Doctorate in Philosophy in Spanish

The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures offers the degrees of Master of Arts (MA) and Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in Spanish.

The objective of the program is to provide advanced training in the literatures and cultures of Spain and Latin America, as well as in Hispanic linguistics, benefiting from the theoretical and comparative research interests of the professors of the department.

For more information, visit the website of the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures.

The Department participates in a collaborative program in Medieval and Renaissance Studies at the MA level and in a collaborative program in Canadian Studies at the PhD level.

The programs are governed by the general regulations in effect for graduate studies.

For the most accurate and up to date information on application deadlines, language tests and other admission requirements, please visit the specific requirements webpage.

For admission, candidates must have a Bachelor's in Spanish, or equivalent, with a minimum score of 75% ( B+ ) . All Candidates must submit a description summary of their research project with information about their interest, also they need to submit a sample of the written work with Bachelor's level, when it is possible, All candidates should meet one or two members of Program professors.

Language Requirements

In addition to an excellent knowledge of Spanish, all students must meet one of the following requirements:

Proficiency in English with a good passive knowledge of French.
OR
Proficiency in French with a good passive knowledge of English.

Moreover, students need a passive knowledge of any other languages necessary for completion of their thesis research.

Transfer from Master’s to PhD

Students enrolled in the Master of Arts in Spanish at the University of Ottawa who have obtained excellent results may, exceptionally, be admitted into the doctoral program without having completed a master's thesis. To take advantage of this option, they must:

Obtain an average of at least 80 per cent (A-) in the five courses of the master's with thesis option.
AND
Obtain the approval of the graduate studies committee. Similar arrangements may be made for students enrolled in a master of arts in Spanish at another university.

The transfer must take place within sixteen months of initial enrollment in the master's. Following the transfer, all the requirements of the doctoral program must be met.

Requirements for this program have been modified. Please consult the 2021-2022 calendars for the previous requirements.

Students must complete five 3-unit courses as follows:

One of these courses must be ESP 5963 (or equivalent course determined by the Graduate Studies Committee).
Since ESP 5963 is also compulsory in the MA program, students who have completed their MA in Spanish at the University of Ottawa, or at another institution where they passed an equivalent course, will be required to replace ESP 5963 with another graduate course in order to complete the five courses while in the PhD program. ¹

Courses must be selected from each of the following list:

Course List
Code	Title	Units
Compulsory courses
ESP 5963	Teaching Spanish language and Hispanic cultures	3 Units
Optional courses
12 course units from the list of optional courses		12 Units

Note(s)

¹: Additional courses may be required, depending on the student’s background and preparation.

Liste des cours optionnels

Course List
Code	Title	Units
ESP 5301	Special Topics in Hispanic Literary Studies	3 Units
ESP 5912	Aspects of Spanish Literature I	3 Units
ESP 5914	Aspects of Spanish Literature II	3 Units
ESP 5918	Aspects of Spanish Literature III	3 Units
ESP 5920	Aspects of Spanish Literature IV	3 Units
ESP 5922	Aspects of Spanish-American Literature I	3 Units
ESP 5924	Aspects of Spanish-American Literature II	3 Units
ESP 5930	Aspects of Spanish American Literature III	3 Units
ESP 5932	Aspects of Spanish-American Literature IV	3 Units
ESP 5934	Aspects of Hispanic Literature I	3 Units
ESP 5947	Aspects of Hispanic Linguistic I	3 Units
ESP 5948	Aspects of Hispanic Linguistics II	3 Units
ESP 5949	Aspects of Hispanic Linguistics III	3 Units
ESP 5950	Aspects of Hispanic Linguistics IV	3 Units
ESP 5957	Aspects of the Theory of Literature I	3 Units
ESP 7901	Aspects of Spanish Literature V	3 Units
ESP 7902	Aspects of Hispanic Literature II	3 Units
ESP 7903	Aspects of Spanish-American Literature V	3 Units
ESP 7905	Aspects of Hispanic Linguistics	3 Units
ESP 7916	Research Seminar in Hispanic Linguistics	3 Units
LIN 5303	Sociolinguistics I	3 Units
LIN 5315	Phonology I	3 Units
LIN 5317	Syntax I	3 Units
LIN 5318	Semantics I	3 Units
LIN 7320	Second Language Acquisition I	3 Units
Total:		75 Units

Comprehensive Examination

The comprehensive examination (ESP 9998) includes a written and an oral component, must be completed within 18 months of initial enrollment in the program. Its purpose is to test the candidates’ mastery of their field as well as their knowledge of their research topic.

