Spanish

Program Overview

The Department of Spanish & Portuguese offers graduate courses leading to two degrees: Master of Arts (MA) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

The Master of Arts in Spanish is a freestanding, one-year course of study that may be undertaken as a preparatory degree to apply subsequently to doctoral programs in the field, or as a terminal degree by those interested in pursuing careers in education, publishing, government, journalism, literary translation, or non-profit organizations.

The PhD in Spanish program at the University of Toronto draws on the talents of a diverse faculty to provide students with a rigorous education in order to prepare scholars and teachers of the highest caliber. Through completion of advanced course work and demanding skills training, the doctoral program prepares students to develop innovative research and to present their results to the world in compelling ways.

Students in the Spanish graduate programs are expected to engage in the vibrant and collaborative intellectual life in our Department while completing their courses and conducting their research. Students are also able to join a broadly based community of scholars by participating in a wide variety of working groups, lecture series, graduate conferences, and other opportunities for fruitful intellectual exchange throughout the university.

Students completing a graduate program in Spanish at the University of Toronto can choose one of two concentrations:

• Hispanic Literatures and Cultures
• Hispanic Linguistics

The application process for the Master of Arts program is competitive; meeting the minimum standards for admission does not guarantee acceptance. The admissions process for the Doctor of Philosophy program is competitive; it is based on a number of factors in addition to grades. The principal factors include the ability of the department to offer graduate work in the applicant’s preferred areas of interest, the availability of appropriate supervisory resources, and the suitability of the applicant in relation to the academic profile and programs of the department.

The department does not allow direct entry to the PhD program with a BA, nor does it allow MA students to transfer to the PhD program before the coursework for the MA is completed.

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