Doctor of Philosophy in Hispanic Literatures and Cultures

The Ph.D. program in Hispanic Literatures and Cultures prepares students to be well-rounded scholars able to conduct independent research of publishable quality in their fields of specialization. We place great emphasis in assisting our students in the process of establishing an academic dialogue with colleagues in their own and other fields.

Our low faculty-student ratio allows for very close faculty mentoring and professional training. From the beginning of the program we encourage and support our students to actively present their work at scholarly conferences and professional meetings, as well as to begin a promising publication career. We see as necessary to provide curricular flexibility and professional mentoring in fields not strictly related to academia. For that reason our students are offered advice in workshops and other university-wide networking opportunities to help them envision professional paths in editorial positions (publishing houses, news agencies), cultural institutions (libraries, foundations), and U.S. government agencies and private companies seeking individuals with specialized knowledge in multicultural and foreign affairs. We encourage our students to take advantage of Catholic University's location in the political and diplomatic heart of the U.S.

Submit the following documentation: An official transcript of all undergraduate or higher courses. (In order to expedite the processing and evaluation of admissions, unofficial transcripts may be submitted. However, final, official transcripts and documentation of degree conferral are expected to be submitted as soon as possible.) Ph.D. applicants - The normal preparation for the doctoral program is an M.A or M.Phil. in Spanish Language, Literature, or Hispanic Studies. Students with different backgrounds are encouraged to contact the department to see if they qualify for admission. Submitting Test Scores GRE or other test scores must be sent directly to the Catholic University Office of Graduate Admission from the testing service. Do not attach to the online application. GRE scores are required for all U.S. applicants. International students whose native language is not English may present TOEFL or IELTS scores. GRE scores are required of international students who have obtained B.A. or M.A. degrees in English-speaking countries. Code Catholic University's test code for the GRE and TOEFL is 5104 3 confidential letters of recommendation A statement of purpose indicating research interests A 20-25 page academic writing sample in Spanish International Applicants Attach original copies in the native language and translated forms of the following: Grade reports Certificates Transcripts English Proficiency, Proof of Funding Both English proficiency and proof of funding documents must be presented to the Office of Graduate Admission either by postal mail or in person. These documents will not be accepted through the online application. Minimally accepted TOEFL scores, when applying for graduate programs, are 550-paper; 213-computer; and 80 Internet. Students taking the TOEFL should have at least 20 out of 30 in each of the TOEFL subcategories. The minimally accepted graduate IELTS score is 6.5. Individual IELTS test module scores are also reviewed in addition to the overall IELTS score.