THE GRADUATE PROGRAM IN HISPANIC STUDIES
The national and international reputation of the Department of Hispanic Studies at the University of Kentucky is based on the department's long, outstanding history and a tradition of excellent scholarship on the part of its faculty. The newly revised program in Hispanic Studies aims to prepare students for successful careers as scholars and teachers by providing them with a strong background in Spanish and Spanish American letters and a wide variety of other cultural forms that is supported by a strong critical foundation and informed by an emphasis on interdisciplinarity. The M.A. Reading list can be found here.
The connections of the Department of Hispanic Studies to the university's most prestigious and productive programs paired with an active faculty with wide-ranging interests and theoretical approaches allows us to offer an innovative curriculum and a wide range of courses. The department's strengths are reflected in current courses that approach the culture of the Hispanic world from the viewpoints of cultural and urban studies, border theory, feminist theory, psychoanalysis and post-structuralist poetics, for example. PhD candidates are strongly encouraged to take at least two courses outside of the department in a field of related interest. Many opt to earn a Graduate Certificate in one of the University of Kentucky's renowned interdisciplinary programs, such as Social Theory, Gender and Women's Studies, Latin American Studies, or other Area Studies programs. Students wishing to do an M.A. in dual programs (for example, in Spanish and French, or Spanish and English, are encouraged to apply to both programs).
The life of the Department of Hispanic Studies is full and active. The department regularly funds outside speakers, workshops, symposia and other scholarly activities. We are one of 20 departments at the University to be awarded an Endowed Chair (currently held by Dr. Enrico Santí).
The Department publishes a scholarly journal, Romance Quarterly, and hosts and organizes the Hispanic sessions of the Kentucky Foreign Language Conference, one of the longest-standing language and literature conferences in the U.S. All graduate students are expected to participate in this yearly conference. Our graduates also participate in other national and international conferences. Graduate students who wish to further their level of fluency are encouraged to spend a semester or two during their second or third year of study at the University of Valladolid (Spain), and we are currently working towards building exchange programs with the University of Rio de Janeiro for students wishing to develop a minor field in Luso-Brazilian studies.
The Program in Hispanic Studies at UK is currently ranked among the top 20 state university programs in the field.
Please consult the 2007 Graduate Student Handbook for additional questions.
Financial Support
The Graduate School offers a number of highly competitive non-service fellowships. The Department of Hispanic Studies employs its own graduates as teaching assistants, assigning two courses per semester for a stipend ranging between $12,000 and $14,000. Assistantships are renewable for three years while completing the MA and for five years while completing the PhD. Application for teaching assistantships can be found here. (More information on Graduate School Fellowships).
Admissions
Applications for admission must be completed by January 30. The university Graduate School application can be found here.
Send your completed application form, GRE scores, and college transcripts to the Graduate School. Foreign applicants must also send their TOEFL scores to the Graduate School. A minimum of 550 (218 on the electronic version) on the TOEFL score is required in order to be admitted by the Graduate School.
Send a brief letter stating your interest in the program, a sample of an analytical essay or a research essay written in Spanish, and three letters of reference to:
Haralambos Symeonidis
Director of Graduate Studies
Department of Hispanic Studies
1141 Patterson Office Tower
Lexington, KY 40506-0027
Phone: 859-257-2629
E-mail: haralambos.symeonidis@uky.edu