Graduate Student Handbook

Academics

Students entering the Master of Arts degree program in Spanish should complete a minimum of 8 graduate seminars in the Department of Latin American and Iberian Cultures with a passing letter grade of B or better (a B- is not a passing grade; if the course is required, it must be retaken). An introductory course in literary and critical theory (Spanish 239A or B or equivalent) is a requirement for all graduate students. Students are granted an M.A. after the passing of the M.A exam. This exam should take place no later than the fifth quarter of graduate study.

A Ph.D. degree requires 16 courses beyond the B.A. or 8 beyond the M.A. There are three mandatory courses in the areas of Linguistic, Luso Brazilian Literature and Culture and Critical Theory. The remaining elective courses are selected with the approval of the student's guidance committee to prepare for the doctoral examination and the dissertation. Students are encouraged to take more than the minimum number of required courses. According to School regulations, the normative time for completion of the Ph.D. is seven years; four years to candidacy, three years in candidacy. The maximum time permitted is eight years.

Continuing students and students that transfer into the doctoral program from elsewhere must take a minimum of 8 graduate courses at UCI, of which six must be in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese. With regard to students who enter the Ph.D. program with their master's degree from another institution, the Ph.D. guidance committee will determine the number of courses that will be accepted.

Course Offerings

Funding for continuing students

There is a range of small fellowships funded by the School of Humanities available to all graduate students in the School. Typically, these fellowships allow students to participate in regional, national, or international conferences, to engage in sustained research outside UCI, or to devote time to the writing of their dissertations.

Applications for fellowship opportunities inside the School are normally announced via email. Information is also available in the Humanities Center section of the School of Humanities website.

A variety of support options are provided for Graduate Students in both PhD and Master’s programs at UCI. Information on this page includes available fellowships, assistantships, grants and other support options to help fund your graduate education.

 

The Dissertation Year Fellowship is intended for students who are in their final year of graduate school and who are planning to start teaching and research appointments soon after the end of their dissertation fellowship year. The fellowship is open to all doctoral candidates who are advanced to candidacy at the time of nomination, and are within one year of completing the dissertation. The award includes $18,000 in stipend (tenure: 9 months), registration fees, and $500 research/travel allowance to support visits to other universities for presentation of dissertation research. Dissertation fellows are required to present a seminar on their dissertation research twice during the program year: once at an appropriate department/group function at UCI and once at a UC, CSU, or independent California university. President’s Dissertation Fellows and their faculty mentors are required to participate in the Fall Conference hosted by UCOP at UC Berkeley.

The award is for third- or fourth-year Ph.D. students who have not advanced to candidacy. The distinct purpose is to assist recipients in acquiring and developing advanced research skills under faculty mentorship. At the end of the year, it is expected that the student mentee will have developed a substantial research paper worthy of publication in a scholarly journal. This award includes a $18,000 in stipend paid over a period of 9 months) plus student fees and are eligible for up to $500 for conference presentation travel expenses.

The Bombal Graduate Conference Travel Grant supports doctoral students in the Department of Latin American and Iberian Cultures as they develop professionally and present their research at major scholarly conferences. Designed for PhD candidates in good academic standing, with priority given to advanced students and those who actively pursue additional funding, these grants help recipients share their work, engage in broad academic conversations across the field, and strengthen their research trajectories. Eligibility criteria and application materials are provided in the accompanying guidelines and form.

Professionalization

This seminar seeks to introduce students to the aspects of professional life that are indispensable in order to become a successful member of our profession. You can access a sample syllabus from a previous seminar here. Be aware, however, that the content and format of each seminar vary depending on the faculty member who conducts it. 

The Diverse Educational Community and Doctoral Experience (DECADE) is a university-wide initiative designed to support professional development and build community among graduate students. Each year, the Spanish and Portuguese Department’s DECADE representatives organize a range of events and workshops, including conference abstract workshops, advanced syllabus formatting sessions, colloquiums, end of the year holiday posada, and more. The goal of DECADE in the Spanish department is to create a welcoming space—both academically and socially—for graduate students. 

The program also runs a yearly recruitment initiative to encourage applications from students from underrepresented and underserved backgrounds, including those from minority-serving institutions.  

Graduate students can serve as DECADE representatives without term limits or restrictions on the number of representatives. These students gain access to additional professional development opportunities, grants, and awards.

Pre and post MLA activities. Students going to the job market can benefit from mock interviews. Students who have secured a campus visit are invited to perform a job talk.

Students are encouraged to attend professional conferences in the later stages of their graduate career. To help identify opportunities, a list of conferences created by students is available for reference.