Admission Requirements

• Master of Arts
• Doctor of Philosophy

Degree Requirements

• Master of Arts
• Doctor of Philosophy

Mailing Address:
Department of Hispanic and Italian Studies (MC 315)
601 South Morgan Street
Chicago, IL 60607-7117

Campus Location: 1733 UH
Program Codes: 20FS1312MA (MA); 20FS1900PHD (PhD)
Telephone: (312) 996-5218
E-mail: mexotic@uic.edu
Web Site: http://www.uic.edu/depts/sfip/
Head of the Department: Luis López-Carretero
Director of Graduate Studies: Cristián Roa de la Carrera

The Department of Hispanic and Italian Studies offers work leading to degrees in Hispanic Studies at both the master’s and doctoral levels.  Students with a baccalaureate degree may apply directly to the doctoral program.  The M.A. and Ph.D. programs offer two concentrations: Hispanic Literary and Cultural Studies and Hispanic Linguistics.  Interdepartmental concentrations in Gender and Women’s Studies, Latin American and Latino Studies, Second Language Teaching, and Violence Studies are available to students in both the master’s and doctoral programs.

The department also offers a master’s in the Teaching of Spanish; more information under the Spanish section of this catalogue.

Admission Requirements

Applicants are considered on an individual basis. In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, applicants must meet the following program requirements (please consult the department Web site http://www.uic.edu/depts/sfip/ for details):

Master of Arts

• Baccalaureate Field Spanish or related field.
• Grade Point Average At least 3.50/4.00 for the final 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) of study.
• Tests Required Applicants are urged to take the GRE.
• Language Proficiency Applicants must give evidence of proficiency in spoken and written formal standard Spanish.
• Minimum English Competency Test Score
• TOEFL 550 (paper-based); 213 (computer-based); 80, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Speaking 20, and Writing 21 (iBT Internet-based), OR,
• IELTS 6.5, with subscores of 6.0 for all four subscores.
• Sample of Writing in Spanish Applicants are required to submit one sample of their written work in Spanish in the form of an essay for an academic course.
• Letters of Recommendation Three required from professors; at least one should be from a professor in an upper-level or graduate Spanish course.
• Personal Statement A statement of 500 words is required in which applicants should address their reasons for applying to the Hispanic Studies M.A.-only program in the concentration desired, Hispanic Linguistics or Hispanic Literary and Cultural Studies.
• Nondegree Applicants Nondegree applicants must apply and pay online, as well as submit transcripts from all institutions where a degree or academic credit was earned during the last eight years.

Doctor of Philosophy

• BA, MA or Equivalent Spanish or related field.
• Grade Point Average At least 3.50/4.00 for all graduate courses.
• Tests Required Applicants are urged to take the GRE.
• Minimum English Competency Test Score
• TOEFL 550 (paper-based); 213 (computer-based); 80, with subscores of  Reading 19, Listening 17, Speaking 20, and Writing 21 (iBT Internet-based TOEFL). OR,
• IELTS 6.5, with subscores of 6.0 for all four subscores.
• Samples of Writing in Spanish Applicants are required to submit two samples of their written work in Spanish in the form of an essay for an academic course.
• Letters of Recommendation External applicants with an M.A. in Hispanic Studies or related field must provide at least three recommendation letters from faculty in the applicant’s M.A. program.
• Personal Statement A statement of 500 words is required in which applicants should address their reasons for applying to the Hispanic Studies Ph.D. program in the concentration desired, Hispanic Linguistics or Hispanic Literary and Cultural Studies.
• Other Requirements: Students who enter the Ph.D. program with an M.A. awarded by a department in a related field may be required upon admission to take complementary course work as appropriate in consultation with the advisor.
• Nondegree Applicants None at the PhD level.

Note: All application documents for master’s and doctoral students, including transcripts, must be forwarded directly to the program office: Rocío García, UIC Department of Hispanic and Italian Studies (MC 315), 601 South Morgan Street, Chicago, Illinois 60607-7117. In addition, please contact the department for information on current program changes and updates.

