The University of New Mexico

    Graduate Program

    Graduate Advisor
    Martha Hurd, (505) 277-2974, marthah@unm.edu

    M.A. Application Deadline:  
    Fall semester: January 15 (with financial aid)
      July 15 (without financial aid)
    Spring semester: November 15 (without financial aid)
    Summer session: May 10 (without financial aid)
    Ph.D. Application Deadline: January 15


    NOTE:     Early application is recommended.

    Degrees Offered

    M.A. in Spanish or Portuguese

    Spanish:
    Prerequisite for entrance into the M.A. Spanish program is an undergraduate degree with a Spanish major, or the equivalent. The M.A. in Spanish at the University of New Mexico has three concentrations: Hispanic Literature, Hispanic Linguistics, and Hispanic Southwest Studies. All students in the Spanish M.A. program choose one of the above areas of concentration.

    Portuguese:
    Prerequisite for entrance into the M.A. Portuguese program is an undergraduate degree with a Portuguese major or the equivalent.

    The M.A. in Spanish or Portuguese is offered under Plan I (thesis) and Plan II (course work). Plan I requires a minimum of 27 credit hours of course work, comprehensive examination and a thesis. Plan II requires 33 credit hours of course work and comprehensive examinations. Under Plan I, a thesis proposal must be submitted to the student’s thesis committee no later than the beginning of the fourth semester of study when the student registers for 6 hours of thesis credit. Minimum credit hour requirements for TAs under both plans are 9, 9, 9, 6.

    1. Requirements for the Concentration in Hispanic Literature

    • 18 credit hours of Hispanic Literature evenly divided between Spanish American and Peninsular Spanish courses. SPAN 601 (Literary Theory) may be included.
    • 3 credit hours of Hispanic Linguistics (teaching methodology class, e.g., SPAN 541 may not be included).
    • 3 credit hours of Portuguese or Hispanic Southwest Studies.
    • SPAN 502 Research and Critical Methods.
    • SPAN 541 Recent Research on the Teaching of Spanish (required of TAs).
    • 3-6 credit hours (depending on whether teaching methodology class, e.g., SPAN 541, is taken) of electives or thesis.
    • All course work must be at the 500-level or above with the exception of SPAN *423 (Cervantes’ Quijote) and SPAN *438 (Mexican Literature). Relevant electives outside of the Department may be taken only if pre-approved by the departmental Graduate Committee.

    2. Requirements for the Concentration in Hispanic Linguistics

    • 21 credit hours in Hispanic Linguistics (teaching methodology class, e.g., SPAN 541, may not be included).
    • 3 credit hours of Hispanic Literature.
    • 3 credit hours of Portuguese or Hispanic Southwest Studies.
    • 6 credit hours of electives or of thesis.
    • All Spanish course work counted toward M.A. credit requirements must be in courses approved by the Department at the 500-level or above with the exception of SPAN *423 (Cervantes’ Quijote), and SPAN *438 (Mexican Literature). Relevant electives outside the Department may be taken only if pre-approved by the departmental Graduate Committee.

    3. Requirements for the Concentration in Hispanic Southwest Studies

    • 6 credit hours of Hispanic Linguistics (must include at least one course on Southwest Spanish; teaching methodology class, e.g., SPAN 541, does not satisfy Hispanic Linguistics requirement).
    • 12 credit hours of Hispanic Southwest Studies taken in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese.
    • SPAN 502 Research and Critical Methods.
    • 6 credit hours of Hispanic/Portuguese literature from outside the Southwest.
    • SPAN 541 Recent Research on the Teaching of Spanish (required of TAs).
    • 3-6 credit hours of relevant electives (depending on whether teaching methodology class, e.g., SPAN 541, is taken) in the Department or outside (e.g., History, Linguistics, Social Sciences) or thesis as approved by the departmental Graduate Committee.
    • All course work must be at the 500-level with the exception of SPAN *423 (Cervantes’ Quijote), and SPAN *438 (Mexican Literature).

    Requirements for the M.A. in Portuguese

    • 15 credit hours in Portuguese at 400-level or above.
    • 12 credit hours of Hispanic/Southwest/Portuguese Literature AND/OR Hispanic/Southwest/Portuguese Linguistics.
    • 6 credit hours of electives or thesis.
    • All Portuguese course work must be at the PORT 400-level or above. Spanish course work must be at the 500-level or above with the exception of SPAN *423 (Cervantes’ Quijote) and SPAN *438 (Mexican Literature).

