparing an annotated bibliography, they will select a topic, and write a paper. The paper must have approximately 8000 words and demonstrate the student's command of the field and ability to write publishable articles. Bibliographies and paper must be handed to all committee members before the designated Second Examination date. The oral exam will consist of a presentation by the student followed by questions from committee members.

h. The Second Examination will be given generally the week before the beginning of each semester.

i. Students will be notified of the results of the examination in writing within two weeks.

j. No student with incompletes and/or less than a B average will be permitted to take the Second Examination.

k. Students will be advanced to candidacy after passing the Second Examination.

XIX. SECOND EXAMINATION FAILURES

a. A student who fails either or both parts of the Second Examination or a section of either part (Peninsular and/or Latin American Literature) must repeat the part(s)/sections(s) within a year's time; failure to do so may result in dismissal from the program.

b. A student who fails either or both parts of the Second Examination a second time will be dismissed from the program. (See the Student Handbook for appeal procedures.)

XX. DISSERTATION

a. Dissertation Guidelines

b. Dissertation Committee

c. Dissertation Progress

d. Students are to request a copy of the Instructions for Preparing the Doctoral Dissertation, available in the Ph.D. Program in Hispanic and Luso-Brazilian Literatures and Languages and in the Registrar's Office.

XXI. LEAVE OF ABSENCE AND MAINTAINING MATRICULATION

a. A student may request in writing to the Executive Officer a leave of absence for a maximum of one year. The Executive Officer will submit it for approval to the Office of the Registrar.

b. Requests for either an extension beyond the one-year period or a second leave should be presented in writing to the Executive Officer, who will submit it for approval to the Office of the Registrar. Students are allowed a maximum of 4 semesters of leave of absence.

c. A student on leave of absence is not entitled to the use of the library or any other Graduate Center facility.

d. The period of an authorized leave is not included within the time limit for completion of degree requirements.

e. A student who is not registered for courses and is not on an approved leave must pay the maintenance of matriculation fee as stipulated in the Bulletin or be withdrawn from the program.

f. The student is reminded that a semester in which matriculation is maintained will be included within the time limit for completion of the degree.

XXII. PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE

a. Students are advised to establish a permanent placement file at the Office of Student Affairs.

b. The Executive Officer will keep a list of all students seeking teaching positions.

XXIII. STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES

a. Students will be elected to serve as representatives to the Executive Committee, the Faculty-Student Committee, the Doctoral Students Council, and the Graduate Council.

b. All student representatives must have a serious and diligent attitude toward their role and are expected to represent the view of students even when these contradict their own.

c. All student representatives must be candidates in good academic standing.

d. Student representatives will serve on no more than two committees at one time.

e. Students may not be elected to the same committee for more than three consecutive years.

f. Representatives to the Executive Committee must:

XXIV. COMMITTEES

a. All elections to all committees will be held no later than April 15th for the following academic year.

b. The committees of the Ph.D. Program in Hispanic and Luso-Brazilian Literatures and Languages are:

i. Executive Committee

The committee is composed of the Executive Officer, one professor from each of the senior colleges having professors on the doctoral faculty (Baruch, Brooklyn, City, Hunter, Lehman, Queens), and two student representatives. The Executive Committee is responsible for the operation of the Ph.D. Program in Hispanic and Luso-Brazilian Literatures and Languages. It deals with specific matters such as:

The role of the student representatives on the Executive Committee is as follows:


Two students are elected each year to this committee.


ii. Faculty-Student Committee

The committee is composed of three professors, one of whom is the Executive Officer, and three students. Each member of this committee has one vote.

The function of the Faculty-Student Committee is to make recommendations regarding matters related to:

1. Curriculum
2. Examinations
3. Degree requirements
4. Program structure
5. Other academic matters related to the functioning of the program
6. Any matter affecting both students and faculty members

The Faculty-Student Committee meets whenever the need arises. The minutes of these meetings are to be posted on the program bulletin board.

The Faculty-Student Committee must present to the Executive Committee all recommendations it proposes.

Three students are elected to this committee each year.


iii. Standing Committees

The Admissions and Awards Committee, the Curriculum and Examination Committee, and the Faculty Membership and Research Committee are each composed of the Executive Officer and two other members of the doctoral faculty. The Elections Committee is composed of two members of the doctoral faculty and two students. The Standing Committees must refer their recommendations to the Faculty-Student Committee before they are presented to the Executive Committee.

XXVI. OTHER ISSUES

GRADUATE COUNCIL

One student and one alternate and one faculty member and one alternate are elected each year to the Graduate Council. Some of the main functions of the Graduate Council are:

1. 1. To formulate educational policy for all graduate work in doctoral programs, including curriculum, standards of admission and academic performance, degree requirements, and student discipline.
2. 2. To approve specific programs and curricula leading to the doctoral degree.
3. 3. To consider any other matter pertaining to academic issues in the doctoral program, and make recommendations to the CUNY Board.

DOCTORAL STUDENTS COUNCIL (DSC)

Two students are elected each year to the Doctoral Students= Council. The Doctoral Students= Council assists and orients students in all matters within The Graduate Center. Some specific activities of this council are:

1. Distribute money to the various programs and chartered organizations organized by students.

2. Orient students in matters concerning grievances and conflicts that the students may have with either the program or The Graduate Center.

3. Determine how student activity fees are spent.

The student representatives to the DSC act as spokespersons for the student body in their respective disciplines. They are responsible for the money allocated to their program, although the student representatives do not necessarily have to be the organizers of a given activity.