Modern Languages (Ph.D.)
The Doctor of Philosophy with a major in Modern Languages allows students to combine a major and a minor that best meet their interests and career goals. Students must consult with the Ph.D. advisor to consolidate a coherent plan of work that emphasizes disciplinary knowledge, critical thinking, research skills, and interdisciplinary work. Several options are available:
Major Concentration: Doctoral students may concentrate their studies in French, German, or Spanish. Between forty-five to forty-eight graduate credits must be completed in one of these major areas.
Minor Concentration: Doctoral students broaden their course of study through the choice of a minor concentration, which requires nine to twelve credits. Minors are available in literary and cultural criticism, in a second language (French, German, Italian, or Spanish), or in another area which will complement work undertaken in the major. The choice of the minor will be determined in consultation with both the graduate adviser and the potential dissertation advisor, if determined, or a subject-matter specialist in the area of the minor.
Admission Requirements: Admission to this program is contingent upon admission to the Graduate School. The application for admission and transcripts of all previous college work should be filed in the Graduate School at least three months in advance of the time the applicant plans to register. A letter giving information on the applicant’s educational background, experience, objectives, oral fluency in the language, or proposed major concentration and other data of interest to an evaluating committee should be sent by the applicant as soon as possible to the Chairperson of the Department of Classical and Modern Languages, Literatures, and Cultures.
Course Requirements: The Doctor of Philosophy requires ninety credits beyond the baccalaureate degree, thirty of which must be earned as dissertation credits. A minimum of between forty-five to forty-eight credits on the graduate level in the field of major concentration, and nine to twelve credits in one minor field. The total program must include thirty credits (excluding dissertation direction) at the 7000 level or above. All students are required to take a 7010 course (Introduction to Literary Theory) and all students with a graduate teaching assistantship must take LGL 5850: Foreign Language Instruction.
Language Requirements: The doctoral candidate must pass a Ph.D. reading examination in one language other than those of his/ her major and minor fields. The choice of the language will be determined in consultation with the graduate advisor and subject to the approval of the Graduate Committee.
Qualifying Examinations: Within a reasonable time after the completion of all course work, students are required to pass extensive examinations, both written and oral, in the major and minor fields. Candidacy is achieved after passing the qualifying examinations and the dissertation committee is named. Later, after the dissertation has been completed, a final oral presentation and defense of it is required.
Academic Scholarship: All course work must be completed in accordance with the regulations of the Graduate School and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.