Texas Tech University
Texas Tech student engaged is an presentation from a professor

Graduate DegreeSpanish, Ph.D.

Apply Now
In This Section

Texas Tech University's Ph.D. programs in Spanish offer advanced study in Literary and Cultural Studies and Linguistics, providing students with the opportunity to pursue original research, develop specialized expertise, and engage with contemporary scholarly conversations. Through close faculty mentorship, professional development, and interdisciplinary collaboration, doctoral candidates gain the knowledge and experience needed to contribute to their fields and thrive in academic and professional settings. 

Tracks

Ph.D. in Spanish, Literary and Cultural Studies

The Literary and Cultural Studies track focuses on the production, distribution, and reception of written and visual cultural texts with an emphasis on critical theory and pedagogy. The Ph.D. program encompasses a range of theoretical frameworks and perspectives that reflect the research expertise of our professionally active faculty. As a community of engaged scholars, we are committed to providing our graduate students with opportunities for intellectual growth, critical and analytical skill-building, a solid theoretical foundation, and the professional preparation needed for careers in and outside of academia.

All prospective Ph.D. candidates must hold an M.A. or an equivalent degree in Spanish, Hispanic Studies, or similar. Admission to the Ph.D. program in Spanish at Texas Tech is selective, and all applicants are required to follow the same procedures.

Candidates for the Ph.D. in Spanish must complete at least 60 hours of graduate coursework and pass the Ph.D. examination. Students must also meet a third language requirement (other than Spanish or English). Students who have obtained a Romance Languages M.A. in Spanish at Texas Tech may count all hours earned at the M.A. level with a B or better towards the Ph.D. coursework. Hours earned at the M.A. level from a previous institution are applicable and graduate students may transfer up to 12 hours of credit at the discretion of the Director of Graduate Studies.

Ph.D. in Spanish, Linguistics

Candidates for the Ph.D. in Spanish (Linguistics track) must complete approximately 60 hours of coursework. Hours earned at the M.A. level are applicable and graduate students may transfer 12 credits maximum. They will also need attend two professionalization workshops offered by either the Graduate School or the TLPDC per semester.

Hispanic Linguistics Track (60 hours)

1. Required Courses: 6-9 Hours (for new students coming from a different institution)

Spanish

  • SPAN 5340: Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics
  • SPAN 5343: Introduction to Second Language Acquisition

Linguistics (required for TAs and GPTIs but encouraged for all others)

  • LING 5322-004: Theoretical and Research Foundations of Language Teaching (Fall)

2. Core Courses: at least 45 hours must come from the core courses designated as Hispanic Linguistics and/or Second Language Acquisition sections.

Students are required to take at least three or four courses in Hispanic Linguistics, three or four courses in Acquisition of Spanish as a Second Language, two courses in Research Data Analysis (quantitative and qualitative), a course in translation, and at least a course from Spanish Literature or Cultural Studies. Comparable coursework from other institutions will be evaluated.

3. Hispanic Literature/Cultural Studies

When content varies, courses may be repeated for credit. SPAN 5355: Seminar in Hispanic Literature may be taken up to three times.

4. Minor

A minor at the Ph.D. level for candidates in Spanish Linguistics is required in the department's program in Applied Linguistics (LING). The minor is 18 credits.

5. Exam Overview

The doctoral comprehensive exam provides the student with the opportunity to demonstrate and integrate comprehensive knowledge of chosen fields of specialization (the minor can be an area in the dissertation), as well as to demonstrate their preparedness to enter candidacy and begin the process of researching and writing the dissertation. The exam must be taken within one calendar year after the completion of all requirements of the degree plan or during the final semester of course work. Students will not be able to register for more than 12 hours of SPAN 8000 before taking the exam. Exams must be scheduled to take place during a period when the student is enrolled.

6. Dissertation: 12 Hours Minimum

These hours do not count towards the 60 required hours. Please, note that ABDs need to be enrolled during the summer (at least in a one-credit-hour course).

