Romance Studies

Chair Christopher Maurer

Director of Graduate Studies Pedro Lasarte

The following list reflects the 2007/2008 faculty.

Faculty

Jonathan Barnes Assistant Professor of Linguistics, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, Columbia University; MA, MA, PhD, University of California, Berkeley

Alicia Borinsky Professor of Spanish, College of Arts & Sciences. MA, PhD, University of Pittsburgh

Odile Cazenave Associate Professor of French, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, MA, University of Strasbourg; MA, PhD, Pennsylvania State University

Dennis J. Costa Associate Professor of Italian, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, Fordham University; MA, Cornell University; MPhil, PhD, Yale University

Elizabeth Goldsmith Professor of French, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, University of New Hampshire; MA, PhD, Cornell University

Paul Hagstrom Associate Professor of Linguistics, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, Carleton College; PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Nancy Harrowitz Associate Professor of Italian, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, University of Oregon; MA, Case Western Reserve University; MPhil, PhD, Yale University

James Iffland Professor of Spanish, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, Vanderbilt University; PhD, Brown University

Susan Jackson Associate Dean and Associate Professor of French, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, Wellesley College; MA, Middlebury College; PhD, Ohio State University

Dorothy Kelly Professor of French, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, Smith College; MA, PhD,  Yale University

Irit Kleiman Assistant Professor of French, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, University of Michigan; MA, PhD, Harvard University

T. Jefferson Kline Professor of French, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, Oberlin College; MA, PhD, Columbia University

Pedro Lasarte Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Romance Studies; Associate Professor of Spanish, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, MA, University of Texas; PhD, University of Michigan

Christopher Maurer Chair, Department of Romance Studies; Professor of Spanish, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, Columbia University; MA, PhD, University of Pennsylvania

Alberto Medina Assistant Professor of Spanish, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, Universidad de Salamanca; MA, University of Southern California; PhD, New York University

Jeffrey Mehlman University Professor; Professor of French, College of Arts & Sciences. AB, Harvard University; PhD, Yale University

Carol Neidle Professor of French and Linguistics, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, Yale University; MA, Middlebury College; PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Adela Pineda Associate Professor of Spanish, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, Universidad de las Américas, Puebla, Mexico; MA, PhD, University of Texas at Austin

Alan Smith Professor of Spanish, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, University of Maryland; AM, PhD, Harvard University

Rosanna Warren University Professor; Professor of French and English, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, Yale University; MA, Johns Hopkins University

Youri Zabbal Visiting Assistant Professor of Linguistics, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, BSc, University of Toronto; MA, University of Calgary; PhD, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Irene Zaderenko Associate Professor of Spanish, College of Arts & Sciences. MA, Universidad de Buenos Aires (Argentina); MPhil, PhD, City University of New York

Emeriti

Rodolfo Cardona University Professor Emeritus and Professor of Spanish, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, MA, Louisiana State University; PhD, University of Washington

Gerald P. Fitzgerald University Professor Emeritus and Professor Emeritus of English and Italian, College of Arts & Sciences. AB, AM, PhD, Harvard University

Nicholas P. Kostis Professor Emeritus of French, College of Arts & Sciences. AB, Bowdoin College; MA, PhD, Columbia University

Yvette Sendker Professor Emerita of French, College of Arts & Sciences. Bacc. de l’Enseign. Sec., Université Paris (France)

Warren Wilder Professor Emeritus of Romance Languages, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, MA, PhD, Boston University

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Affiliated Faculty in the Department of Modern Languages and Comparative Literature

Sarah Frederick Associate Professor of Japanese, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, Harvard University; PhD, University of Chicago

Abigail Gillman Assistant Professor of German and Hebrew, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, Yale; PhD, Harvard University

Irena Gross Professor of Modern Languages, College of Arts & Sciences, Director of the Institute for Human Sciences. MA, MPhil, PhD, Columbia University

Roberta Micallef Assistant Professor of Turkish, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, Oberlin College; MA, PhD, University of Texas, Austin

Shakir Mustafa Assistant Professor of Arabic, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, MA, Baghdad University; PhD, Indiana University

Katherine T. O’Connor Director of the Humanities Foundation; Professor of Russian, College of Arts & Sciences. AB, Bryn Mawr College; AM, PhD, Harvard University

Robert E. Richardson Associate Professor of Russian, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, Oakland University; AM, PhD, Harvard University

Peter Schwartz Assistant Professor of German, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, Harvard College; MA, PhD, Columbia University

Sunil Sharma Senior Lecturer in Persian, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, MA, New York University; PhD, University of Chicago

J. Keith Vincent Assistant Professor of Japanese, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, University of Kansas; MA, PhD, Columbia University

William Waters Chair, Department of Modern Languages & Comparative Literature; Associate Professor of German, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, Harvard University; MA, PhD, University of California, Berkeley

Catherine Yeh Associate Professor of Chinese, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, University of California, Santa Cruz; MA, PhD, Harvard University

