The Department of Hispanic Studies is at the forefront of research and teaching of Hispanic literature and Spanish linguistics. Our offering in Hispanic literature and Hispanic linguistics now encompasses the literatures written throughout the Americas and Spain. Given Houston’s location, as well as Arte Público Press and the Recovering the U.S. Hispanic Literary Project at UH, our Ph.D. program offers an optimal environment in which to achieve excellence.

For more information about the course work, expectations and the progression of the PhD program please see the PhD Students Handbook.

General Requirements

Minimum requirements for unconditional admission to the Ph.D. in Spanish

• A completed M.A. degree in Spanish, or its equivalent
• Students who have a M.A. degree in a field other than Spanish and plan to concentrate in literature must take, concurrently with the other courses normally required for the doctoral program, one course from each of the following groups:
  
  
  • Hispanic literature of the United States
  • Latin American literature through Modernism
  • Latin American literature since Modernism
  • Peninsular literature through the XVII century
  • Peninsular literature, centuries XVIII through XX
• Students who have a M.A. degree in a field other than Spanish and plan to concentrate in linguistics must take five additional courses, concurrently with the other courses normally required for the doctoral program, at least one from each of the following groups:
  • Formal linguistics
  • Applied linguistics
  • Sociolinguistics

• Completed online application through CollegeNet  [all required documents are to be directly uploaded to your account during the application process. If admitted to the program, transcripts, and degree certificates must be sent directly to the Graduate school the address included below].
• A statement of research in Spanish (between 1000 and 1500 words) explaining your academic interests and projects (see this link to find the guidelines you must follow for writing your statement).
• Three letters of recommendation from the applicant’s professors detailing the potential of the applicant at the Ph.D. level (sent directly by recommenders via CollegeNet)
• Academic writing sample (research paper, with substantial bibliography).
• Official transcripts: All graduate students are required to provide proof of the attainment of a bachelor’s degree before enrolling at the University of Houston. Credential Evaluations are completed in house at the Graduate School, and outside evaluations will not be accepted. 

Additional Requirements for International Students

Each applicant must submit an official academic transcript from every post-secondary institution attended as well as any degree certificates conferred.  Transcripts must include all undergraduate and graduate course work. Each transcript should bear the signature of the registrar or designated school official and the seal of the granting institution.

Translations will only be accepted from the college/university, Education USA, or from an American Translator Association certified translator.

A complete academic record for an international student is:

1. Transcript of all semesters attended
2. Degree Certificate/Diploma
3. English Translation of Transcript
4. English Translation of Degree Certificate/Diploma

*Keep in mind scanned copies of these documents can be uploaded as PDF files to your online application and will be considered unofficial, but they may can be used by our program to make admission decisions. Students whose universities issue only one set of official documents can have their academic records attested and signed by the university registrar certifying the documents are true copies of the originals or may bring the original document to the Graduate School for authentication upon arrival at University of Houston.

• • Certified copy of diploma: besides official transcripts and their translation, international students must send a copy of their graduation diploma. If the document is not in English, an official translation made by a certified interpreter must be attached. International transcripts and degree certificates must be sent to the University of Houston Graduate School in envelopes sealed and stamped by the issuing university to be considered official. Electronic academic documents sent from international institutions will not be accepted.

International transcripts and degree certificates can be sent to:

University of Houston Graduate Admissions
5000 Gulf Freeway  
UH Technology Bridge
Building No.3, Rm 170
Houston TX 77204-2105

To drop off official transcripts’ students can visit:

University of Houston
Graduate School
4104 Martin Luther King Blvd
Bates Law Building, Suite 15
Houston, TX 77204

English certifications options:

• TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language: A score of at least 79 on the (international students only, unless they have earned a college degree from an American university). For information on the TOEFL visit the Educational Testing Service web site. (UH Code: 6870)
• Duolingo English Testfor English proficiency exams. This exam may be taken from any computer that has a camera, audio and reliable internet. The Duolingo English Test contains a series of speaking, reading, writing and listening exercises. Following the exam, there will be an interview portion that will ask you to respond to various prompts in 30 to 90 seconds. The exam will take about 45 minutes to complete, and you will need either a passport, driver license, or national or state ID to show the camera. The score results are generally received within a few days of exam completion. A minimum score of 105 is required.
• IELTS (International English Language Testing Service): The minimum IELTS score required is an overall score of a 6.5. IELTS scores should be sent electronically to "University of Houston". Please do not use "University of Houston - Graduate Admissions".

IMPORTANT: ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE COMPLETE BY JANUARY 15th (INCLUDING TRANSCRIPTS AND EXAM RESULTS TOEFL) IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED FOR FUNDING. ALL APPLICANTS ARE CONSIDERED FOR OUR SCHOLARSHIPS (NO ADDITIONAL APPLICATION REQUIRED) THAT INCLUDE: FULL TUITION, 9 MONTH STIPEND FOR 20 HOURS OF WEEKLY WORK AS TEACHING OR RESEARCH ASSISTANT.

INCOMPLETE DOSSIERS WILL NOT COMPETE FOR SCHOLARSHIPS.

* Phone interviews will be conducted after application file is reviewed.

Once admitted to the program

• No course in which a grade below B- (2.67) is received may count towards Ph.D. degree.
• A minimum grade point average of 3.0 (B) for all graduate courses attempted is required for a graduate degree; failure to maintain this average will result in a warning, probation, or suspension.
• Qualifying written and oral examinations are required to obtain admission to candidacy
• The student must develop a dissertation on a topic in literature which can be original and of significance to scholarship.
• Language requirement: Reading knowledge of one language in addition to Spanish and English is required. It may be demonstrated in one of the following ways:
  • Four college semesters at the undergraduate level (or equivalent proficiency as demonstrated by testing) in another Romance language.
  • Reading knowledge of Latin or any other approved language, as demonstrated either by satisfactory scores on the Educational Testing Service examinations for that language, or the completion of two semesters of graduate reading courses in the language chosen with a grade of B- or higher.
  • One Semester at UH of a Graduate Level Course level 6000 and above (i.e. “Italian for Non-Majors”, “German for Non-Majors”)

Application Fees

Fees payable by check, money order or online (Credit Card) with application

• National Graduate
  • Total cost, $50
  • Payable to University of Houston
• International Graduate Student
  • Total cost, $80
  • Payable to University of Houston

Deadlines

• The Spanish PhD Program only has admissions for the Fall semester.
• All documents and information must be uploaded through CollegeNet and/or sent to the University of Houston by January 15^th

For applications and advisement, contact: Dr. Paola Arboleda-Ríos, Graduate Director, at parboeda@uh.edu