    Spanish or Portuguese Language Requirement

    • Research at the graduate and professional levels is enhanced by the mastery of several languages. Students are advised to consider their professional research goals in selecting a language to fulfill the department’s requirement.
    • All M.A. Spanish or Portuguese candidates must demonstrate proficiency equivalent to one year of university-level study in one language apart from English and the student’s language of major study. This proficiency is normally demonstrated by completing in consultation with the department graduate advisor a second-semester or above numbered language course with a grade of B or better. This requirement can be met through course work done as part of the B.A.

    Ph.D. in Spanish and Portuguese

    The Department offers a Ph.D. in Spanish and Portuguese, with a concentration in one of the following fields: Literature or Linguistics.

    Degree Description

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

    1. Departmental Concentration. The two concentrations are Literature and Linguistics. The concentrations require a minimum of 24 credit hours. The concentration in Literature consists 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). In addition to the 24 credit hours in the concentration an additional 12 credit hours in a supporting field is required.

    2. Required Courses. Either SPAN 542 (History of the Spanish Language) or PORT 561 (History of the Portuguese Language) is required of linguistics majors; SPAN 601 (Literary Theory) is required of the literature concentration. In addition 6 credit hours of Portuguese at the *400-level or above is required of the literature concentration.

    3. Comprehensive Examination. The doctoral examination encompasses both the concentration and the course work in the supporting field and a reading list developed by the candidate in consultation with his or her Chair of Committee on Studies. The examination consists of three parts:

    • 72-hour written examination.
    • Assigned research essay in the student’s concentration developed in collaboration with the Committee on Studies. The research question is generally geared to prepare the student to work on the projected dissertation topic. The student has two weeks to complete the essay.
    • Comprehensive oral examination to be scheduled within two weeks after the conclusion of the written examination.

    4. Ph.D. Dissertation. Follow the information and requirements specified by Graduate Studies 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 by the end of the semester following the semester in which the exams where taken. An approved copy of the dissertation proposal must be turned in to the departmental office.

    Spanish and Portuguese Ph.D. Language Requirement

    Research at the graduate and professional levels is enhanced by the mastery of several languages. Students are advised to consider their professional research goals in selecting a language to fulfill the department’s requirement.

    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 department 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 course work done as part of the B.A. and/or M.A.

    The Portuguese language, as well as Brazilian literature and culture, share many similarities with the Spanish language and Spanish American literatures and cultures. Course work in Portuguese enhances students’ understanding and appreciation of both languages and of the literatures and cultures of Latin America.

    Detailed information for all these graduate degrees may be obtained from the Department Web site.

    Courses in Spanish (SPAN) are categorized in content areas.  The category for each course appears in parenthesis at the end of the course description according to the following legend:

    Language (L); Linguistics, Philosophy, and Methodology (LPM); Literature (LT); Peninsular Literature (PL); Spanish American Literature (SA); Southwest Hispanic Studies (SH).

    Courses

    SPAN 101. Elementary Spanish I. (3)


    SPAN 102. Elementary Spanish II. (3)


    SPAN 103 - 104. Elementary Spanish Conversation I-Elementary Spanish Conversation II. (1, 1)


    SPAN 111. Elementary SHL I. (3)


    SPAN 112. Elementary SHL II. (3)


    SPAN 200. Intermediate Spanish Abroad. (3)


    SPAN 201. Intermediate Spanish I. (3)


    SPAN 202. Intermediate Spanish II. (3)


    SPAN 203. Spanish Conversation. (3)


    SPAN 211. Intermediate SHL I. (3)


    SPAN 212. Intermediate SHL II. (3)


    SPAN 275. Accelerated Beginning Spanish. (6)


    SPAN 276. Accelerated Intermediate Spanish. (6)


    SPAN 301. Topics in Hispanic Culture and Language. (3, no limit Δ)


    SPAN 302. Developing Spanish Writing Skills. (3)


    SPAN 307. Introduction to Hispanic Literature. (3)


    SPAN **350. Spanish Phonetics. (3)


    SPAN 351. Introduction to Spanish Linguistics. (3)


    SPAN **352. Advanced Grammar. (3)


    SPAN 370. Survey of Chicano Literature. (3)


    SPAN 371. Spanish of the Southwest. (3)


    SPAN 375. Southwestern Hispanic Folklore. (3)


    SPAN **411. Survey of Spanish Peninsular Literature I. (3)


    SPAN **412. Survey of Spanish Peninsular Literature II. (3)


    SPAN *423. Cervantes: The Quijote. (3)


    SPAN **429. Topics in Spanish Peninsular Culture and Literature. (3, no limit Δ)


    SPAN **430. Spanish American Short Story. (3)


