Metadata
Title
2026-2027 Course Catalog
Category
graduate
UUID
715e248bdaf34e459f2d4eafa2c5c660
Source URL
https://catalog.illinois.edu/graduate/las/portuguese-ma/
Parent URL
https://catalog.illinois.edu/graduate/
Crawl Time
2026-03-23T13:48:27+00:00
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2026-2027 Course Catalog

Source: https://catalog.illinois.edu/graduate/las/portuguese-ma/ Parent: https://catalog.illinois.edu/graduate/

for the degree of Master of Arts in Portuguese

The Department of Spanish and Portuguese offers work leading to the Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy in Spanish and Portuguese, and to a Concentration in Second Language Acquisition and Teacher Education (SLATE).

Fields of specialization are:

A graduate course in Catalan literature is also available. Additionally, the department is affiliated with the Latina/Latino Studies Program. Students in the area of Latina/Latino studies may be able to work with experts in the other disciplines in Latina/Latino studies such as anthropology, history, political science, sociology, and so forth in order to design and complete a program of studies in a particular area.

We also teach Catalan and Basque.

Admission\ The normal prerequisite for a graduate major is an undergraduate major in the corresponding Romance language or consent of the department. Students doing graduate work for any advanced degree in Spanish or Portuguese must possess a command of the language. Applicants should apply online and submit a personal purpose, an academic statement, three letters of recommendation and a writing sample of approximately 10-20 pages in the form of one or two papers, at least one of which must be written in Spanish or Portuguese (as applicable). Original transcripts (with English translations if applicable) showing all undergraduate and graduate work completed should also be uploaded. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are recommended (although not required) of all domestic applicants and should be submitted to institution code 1836. International applicants who have taken the GRE are encouraged to submit their scores as well. Applicants whose native language is not English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and must score at least 88 on the internet-based test (iBT); they must also pass the speaking sub-section of the iBT with a minimum score of 24. Applications are accepted for fall admission only. Application questions may be directed to SLCL Graduate Student Services.

Centers, Programs, and Institutes\ The option to pursue a concentration in SLATE (Second Language Acquisition and Teacher Education) is available to doctoral students in the department's programs in linguistics. Candidates selecting this option are required to complete courses in linguistics, psycholinguistics/sociolinguistics, second language studies, and research methodology in addition to advanced study in linguistics of the particular language. See information about SLATE.

Graduate Teaching Experience\ Although teaching is not a general Graduate College requirement, this department requires degree candidates to teach as part of their academic work. Such experience is considered a vital part of the graduate program. Non-native English speakers must first pass a test of their oral English ability.

Financial Aid\ The department offers financial aid (in the form of fellowships, teaching assistantships, and research assistantships) to all of the students it admits. Other kinds of fellowships and research support are also available on a competitive basis to qualified candidates; they include dissertation research and travel grants, conference travel grants, and summer fellowships.

for the degree of Master of Arts in Portuguese

The M.A. in Portuguese is administered through the Department of Spanish and Portuguese. Its goal is to provide to provide breadth in the various areas of Luso-Brazilian Studies as well as develop the student's ability to interpret and analyze literature, culture, and history. It requires a minimum of 32 graduate hours. Students must also successfully complete a master’s thesis, developed in consultation with their advisor.

For additional details and requirements refer to the department's guidelines for graduate students and the Graduate College Handbook.

Degree Requirements:

Course List

 | Code | Title | Hours |

| --- | --- | --- | | Coursework in Luso-Brazilian literature/cultural studies selected in consultation with advisor. | | 24 | | PORT 595 | Special Topics Port & Braz Lit | 4 | | PORT 599 | Thesis Research | 4 | | Total Hours | | 32 |

Other Requirements

Grad Other Degree Requirements

Requirement Description
Other requirements may overlap
PORT 571 is required of all teaching assistants 4 hours
Minimum 500-level Hours Required Overall: 12
Minimum GPA: 3.0

for the degree of Master of Arts in Portuguese

  1. Students will possess a breadth of knowledge about social, cultural, and historical issues in Brazil and the Portuguese-speaking world, as well as a depth of knowledge about a cluster of research questions corresponding to students’ individual interests.
  2. Students will develop a familiarity with multiple disciplinary approaches to the study of Brazil specifically and social, cultural, and historical phenomena more generally.
  3. Students will possess the ability to identify research questions, develop a research project, and see that project (MA thesis) to completion through sustained engagement with both existing scholarship and novel research.
  4. Students will acquire the ability to communicate research findings in a variety of academic venues in spoken and written English and Portuguese.
  5. Students will acquire knowledge and experience of teaching methodologies and will be able to teach at the undergraduate level.

Graduate Degree Programs in Spanish & Portuguese

for the degree of Master of Arts in Portuguese

Department of Spanish and Portuguese\ Head of Department: Melissa Bowles\ Director of Graduate Studies: Jonathan E. MacDonald\ Department of Spanish and Portuguese website\ 4080 Foreign Languages Building, 707 South Mathews, Urbana, IL 61801\ (217) 244-3250\ Spanish and Portuguese email

College of Liberal Arts & Sciences\ College of Liberal Arts & Sciences website

Admissions\ Graduate College Admissions & Requirements