Graduate Program Tracks

The Ph.D. in Hispanic Languages and Literatures offers three program tracks designed to support a wide range of research interests in literature, linguistics, cultural studies, and beyond. Students may also enrich their studies by pursuing optional interdisciplinary emphases.

Our department offers two entry points: the M.A./Ph.D. program, for students who have not yet earned a master’s degree, and the Ph.D. program, for those entering with an M.A. Please note that we do not offer a stand-alone M.A.; the master’s degree is awarded only as part of the M.A./Ph.D. track. For guidance or questions, reach out to our Staff Graduate Program Advisor.

The field of Hispanic Literatures is organized both geographically and chronologically. Areas of study include Peninsular Spanish literature—spanning the Medieval period, the Golden Age, the 18th–19th century, and the 20th–21st century—as well as Spanish American literature from the Colonial period through the 19th and 20th–21st centuries. U.S. Latino/a literature is also an integral part of the program. These areas apply to both the M.A. and Ph.D. levels of study.

In the side menu to your right, you will find the schedule of milestones, which outlines your progress in the program over time, as well as the course requirements for the M.A., the M.A./Ph.D., and the Ph.D.-only track. The M.A. requirements apply to students enrolled in the M.A. in Spanish (Hispanic Literatures Specialization) in our department who are continuing toward the Ph.D. The M.A./Ph.D. requirements apply to students pursuing the Ph.D. after completing our M.A. in Spanish (Hispanic Literatures Specialization). The Ph.D.-only requirements apply to students completing the doctoral program without first earning a master’s degree from our department.

This specialization is designed for students pursuing a Ph.D. with a focus on Portuguese and Brazilian literatures. Students may also earn credit by taking courses in other Lusophone literatures and cultures from across the globe, broadening their understanding of the Portuguese-speaking world.

In the side menu to your right, you will find the schedule of milestones, which outlines your progress in the program over time, as well as the course requirements for the M.A., the M.A./Ph.D., and the Ph.D.-only track. The M.A. requirements apply to students enrolled in the M.A. in Portuguese (Portuguese and Brazilian Literature Specialization) in our department who are continuing toward the Ph.D. The M.A./Ph.D. requirements apply to students pursuing the Ph.D. after completing our M.A. in Portuguese (Portuguese and Brazilian Literature Specialization) at UC Santa Barbara. The Ph.D.-only requirements apply to students completing the doctoral program without first earning a master’s degree from our department.

This program is intended for students pursuing a Ph.D. with an emphasis in Iberian Linguistics. It focuses on topics related to Spanish, Portuguese, and their linguistic varieties, as well as Spain’s regional languages. Applicants should have completed at least one introductory university-level course in linguistics or possess equivalent preparation. Students in this track may also choose to add the Emphasis in Applied Linguistics to their Ph.D. program.

In the side menu to your right, you will find the schedule of milestones, which outlines your progress in the program over time, as well as the course requirements for the M.A., the M.A./Ph.D., and the Ph.D.-only track. The M.A. requirements apply to students enrolled in the M.A. in Spanish (Iberian Linguistics Specialization) in our department who are continuing toward the Ph.D. The M.A./Ph.D. requirements apply to students pursuing the Ph.D. after completing our M.A. in Spanish (Iberian Linguistics Specialization) at UC Santa Barbara. The Ph.D.-only requirements apply to students completing the doctoral program without first earning a master’s degree from our department.