Frequently Asked Questions about Admissions
What is the difference between the Master's Only program and the Ph.D. program?
The Master's Only Program (MAO) is a one-year terminal program at the end of which candidates receive a Master's Degree in Hispanic Studies. No financial aid is granted for this program; the student is therefore responsible for all tuition and fees. Students who are accepted to the Ph.D. program receive a master's degree en route after a year in the graduate program, provided that they pass the master's evaluation that takes place at the end of the first year. Students in the Ph.D. program are admitted with a financial aid package (see below). The admissions deadline for the Ph.D. program is December 15; the Master's Only program has a deadline of June 1. Please consult the Graduate School's Admissions page for the specific requirements of both programs. See also the Graduate School's Frequently Asked Questions page.
If I receive a master's degree through the Master's Only program, can I continue on to the Ph.D.?
The Master's Only program is a terminal degree. If you wish to be considered for the Ph.D. degree you must apply formally to the Ph.D. program. If admitted, the work you have done in the Master's Only program would automatically be credited toward the Ph.D. degree.
Can I apply to the Ph.D. program with only a bachelor's degree?
Although proportions change with every incoming class, roughly half of the matriculants in the program apply after having finished a bachelor's degree. Such students have no difficulties in fulfilling the program's requirements.
What if I already have a master's degree? Will I receive credit for previous graduate work?
Students who have received a master's degree in Spanish or in a closely related field from another institution can petition to receive residence credit as well as academic credit for graduate work done elsewhere. Such students can receive a maximum credit of two residence units and academic credit for not more than six course units. The amount of academic credit is determined at the end of the first year, and after a review of the student's academic and scholarly record at the previous institution(s).
My master's degree (or undergraduate degree) is not in Spanish. Will that hinder my chances of being admitted?
We welcome applications from students who have had training in other disciplines. The amount of credit granted for work done in another institution will be determined individually, and will depend on exposure to Hispanic topics, larger theoretical issues, and critical readings received while enrolled in the previous program. The applicant will also have to show superior proficiency in Spanish.
What kind of writing sample should I submit?
The writing sample should be an excellent paper that shows how you approach a given text or subject and that possesses critical sophistication. It is usually--but not necessarily--an essay written as a final requirement for a course or a well-chosen fragment of an undergraduate or master's thesis. It should have a bibliography that evinces research and an awareness of previous critical work on the topic. It should preferably be written in Spanish; but a paper written in English that is indicative of your critical and interpretive skills will also be acceptable.
How important are the GRE scores?
GRE scores are one of a number of elements that are taken into consideration when evaluating an application. They are not insignificant, but neither are they fully determinative in any way. The faculty is also cognizant of the fact that test-taking is a culturally-sited skill.
What about financial aid?
There is no financial aid available for the Master's Only program (see above). Students admitted to the Ph.D. program are typically offered a five-year award that combines fellowships and teaching assistantships and which also includes tuition and health insurance. Normally students hold a fellowship during years one and five (no teaching responsibilities) and a teaching assistantship in years two through four. Students who enter with a Master's degree from another institution receive advanced standing and are therefore offered four years of support. U.S. students may also secure loans to subsidize their graduate career. Fellowship and Teaching Assistantship stipends for 2008-09 are $22,000.
Is there financial aid available during the summer months?
Every year the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences makes available funds to the department to sponsor student summer research projects. Students are asked to submit detailed and reasoned research proposals to the department, and awards are made based on the merits of the project. Students who have a strong teaching record are also eligible to serve as instructors of language and culture courses during Columbia's comprehensive summer session.
Are there funds available to sponsor student participation in conferences and symposia?
The department awards funds annually to students who are invited to deliver a paper in scholarly conferences. The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences also provides funds for such purposes.
What if I am interested in Comparative Literature, Women Studies, or Medieval and Renaissance Studies?
Applicants interested in the Institute for Comparative Literature and Society at Columbia (ICLS) should apply directly to the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, clearly indicating their interest in Comparative Literature and Society on the cover of their application or in the subfield section in the Application (Part 1). Copies of all such applications are forwarded to the ICLS, which has a separate admissions process from that of the department. Applicants are informed about the outcome of both admissions processes in due course. Students may also apply to ICLS after having matriculated at Columbia. If accepted into the program, students receive the M.Phil. and Ph.D. through Spanish and Portuguese; Comparative Literature and Society is listed on their transcript as a certificate of concentration. Please see the ICLS page on requirements. Students can also obtain a Certificate in Feminist Scholarship through the Institute for Research on Women and Gender (IRWAG) at Columbia, and a Certificate in Medieval and Renaissance Studies from the Interdepartmental Committee on Medieval and Renaissance Studies.
What are the areas of interest available in the department?
The department recognizes a number of general areas of interest: Medieval, Early Modern Peninsular / Colonial, Modern Peninsular (XVIII-XXI centuries), Modern Latin American (XIX-XXI centuries), Transatlantic Cultural Relations, and Hispanic Media Studies. These rubrics are meant to provide intellectual foundation and guidance, not to serve as limits for work undertaken by individual students. The faculty is very responsive to specific needs that students may have in pursuing their intellectual projects successfully within and outside the department.
The department does not offer a graduate program in Portuguese; it does, however, offer graduate-level courses in Luso-Brazilian culture. Students--especially those concentrating in Latin American culture--are encouraged to take these courses.