7. Dissertation Defense

The dissertation committee is made up of at least three faculty members who will advise the student during the process, read the dissertation during its various stages and vote during the final examination of the dissertation. In CMLL, a student's dissertation committee is often the same as the committee that was chosen for the comprehensive exams at the doctoral level. However, a student, in consultation with the dissertation director and the graduate advisor, may choose to make a change in the constitution of the committee between the exams and the writing of the dissertation. Such a change may occur when a student wants to add a faculty member to the dissertation for a particular area of expertise related to the dissertation topic, for example. It is not required that the faculty member representing the minor be a member of the dissertation committee.

TTU Graduate School requirements regarding the Doctoral exams and dissertation defense can be located on their website. Dissertation defenses are described in the university catalog as the "Final Examination:"

A final public oral examination, usually over the general field of the dissertation, is required of every candidate for the doctorate and must be held when school is in session. The oral examination must be scheduled by the student and the advisory committee after the committee has read the completed dissertation and prior to the defense deadline during the semester of graduation. Students should present their dissertation to all committee members at least three weeks before the defense date. In addition, the Graduate School requires three weeks notification prior to the oral examination. The required Defense Notification Form noting the time, place, and other information concerning the examination is available here.

Please remember that:

  • The student must be enrolled in the semester of graduation
  • The student must file a doctoral intent form with official title of dissertation listed
  • The student must schedule the final oral defense of dissertation and submit "doctoral final oral examination notification form" at least three weeks before the defense
  • The student's oral defense of the dissertation can only be scheduled once the committee has read the completed dissertation
  • The student's oral defense of the dissertation is a public, formal event that is announced in the department

Program Requirements

Candidates for the Ph.D. in Spanish must complete at least 60 hours of graduate coursework and pass the Ph.D. examination.

A list of recent graduate courses can be found in Course Offerings. Required courses: SPAN 5352: Methods of Literary Criticism; LING 5322: Theoretical and Research Foundations of Second Language Teaching; SPAN 53XX: One additional linguistics course.

Ph.D. students must also demonstrate reading knowledge of one language other than English and Spanish. This requirement can be met by passing with a grade of C or above in two graduate language courses in the target language, or by passing a reading proficiency examination.

Ph.D. Exams

The doctoral exams provide the student with the opportunity to demonstrate and integrate comprehensive knowledge of chosen fields of specialization, as well as to demonstrate his/her preparedness to enter candidacy and begin the process of writing the dissertation. The written exams for the Ph.D. in Spanish consist of a portfolio that demonstrates the development of their work thus far in the program. Under the guidance of their advisor and dissertation committee, students must submit the completed portfolio by the middle of the 5th semester.

Contents of the Portfolio: Article, in publishable format; Literature review of complementary field or second academic article; Course proposal; Teaching statement. There will be an oral portfolio defense immediately after the submission, thus still during the 5th semester.

Advancement to PhD Candidacy

After passing the oral portfolio defense, students will be advanced to Ph.D. candidacy. If students fail to submit a complete and satisfactory portfolio and/or fail the oral portfolio defense, they can resubmit their portfolio once, in the following semester, and defend it. After a second failure, students have failed the qualifying exam and will be dismissed from the program.

Dissertation Proposal

During their 6th semester, after passing the qualifying exam, Ph.D. students must submit their dissertation proposal to their dissertation committee. Students must defend their dissertation proposal to their dissertation committee in the semester following the passing of the Ph.D. exam, ideally in the 6th semester. The goal of the oral defense is to determine if the student is prepared to write their dissertation.

Who To Contact

Ph.D. in Spanish, Literary and Cultural Studies

Ph.D. in Spanish, Linguistics

Quick Links

Classical & Modern Languages & Literatures

© 2026  Texas Tech University Sep 12, 2026 12:08 AM