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Doctor of Philosophy in Spanish

The faculty of the Department of Spanish trains Ph.D. students to be both language experts and literature scholars, specialists and generalists, teachers and active intellectuals. We see our doctoral students as professors of the future. From the moment they enter the program we encourage them to develop a broad foundation in Hispanic studies, while at the same time enabling an individualized course of learning centered around specific fields of expertise. In addition, Ph.D. students receive training as teachers in our classrooms, as study abroad graduate coordinators, and as research assistants, often working closely with faculty in research projects.

Our students have the unique opportunity to pursue coursework with every member of our graduate faculty. They have the flexibility to design, in consultation with the Graduate Advisor, a personalized program of study incorporating, as they see fit, any combination of courses offered by the Department of Spanish in the diverse areas of Hispanic studies. Faculty areas of expertise include:

Iberian medieval studies
Early modern Spanish literature and social history
The work of Miguel de Cervantes
Colonial Spanish America
Modern and postmodern Peninsular literature and culture
Modern and postmodern Spanish American literature and culture
Caribbean and Central American studies
U.S. Latino literature and culture
Spanish phonetics and phonology
Spanish morphology and syntax
Spanish historical linguistics and dialectology
Contact Spanish and language documentation
Latin American linguistic anthropology
The sociology and pragmatics of Spanish
The acquisition of Spanish as a second language

Intakes

Application Processing Time in Days: 30

Minimum English Language Requirements

English Level Description	IELTS (1.0 -9.0)	TOEFL IBT (0-120)	TOEFL CBT (0-300)	PTE (10-90)
Expert	9	120	297-300	86-90
Very Good	8.5	115-119	280-293	83-86
Very Good	8	110-114	270-280	79-83
Good	7.5	102-109	253-267	73-79
Good	7	94-101	240-253	65-73
Competent	6.5	79-93	213-233	58-65
Competent	6	60-78	170-210	50-58
Modest	5.5	46-59	133-210	43-50
Modest	5	35-45	107-133	36-43
Limited	4	32-34	97-103	30-36
Extremely Limited	< 4	< 31	< 93	< 30

Job Opportunity Potential

Career and student employment services supports students by empowering them to develop the skills necessary for reaching their career goals. Through career advising, and learning about career pathways, WMU students get ready for the world of work or service after graduating.

Specific services and programs include:

Access to Bronco alumni to help answer career questions.
Assistance finding a campus job.
Career coaching to learn about career pathways.
Creating a professional “brand” using social media and technology.
Eight job fairs every year to meet with potential employers.
Getting an internship.
Perfecting resumes, curriculum vitae, cover letters and job applications.
Practice interviewing sessions with professional HR recruiters.

Evaluation training at Western Michigan University is offered at the following levels:

Master's prepares graduates for staff positions in evaluation in diverse settings.
Ph.D. prepares graduates for leadership positions in evaluation in many settings.
Career possibilities

Assessment specialist
Data analyst
Evaluation coordinator
External evaluator
Internal evaluator
Measurement consultant
Monitoring specialist
Policy associate
Program officer
Project manager
Quality assurance manager
Research analyst
Statistical programmer

PSW Opportunity

Post-Study Work visa or permit, allowing international students on F-1 visas to work in the US after completing their studies, typically through Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Eligibility:
To be eligible for OPT, students must have been enrolled full-time in a US educational institution for at least one academic year and be seeking work related to their major.

Duration:
Students can apply for up to 12 months of OPT, either before they finish their studies (pre-completion) or after graduation (post-completion).

STEM OPT:
Students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields can apply for an extended OPT period of up to 24 months.

Contact our PSA counselor for more information

Admission Requirement / Eligibility Criteria

Minimum English proficiency test scores (for most programs):

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): 71 iBT undergraduate, 80 iBT graduate (WMU Institutional Code: 1902)
TOEFL Essential: 7 Undergraduate; 8 Graduate
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic: 6.0 undergraduate, 6.5 graduate
Pearson Test of English, Academic Module (PTE): 48 undergraduate, 54 graduate or
Duolingo: 100 undergraduate, 115 graduate.
International Baccalaureate, grade of 5 in English at the Higher Level.
General Certificate of Education: A grade of A, B, or C in English from one of the five British-based examining boards undergraduate, a grade of A or B in English from one of the five British-based examining boards graduate.
Successful completion of ESL level 112.
Successful completion of either four years of upper secondary school or one year of full-time, tertiary (university-level) education from select countries meets WMU English language proficiency requirements.
Successful completion of a WMU Pathway II or the final level in the WMU Center for English Language and Culture for International Students (CELCIS).
Completion of a WMU degree.
Cambridge Advanced English Certificate: A grade of A, B, or C undergraduate, a grade of A or B graduate.
SAT Evidence-based Reading and Writing Subscore (EBRW): 500 (for most programs).
Michigan English Test (MET): 48 undergraduate, 57 graduate (for most programs).
Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR): B2 undergraduate, C1 graduate (for most programs).

Western Michigan University