Obtaining the Ph.D.
in
Romance Languages
and Literatures
Year One
Upon entering, first-year graduate students have as their advisor for one year the Director of Graduate Studies. This means that they discuss their proposed program with the DGS at the beginning of each term and obtain his or her signature where needed. Prior to spring break of the first year, first year students in French, Italian and Portuguese fill out the First Year Review Questionnaire in preparation for the first year exam, indicating courses taken and areas of interest. On that basis, each student will be assigned an interim advisor (both senior and junior faculty members may act as advisors) to help in preparing the first year exam. (For preparation for the Spanish First Year exam, see Procedures for the Spanish A.M. and Ph.D.)
Students ordinarily complete the eight courses needed for the Master’s Degree, as well as the Latin requirement. (See below for exceptions for students in Spanish) *
Some students choose to take Latin at Harvard during the summer. Early in the spring term, the Financial Aid Office and Harvard Summer School offer several tuition scholarships to graduate students for fulfilling such departmental requirements. These are available on a competitive basis. Students may also choose to fulfill the Latin requirement in summer school elsewhere with a course comparable to Harvard’s offering.
Many first-year students take a language course at the undergraduate level, in preparation for fulfilling the requirement of a literature course in a second Romance Language.
In early May of the first year, you are evaluated by faculty members of your section, through formal oral and written review. Those who entered the program with a previous Master’s degree may, at this time, apply for up to four half-courses worth of graduate credit acquired at other institutions.
All first-year students may apply for the Harvard Master’s Degree following their successful exam, provided they have completed their eight courses that year, and the Latin requirement. (Note: Credits from other institutions cannot be counted among the eight courses for the Master’s Degree. However, such credits may count toward the Ph.D.) Passage of the first-year examination and satisfactory completion of these eight courses indicates readiness to continue with the Ph.D. program.
Students who will have completed their AM course work by the end of their first year of studies may apply for the AM degree that June.
* Students of Latin American Literature may elect a language course related to their fields of interest.
Year Two
You now continue with, and usually complete, the second half of the required Ph.D. courses. A minimum of three of these must be at the 200-level. These include the history of your principal language, provided it is offered that year; the third semester of Latin for Medieval and Renaissance scholars; and the literature course in a second Romance language. (Note: readings for this course must be in the language.) Romance Languages 200, altough required, is not among the 16 Ph.D. courses. The exception to this timeline is Romance Languages 200, which is taken in conjunction with the first semester of teaching.
NOTE: Graduate students in Romance Languages and Literatures may commit to writing a maximum of three article-length research papers per semester. Students assigned such papers in 100-level courses should petition for an alternate assignment, such as an exam, a series of smaller papers, etc. Students should consult the Graduate Coordinator regarding administrative procedures for this.
During this time, students are expected to begin thinking ahead to the general exam, which they must complete by the end of their third year of the graduate program, and possible thesis topic. Normally, the interim advisor will continue to act as the student’s advisor until the student chooses a dissertation director.
A student may change advisors at any time after the first year. To do this, the student fills out a Change of Advisor Form (available from the RLL Graduate Coordinator), which is submitted to the Graduate Coordinator. The student must obtain the new advisor's signature before the change is considered official. He or she must also notify the former advisor of the change.
Year Three
Provided you have met your AM requirements, you may begin teaching. One unit of teaching credit is designated as Time T, and equals one half-course. The usual teaching load for a beginning Teaching Fellow is 2/5 of a full-time load, or one half-course. You also take Romance Languages 200, a course on language pedagogy and a requirement for the Ph.D., during your initial semester of teaching.
Your other units, if not in specific courses, are designated as Time R (research) and Time C (independent study or reading for generals). With your advisor’s approval, you may also register for independent reading courses at the 320 level, and are graded SAT/UNSAT.
After two years, your course and residency requirements are behind you provided you have been a full-time students in residence throughout this period. Therefore, you may now choose to travel to teach or conduct research abroad under the auspices of an exchange program or fellowship.
It is expected that you will take the General Exam by early May of the third year.
Note: Students must make up grades of INC in required courses before sitting for general examinations. The Department faculty strongly discourages students from taking an Incomplete in a course. The Department of Romance Languages and Literatures adheres strictly to the policies established by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences regarding unfinished course work.
Year Four
With the general exam successfully completed, you have six months to prepare a dissertation prospectus. During the first month, you are expected to select a thesis advisor and committee. In consultation with them over the following five months, the prospectus is prepared and then formally approved. At this point, your eligibility for research fellowships greatly increases.
Once your prospectus is approved, you must begin submitting chapters yearly. In other words, if your prospectus is approved in November of 2010, you must submit your first chapter by April, 2011.
Years Four and Five
It is very important to note that in your fifth year, financing your graduate studies is in your hands. All students are strongly encouraged to meet with the GSAS Fellowships and Financial Aid Office in advance to plan for their fifth year. Funding is available competitively through fellowships, or through teaching or loans. It is, of course, very much to your advantage to position yourself so that you are eligible for fellowships. This requires considerable planning in the early years of your graduate studies, during which you should complete your course requirements, general exams, and prospectus.
Your advisor is the director of the dissertation and chair of the dissertation committee. You may travel to conduct dissertation research. If you remain in Cambridge, you will be registering for Time T (teaching), Time R (research not related to your dissertation), Time C (course work related to your dissertation) and 330 courses (independent dissertation preparation, under the guidance of your advisor).
You are expected to submit a thesis chapter to your committee at the end of April each year, unless other formal arrangements are made and documented.
Year Six
The Graduate School expects students to obtain the Ph.D. by the end of the sixth year of studies. Thus it is very much to your advantage to take the General Exam as early as possible and prepare the prospectus on time. In following this schedule, you allow yourself two and a half years after approval of the prospectus to earn your degree.
Toward the end of the dissertation preparation, you ordinarily prepare a CV and seriously consider the job market. The department schedules mock interviews for students who are involved in an active search. Other valuable resources are available to assist in job market preparation and searches, at the Office of Career Services and through the Department. You are encouraged to make use of these early on in your graduate years, and to incorporate career preparation into your academics.
Once the dissertation is completed, you must present an oral defense to which all members of the Department are invited, as well as individuals from other departments. This ordinarily takes place during the reading period (early May for June graduates; early January for March graduates; scheduled as convenient for November graduates).
The defense is followed by a question and answer period. Upon completion of a successful thesis defense, the candidate prepares his or her dissertation for final submission to the Registrar.
Beyond Six Years
The Deans of the Graduate School carefully monitor the progress of students in the seventh year of studies and beyond. With the potentially conflicting needs to meet expenses and write the dissertation, students who remain registered may now face difficult demands on their time. If you must register beyond six years, you will be expected to communicate frequently with all of your committee members, establish a firm schedule for completion, and adhere to it.
After Year Seven, dissertation completion funding through GSAS is not guaranteed.
G-10 Enrollment Cap
Students remaining in the program beyond the tenth year must apply through the Dean’s Office for a one-year grace period by demonstrating unusual hardship or extenuating circumstances, and evidence of ongoing academic progress. They will be expected to finish their dissertation during the grace period. Should they fail to do this, they will be withdrawn from the graduate program. A
Last updated on July 21, 2008