Department of Latin American and Iberian Cultures at Columbia University
Ph.D. Program
Introduction
The Ph.D. program in the Department of Latin American and Iberian Cultures (LAIC) at Columbia University provides students with a rigorous formation in Spanish, Catalan, Latin American, and Luso-Brazilian cultural production, oversees their specialization in one or more of these areas, and encourages them to pursue interdisciplinary work. Students complement their work in the department with coursework in other disciplines such as Comparative Literature, Philosophy, Anthropology, Art History, History, and English. Certificate programs are available also in Comparative Literature and Society, Feminist Scholarship, and Medieval and Renaissance Studies.
The department's outstanding faculty is committed to preparing scholars and teachers of the highest caliber (see the list of approved dissertation sponsors). Teaching Fellows participate in an extensive pedagogical training program sponsored by the department and led by specialists in Applied Linguistics. Students typically have the opportunity to teach the various levels of the language instruction sequence as well as courses on Hispanic or Luso-Brazilian culture, broadly conceived. Advanced graduate students may also apply to the GSAS Teaching Scholars Program, which affords them the opportunity to prepare and teach independently a course of their own devising, either during the academic year or during the summer term. In addition, the department sponsors workshops on topics such as digital humanities, works in progress, language pedagogy, academic writing, dissertation progress, archival research, navigating the profession, preparing for the job market, among others. LAIC also sponsors research groups on Medieval Iberia and the Early Modern transoceanic empire, contemporary Latin American criticism, and contemporary Iberian studies, as well as a yearly academic conference organized by LAIC and NYU doctoral candidates.
The Hispanic Institute for Latin American and Iberian Cultures, housed in the department, offers a regular program of lectures, colloquia, and cultural activities. The Institute also sponsors the Revista Hispánica Moderna, a leading academic journal published since 1934. Graduate students may serve as editorial assistants to the journal, thereby acquiring valuable insight into the exacting peer-review process of a major scholarly journal.
You will find here more detailed information about the doctoral program’s features and expectations. The deadline for applying for admission for the 2014-2015 academic year is December 18, 2013.
See detailed information on admission requirements to the graduate program. Visit also the program's page of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about graduate admissions. For more information, contact the Director of Graduate Studies or the Chair of the department.