PhD Thesis

Students must complete the PhD Thesis (THD 9999). Upon admission, students will be assigned a professor in their area of interest who will act as their academic advisor and will normally become their thesis director. The thesis topic will be determined by the student in consultation with the thesis director and will be related to the latter’s area of expertise. Shortly after successfully completing the comprehensive examination, the student must submit a thesis project for the approval of the thesis committee.

Duration of Program

Students are expected to complete all requirements within four years. The maximum time permitted is six years from the date of initial enrollment in the program.

Minimum Standards

The passing grade in all courses is C+. Students who fail two courses (equivalent to 6 units), the thesis proposal, or whose research progress is deemed unsatisfactory are required to withdraw.

Thesis Advisory Committee

During the first terms of the program, a thesis advisory committee (TAC) is formed for the candidate. The Committee’s membership will be determined by the specific interests of the candidate. It will be composed of the supervisor and 2-3 additional professors. At least one member of the thesis committee, in addition to the supervisor, must be form the Faculty of Arts. The TAC is responsible for guiding the student throughout the program, including course selection, the comprehensive examination, thesis proposal, and thesis defense.

A meeting between the student and the Thesis Advisory Committee will take place at least once per term. The thesis examining board may include members who are not part of the TAC.

Research at the University of Ottawa

Located in the heart of Canada’s capital, a few steps away from Parliament Hill, the University of Ottawa ranks among Canada’s top 10 research universities. Our research is founded on excellence, relevance and impact and is conducted in a spirit of equity, diversity and inclusion.

Our research community thrives in four strategic areas:

Creating a sustainable environment
Advancing just societies
Shaping the digital world
Enabling lifelong health and wellness

From advancing healthcare solutions to tackling global challenges like climate change, the University of Ottawa’s researchers are at the forefront of innovation, making significant contributions to society and beyond.

Research at the Faculty of Arts

The Faculty of Arts is proud of the state of the art research conducted by its professors. In the spirit of showcasing its research to the university community as well as to the general public, the Faculty has created three activities: Dean's Lecture Series, Treasures of the Library, and Excellence Lectures.

Facilities, Research Centres and Institutes at the Faculty of Arts

For more information, refer to the list of faculty members and their research fields on Uniweb.

Courses offered in a given year are listed in the Student Handbook (available at the Department). All courses listed, with the exception of ESP 7997, THM 7999, ESP 9998 and THD 9999, are worth three units. They normally require 30 hours of class time and last one term.

ESP 5301 Special Topics in Hispanic Literary Studies (3 units)

Topic and methodology will vary from year to year. Course may be repeated if theme is different.

Course Component: Seminar

ESP 5311 Special Topics in Hispanic Linguistics (3 units)

Topic and methodology will vary from year to year. Course may be repeated if theme is different.

Course Component: Seminar

ESP 5701 Thèmes spéciaux en Études littéraires hispaniques (3 crédits)

Les thèmes peuvent varier d'une année à l'autre. Le cours peut être répété si le thème est différent

Volet : Séminaire

ESP 5711 Thèmes spéciaux en Études linguistiques hispaniques (3 crédits)

Les thèmes peuvent varier d'une année à l'autre. Le cours peut être répété si le thème est différent.

Volet : Séminaire

ESP 5912 Aspects of Spanish Literature I / Aspects of Spanish Literature I (3 crédits / 3 units)

Concentration sur des aspects sélectionnés dans des domaines spécifiques. Travaux écrits. / Focus on selected aspects in specific areas. Written assignments.