Degree Requirements

In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, students must meet the following program requirements:

Master of Arts

• Minimum Semester Hours Required 37.
• Course Work Required Courses for Both Concentrations: SPAN 502 or equivalent; SPAN 503; and three additional courses at the 500-level. 
• Concentration Courses:
• Hispanic Literary and Cultural Studies—SPAN 407 or the equivalent; four courses chosen from the following: SPAN 411, 414, 421, 422, 430, 431, 434 or 435; plus three additional courses at the 500-level chosen in consultation with the graduate advisor.  SPAN 502, SPAN 503, SPAN 504, SPAN 596, SPAN 590, SPAN 598, and SPAN 599 cannot satisfy any of the above listed requirements.  Electives may be taken in other UIC programs and departments as long as they relate to the student’s concentration.
• Hispanic Linguistics—SPAN 402, 404, 406, 409, 507, and 556; one additional course at the 500-level; one additional elective at the 400 or 500 level chosen in consultation with the graduate advisor.  SPAN 502, SPAN 503, SPAN 504, SPAN 596, SPAN 590, SPAN 598, and SPAN 599 cannot satisfy any of the above listed requirements.  Electives may be taken in other UIC programs and departments as long as they relate to the student’s concentration.
• Comprehensive Examination Required.
• Thesis, Project, or Course-Work-Only Options Thesis or course work only. No other options available.
• Thesis: Permission of the department’s graduate committee is required.

Doctor of Philosophy

• Minimum Semester Hours Required 96 from the baccalaureate.
• Course Work Required for Both Concentrations: In addition to the above stated 37 hours for the master’s degree or their equivalent, candidates must complete Span 504, plus a minimum additional 32 hours of didactic course work at the 400 and 500 levels. 
• Concentration Courses:
• Hispanic Literary and Cultural Studies— A minimum of eight graduate courses (32 hours), which must include SPAN 535, two additional 500-level courses, and five electives at the 400- or 500-level chosen in consultation with the graduate advisor, excluding Span 502, 503, 504, 596, 590, 598, and 599.  Graduate courses directly related to the field of study may be taken outside the department in consultation with the student’s academic advisor.
• Hispanic Linguistics-A minimum of eight graduate courses (32 hours), which must include SPAN 403, 405, three additional 500-level courses, and three electives at the 400- or 500-level chosen in consultation with the graduate advisor, excluding Span 502, 503, 504, 596, 590, 598, and 599.  Electives may be taken in other UIC programs and departments as long as they relate to the student’s concentration and are approved by the student’s academic advisor.
• Examinations Preliminary Examination: Required; written and oral.
• Dissertation Required. No more than 31 hours of SPAN599 can be applied to the degree. The dissertation should be based on original research in the candidate’s concentration, Hispanic Literary and Cultural Studies or Hispanic Linguistics.
• Other Requirements Unless exempted by the director of graduate studies, all students must serve as teaching assistants for at least a year.

• All students will need to demonstrate reading knowledge at a scholarly level of two languages other than Spanish and English.  At least one of these needs to be a Romance language.  This requirement can only be waived if the candidate holds a BA or equivalent in the language(s) with which he/she wishes to satisfy this requirement

Interdepartmental Concentration in Gender and Women’s Studies


Students earning a graduate degree in this department may complement their courses by enrolling in a concentration in Gender and Women’s Studies after consulting with their graduate advisor. See Gender and Women’s Studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for more information.

Interdepartmental Concentration in Latin American and Latino Studies


Students earning a graduate degree in this department may complement their courses by enrolling in a concentration in Latin American and Latino Studies. See Latin American and Latino Studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for more information.

Interdepartmental Concentration in Second Language Teaching


Students earning a graduate degree in the department may complement their courses by enrolling in a concentration in Second Language Teaching. See Second Language Teaching in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section of the catalog for more information.

Interdepartmental Graduate Concentration in Violence Studies

Students earning a graduate degree in this department may complement their courses by enrolling in a concentration in Violence Studies after consulting with their graduate advisor. See Violence Studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section or the Jane Addams College of Social Work section for more information.