Affiliated Emeriti

Paul Kurt Ackermann Professor Emeritus of German, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, Colgate University; MA, Columbia University; PhD, Harvard University

George W. Kreye Professor Emeritus of German, College of Arts & Sciences. AB, AM, University of Michigan; PhD, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (Germany)

Bodo Reichenbach Professor Emeritus of German, College of Arts & Sciences. BA, University of  Toronto (Canada); MA, PhD, Harvard University

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The Graduate Program

The Department of Romance Studies offers programs leading to the degrees of Master of Arts (MA) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in French Language & Literature and in Hispanic Language & Literatures. Although some courses are offered in German, Italian, and linguistics at the graduate level, no graduate degree programs exist in these fields. Comparative perspectives and interest in critical theory are supported by the structure of the department and by its relationship with the Department of Modern Languages & Comparative Literature. Graduate students may combine teaching with study in order to develop a strong grasp of a range of professional skills. A number of teaching fellowships are offered to qualified applicants. Applicants are also eligible for Presidential Fellowships offered by the Graduate School. Applications are considered for admission in January, as well as in September of each year. Further information is available from the Department of Romance Studies, 718 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, 617-353-2641.

Orientation for Teaching Fellows Students appointed as teaching fellows are required to participate in an orientation program on teaching given before the beginning of the academic year. Teaching fellows must also register for GRS LL 699.

Internship Requirement for the French and Spanish MA and PhD Programs The Department of Romance Studies recognizes the importance of practical training in those professional areas toward which its graduate academic curricula are aimed. Graduate students are, therefore, required, as an essential component of their academic preparation, to complete a practical training internship during the time of their enrollment in the program. Such training must provide students with experience (research, training, or other professional work) in an area that is relevant to progress in some aspect of their graduate program. A student may complete more than one practical training internship.

The requirement may be satisfied in a wide variety of settings and roles, including, but not limited to, teaching or tutoring language learners, conducting supervised research, acting as an instructor or teaching assistant in language or literature classes, designing or publishing language teaching or learning materials (paper or electronic), or other activities, as jointly decided by the student and his or her academic advisor. Research that is carried out for credit will not count toward the internship.

The internship may be paid or voluntary. Its duration will be negotiated among the student, advisor, and, where relevant, on-site supervisor. A written description of the proposed internship must be signed by the academic advisor and submitted to the Director of Graduate Studies. Upon completion of the internship, students give a brief, written report of the work accomplished to their advisor for his/her signature; the advisor passes this report to the Director of Graduate Studies, who appends it to the initial proposal as a standing record. The Director of Graduate Studies will then file an Exam Report with the Graduate School recording that the internship requirement has been fulfilled.

International students must register for the spring or fall semester while doing practical training internships. Summer registration is not required if the student will continue to register for the following fall semester. Having first acquired the approval of their internship from the departmental Director of Graduate Studies, international students who seek off-campus employment to fulfill their internship requirements must also obtain written authorization from the ISSO. Please contact the ISSO for additional information.

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MA in French Language and Literature

The program develops (1) an advanced general knowledge of the history of French literature; (2) a knowledge of selected specialized areas within the field; and (3) a knowledge of the traditions, aims, and methods of research scholarship.

Admissions Prerequisites Applicants should send an academic paper of not more than ten pages, written in French, with the application. Applicants must submit results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test; they should hold a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in French language and literature. Degree candidates are expected to possess a reasonably sound command of written and spoken French. In cases of serious deficiencies, students may be required to take additional courses in language without receiving degree credit. The candidate should include a summary page of all courses and grades taken in the field of French Literature to accompany transcripts.

Course Requirements A minimum of eight semester courses (32 credits) at the 500 level or above, including one seminar each semester. In electing courses, students should bear in mind the aims of the degree program expressed in the description of the comprehensive examination (see below). A maximum of two semester courses (8 credits) in a related field may be taken with the advisor’s approval.

Language Requirement None, other than the proficiency requirement in French stated above in the section on “Admissions Tests and Prerequisites.”

Comprehensive Examination Candidates qualify for the MA degree by passing a written comprehensive examination based on the departmental reading list. The contents and times of these examinations are described fully on the application form for admission to the examination, which is distributed, along with the reading list, at the beginning of the first year of registration.

Advising The program allows the student maximum liberty in the selection of courses while providing safeguards to ensure maximum intellectual growth. An advisor is assigned to each student; together, they share responsibility for the development of an academically sound program. Therefore, the student should consult with the advisor about all aspects of the academic experience.

PhD in French Language & Literature

The doctoral program provides a thorough professional preparation in the selected field of study through the acquisition of (1) skill in the use and critical evaluation of research materials; (2) a thorough knowledge of a specialized area; and (3) experience in the interpretation and communication of acquired knowledge and the results of original research.

Admissions Prerequisites The candidate must have an MA degree or the equivalent in French and must submit results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test. The candidate should include a summary page of all courses and grades taken in the field of French Literature to accompany transcripts.