    SPAN **431. Spanish American Literature Survey I. (3)


    SPAN **432. Spanish American Literature Survey II. (3)


    SPAN **433. Modern Spanish American Poetry. (3)


    SPAN **435. Modern Spanish American Fiction. (3)


    SPAN *438. Mexican Literature. (3)


    SPAN **439. Topics in Spanish American Culture and Literature. (3, no limit Δ)


    SPAN 449. Topics in Hispanic Linguistics. (3, no limit Δ)


    SPAN **479. Topics in Southwest Folklore/Literature. (3, no limit Δ)


    SPAN 497. Undergraduate Problems. (1-6 to a maximum of 6 Δ)


    SPAN 498. Reading and Research for Honors. (3)


    SPAN 499. Honors Essay. (3)


    SPAN 502. Proseminar: Research and Critical Methodology. (3)


    SPAN 504. Seminar in Ibero-American Studies. (3, no limit Δ)


    SPAN 519. Medieval Literature. (3)


    SPAN 520. Seminar in the Spanish Peninsular Picaresque Novel. (3)


    SPAN 522. Seminar in Spanish Peninsular Poetry. (3, no limit Δ)


    SPAN 526. Seminar in Twentieth-Century Spanish Peninsular Theater. (3)


    SPAN 529. Spanish Peninsular Post-War Novel. (3)


    SPAN 531. The Modernist Movement in Spanish American Poetry. (3)


    SPAN 536. Colonial Literature. (3)


    SPAN 541. Recent Research on the Teaching of Spanish. (3)


    SPAN 545. Spanish Phonology. (3)


    SPAN 546. Seminar in Hispanic Sociolinguistics. (3, no limit Δ)


    SPAN 547. Seminar in Southwest Spanish. (3)


    SPAN 549. Seminar in the Language of Spain or Spanish America. (3, no limit Δ)


    SPAN 551. Graduate Problems. (1-6 to a maximum of 6 Δ)


    SPAN 578. Topics in Southwest Hispanic Literature. (3, no limit Δ)


    SPAN 579. Topics in Southwest Culture & Folklore. (3, no limit Δ)


    SPAN 599. Master's Thesis. (1-6, no limit Δ)


    SPAN 601. Literary Theory. (3)


    SPAN 629. Seminar in Spanish Peninsular Literature. (3, no limit Δ)


    SPAN 631. Latin American Vanguard Poetry. (3)


    SPAN 639. Seminar in Spanish American Literature. (3, no limit Δ)


    SPAN 699. Dissertation. (3-12, no limit Δ)


    PORT 101. Elementary Portuguese I. (3)


    PORT 102. Elementary Portuguese II. (3)


    PORT 275. Intensive Beginning Portuguese. (6)


    PORT 276. Intensive Intermediate Portuguese. (6)


    PORT 277. Intensive Portuguese for Spanish Speakers. (6)


    PORT 301. Conversation and Pronunciation. (3)


    PORT 311 / 511. Culture and Composition. (3)


    PORT 312 / 512. Culture and Conversation. (3)


    PORT 335. Brazilian Popular Culture. (3)


    PORT 414 / 514. Topics in Luso-Brazilian Literature and Culture. (3, no limit Δ)


    PORT 416 / 516. Brazilian Cinema. (3)


    PORT 417 / 517. Popular Brazilian Music. (3)


    PORT 421 / 521. Brazilian Theater. (3)


    PORT 457 / 557. Encounters with the New World I. (3)


    PORT 458 / 558. Encounters with the New World II. (3)


    PORT *461. Topics in Brazilian Literature. (3, no limit Δ)


    PORT 497. Undergraduate Problems. (1-6 to a maximum of 6 Δ)


    PORT 498. Reading and Research for Honors. (3)


    PORT 499. Honors Essay or Teaching. (3)


    PORT 511 / 311. Culture and Composition. (3)


    PORT 512 / 312. Culture and Conversation. (3)


    PORT 514 / 414. Topics in Luso-Brazilian Literature and Culture. (3, no limit Δ)


    PORT 516 / 416. Brazilian Cinema. (3)


    PORT 517 / 417. Popular Brazilian Music. (3)


    PORT 521 / 421. Brazilian Theater. (3)


    PORT 551. Graduate Problems. (1-6 to a maximum of 6 Δ)


    PORT 557 / 457. Encounters with the New World I. (3)


    PORT 558 / 458. Encounters with the New World II. (3)


    PORT 570. Seminar in Luso-Brazilian Literature and Culture. (3, no limit Δ)


    PORT 599. Master's Thesis. (1-6, no limit Δ)


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