G5.3 Course Requirements
The MA course work in Portuguese and Spanish consists of a minimum of 31 credits. Related course work in another department of the University of Wisconsin-Madison can be counted toward the minimum 31-credit requirement if it has been approved by the chair in consultation with the Departmental Committee or the Executive Committee, as appropriate.
The Master’s Degree program in Portuguese and Spanish in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese is based on a series of core courses designed to give the student a broad knowledge of Portuguese, Brazilian and Lusophone African literary currents. Specific course requirements are as follows:
- A one-credit Port 899 independent study must be taken by beginning graduate students during the fall semester of their first year. This independent study will emphasize research methods, bibliography, special problems in dealing with the literature of the various historical periods, the theory and practice of literary criticism, etc.
- All new students are required to take Spanish 770 during the fall semester of their first year.
- Fifteen credits, in the form of 5 three-credit core courses. The following are core courses, designed especially for beginning graduate students:
- Port 411: Portuguese Literature from 1140 to 1825;
- Port 412: Brazilian Literature from 1500 to 1890;
- Port 467: Portuguese Literature since 1825;
- Port 468: Brazilian Literature since 1890;
- Port 451: Lusophone African Literature;
- Port 361: Portuguese Civilization;
- Port 362: Brazilian Civilization;
- Port 330: History of the Portuguese Language
The remaining credits will be electives. Six of these elective credits must be taken as seminars or in Portuguese classes at the 600-level or above, and six must be taken in graduate-level classes taught in Spanish. Port 899 (Independent Study) may only satisfy elective credits. Students are strongly advised not to take a seminar in an area in which they have no previous preparation. Exceptions may be made by consent of instructor.
All MA students are subject to minimum course load requirements as described earlier in this handbook.