Doctoral Dissertation Fields and Proposal

The preparation of the Doctoral Dissertation Fields and Proposal is a two-semester process normally taking place during the sixth and seventh long semesters of graduate study. For the first (normally spring) term, students will enroll in ILA 395 Supervised Preparation of the Dissertation Fields on a Credit/No Credit basis; for the second semester of the process (normally in the fall), they will enroll in ILA 396 Supervised Preparation of the Dissertation Proposal, receiving a lettered grade at the end of the term reflecting their cumulative work over the two semesters.

Early in the spring term (sixth long semester), a special Doctoral Dissertation Fields (DDF) committee will be formed (consisting of the student's advisor and two Department of Spanish and Portuguese GSC faculty members and one from outside the department) selected by the student in consultation with the student's advisor.

Iberian and Latin American Literatures and Cultures, and Literatures and Cultures in Portuguese and Spanish

In consultation with the Doctoral Dissertation Fields (DDF) committee, the student working on literature and culture topics will draft four Doctoral Dissertation Fields lists and accompanying critical summaries (with each member of the committee assigned to a particular topic):

(1) a major field list, comprised of a list of works from a general area of interest, defined in terms of the cultural production of a region, nation or associated diaspora, literary or another cultural genre or medium, etc.;

(2) a secondary field list, based on the same general parameters as (1), and chosen to enhance the scope of the major field without overlapping with it, thus lending the project a transnational, interdisciplinary or comparative component;

(3) a specialization list (normally assigned to the student's mentor) reflecting the particular research interests of the student within the major field, with the understanding that this list will serve as the main basis of her/his dissertation proposal; and

(4) a theory list, a comprehensive corpus of theoretical works relevant to the main thrust of the student's specialization.

Dates and Responsibilities (Fall 2024 and Spring 2025)

The student will be in charge of gathering signatures of the committee, formalizing the commitment between student and chosen faculty members. The student should arrange periodical meetings with each of their committee members to check on the reading and writing progress.

By April 7 the student will submit to the entire DDF committee a critical summary of each of the lists (generally 2-3 double-spaced pages each), convincingly showing in each case how the included works illuminate a set of problems relevant to the fields at hand. Finally, a meta-summary (generally 4-6 pages) should demonstrate how the four-fields lists dialogue with one another in cohesive ways, thereby highlighting the interdisciplinary and theoretical dimensions of the student's research interests, while also making a case for the innovative aspects of the specialization.

By April 28, the DDF committee will meet with the student to discuss the lists and summaries. It is the student's responsibility to schedule this meeting with the committee. If there are any objections to one or more of the critical summaries, the whole dossier may be revised and re-submitted by May 19 on a one-time only basis. The committee will issue a decision for a provisional pass on June 2. If the committee deems the resubmission unacceptable, the student will be terminated from the program with a Master's degree.

Alternate Fall dates: November 11 submission to committee; defend by December 9; resubmit for a provisional pass (if needed) by December 30; committee will decide on provisional pass by January 13.

If approved by the GSC, the student will be allowed in the seventh long semester of study (normally the fall) to prepare a Doctoral Dissertation Proposal articulating an original, theoretically grounded hypothesis based on his/her specialization. In drafting this proposal, the student must emphasize the academic significance of the project, and offer well-organized and detailed summaries of each chapter, thereby drawing from and building on the work done in the previous semester. By October 14, the student will present to the Doctoral Dissertation Proposal (DP) committee, usually the same DDF committee (student's advisor, two GSC faculty from the department, and one outside the department), a first draft of the proposal, including a preliminary bibliography (generally between 15- and 20-pages total). The purpose of this step is to share written feedback to be used in the final version of the proposal. By October 28, the committee will give feedback to the student. The student should arrange with each committee member as to how this feedback will be conveyed (written, in-person, Zoom, etc.). By November 11, the student must submit the final version of the dissertation proposal. By the last day of class (December 9), the student must defend the proposal before the DP committee. It is the student's responsibility to schedule the defense with the committee. If the proposal is deemed unacceptable by the committee, the student will be terminated from the program with a Master's degree.

Alternate Spring dates: March 10 first draft submission to committee; March 24 feedback to student; April 7 final submission to committee; by the last day of class (April 28) meeting with the committee.

Iberian and Latin American Linguistics

The purpose of the Dissertation Fields Exercise is to determine the student’s competence to interpret the theoretical assumptions and the research findings in their areas of specialization. The process consists in several steps.

Initial presentation to the Doctoral Dissertation Fields. The student will schedule a meeting with the Doctoral Dissertation Fields Committee; this meeting should take place by March 10. The student will prepare a presentation outlining his/her fields and topics of interest, with an eye towards the dissertation project.
Write the exam papers. Within 24 hours of your committee meeting, the student’s supervisor will submit two specific topics for the exam. The topics will depend upon your specific research plans and interests. Normally they will consist of reviews of literature and methods relevant to the student’s dissertation proposal. The papers should be submitted within two months after the student receives the topics (by April 7).
Final oral exam. Before the last day of class (April 28), the student will meet with the committee to answer questions about the fields papers. The oral exam will last no longer than an hour. By the end of the oral, the DDF committee as a whole will determine the viability of the exam (Pass/Fail) and communicate that outcome to the GSC. If the student does not pass, they will be terminated from the program with a Master's degree.

Alternate Fall dates: Initial presentation of Fields by September 20; supervisor will submit topics within 24 hours of committee meeting; submit exam papers by November 11; final oral exam by last day of class (December 9).

If approved by the GSC, the student will be allowed in the seventh long semester of study (normally the fall) to prepare a Doctoral Dissertation Proposal articulating an original, theoretically-grounded hypothesis based on his/her specialization. In drafting this proposal, the student must emphasize the academic significance of the project, and offer well-organized and detailed overview of the overall project, including chapter outlines, thereby drawing from and building on the work done in the previous semester. By October 14, the student will present to the Doctoral Dissertation Proposal (DP) committee, usually the same DDF committee, a first draft of the proposal, including a preliminary bibliography (generally between 15- and 20-pages total). The purpose of this step is to share written feedback to be used in the final version of the proposal. By October 28, the committee will give feedback to the student. The student should arrange with each committee member as to how this feedback will be conveyed (written, in-person, Zoom, etc.). By November 11, the student must submit the final version of the dissertation proposal, defending it before the DP committee by the end of the semester (December 9). If the proposal is deemed unacceptable by the committee, the student will be terminated from the program with a Master's degree.