Course Requirements A minimum total of eight semester courses (32 credits) is required. At least three courses or seminars in the area of specialization are elected; this requirement may be satisfied in part through directed study. The area of specialization is chosen at the beginning of doctoral study. It may focus upon a specific genre within a literature, the literature of a period, a genre within a period, or a problematical aspect of literature.

Language Requirement Students must demonstrate a reading knowledge of at least one language in addition to French that will be useful in their research work. In some areas of specialization two or more languages may be required in order to ensure competence in continuing research and learning.

Qualifying Examination Qualification for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy is achieved as follows: (1) students who have not earned the Master of Arts degree in French at Boston University must take a written examination of the General Reading List by December of their second year of coursework if such an exam was not required for the Master of Arts elsewhere; (2) students must write substantial (25–40 pages) research papers on two significantly different topics in French literature, approved by the advisor and the director of graduate studies. One of the papers must be written in French. An oral examination based on these papers takes place not later than the end of the first semester of the third year of the PhD program.

Residency Requirement Candidates must spend at least one academic year in residence as full-time students at the doctoral level before presenting themselves for qualifying examinations. (See General Requirements for the PhD on this site.)

Dissertation Prospectus A detailed outline of the dissertation must be submitted to the department.

Dissertation See General Requirements for the PhD on this site.

Advising An advisor is assigned to each student.

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French Language and Literature Courses

CAS LF 500 Phonetics and Diction

CAS LF 502 The Structure of French: Syntax

CAS LF 503 The Structure of French: Phonology

CAS LF 550 Studies in Eighteenth-Century French Literature: Diderot and the Enlightenment

CAS LF 551 Modern French Theatre

CAS LF 552 French Romanticism

CAS LF 553 Molière

CAS LF 554 Émile Zola and Naturalism

CAS LF 555 The Epistolary Novel

CAS LF 556 French Cinema and Literature

CAS LF 558 Colonial Fictions: Modern French Writing and the Colonies

CAS LF 560 Seventeenth-Century Prose

CAS LF 561 Proust

CAS LF 563 French Tragedy of the Seventeenth Century

CAS LF 564 Medieval Lyric and Courtly Romance

CAS LF 565 Medieval Courtly Literature

CAS LF 569 Topics in Francophone Literature.

CAS LF 570 Masters of Twentieth-Century French Poetry

CAS LF 571 Topics in Twentieth-Century French Literature

CAS LF 574 Early French Renaissance

CAS LF 575 Later French Renaissance

Not offered 2008/2009

Seminars

Consent of instructor required.

GRS LF 860 Seminar: Literature and Psychoanalysis

GRS LF 951, 952 Directed Study: French Language and Literature

Hours arranged. Consent of instructor and department. Variable cr, 1st & 2nd sem.

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MA in Hispanic Language & Literatures

The program develops an advanced knowledge of Spanish literature from its beginnings, of Spanish-American literature, and of the traditions, aims, and methods of research scholarship.

Admissions Prerequisites Applicants should send an academic paper of not more than fifteen pages, written in Spanish, with the application. Applicants should hold a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in Spanish language and literature; they must submit results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test. The candidate should include a summary page of all courses and grades taken in the field of Hispanic Literature to accompany transcripts.

Course Requirements A minimum of eight semester courses (32 credits) including: (1) CAS LS 504 History of the Spanish Language; (2) CAS LS 570 Don Quixote; (3) a course in medieval or Golden Age Spanish literature; (4) a course in Peninsular literature since 1700; (5) a course in Spanish-American literature; (6) two seminar courses; and (7) elective(s). The courses in the history of the Spanish language and Don Quixote may be waived and replaced with other graduate-level courses in the field if the student has completed equivalent courses as an undergraduate concentrator. The seminar courses may also serve to satisfy requirements in areas (3), (4), or (5). No transfer of credit normally shall be granted toward the fulfillment of the eight semester courses required for the degree.

Language Requirement See the above section on “Admissions Prerequisites.”

Departmental Review A review of the student’s program and progress is conducted by the faculty in lieu of a comprehensive examination.

Advising An advisor is assigned to each student; the advisor and student share responsibility for the development of an academically sound program. Therefore, the student should consult with the advisor about all aspects of the academic experience.

PhD in Hispanic Language & Literatures

The doctoral program provides a thorough professional preparation in the selected field of study through the acquisition of (1) skill in the use and critical evaluation of research materials; (2) a thorough knowledge of a specialized area; and (3) experience in the interpretation and communication of acquired knowledge and the results of original research.

Admissions Prerequisites Applicants should send an academic paper of not more than fifteen pages, written in Spanish, with the application. Applicants must have an MA degree or the equivalent in Spanish and must submit results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test. The candidate should include a summary page of all courses and grades taken in the field of Hispanic Literature to accompany transcripts.

Course Requirements A minimum total of eight semester courses (32 credits) is required. At least three courses or seminars in the area of specialization are to be elected; this requirement may be satisfied in part through directed study. The area of specialization is chosen at the beginning of doctoral study. It may focus upon a specific genre within a literature, the literature of a period, a genre within a period, or a problematical aspect of literature.

Language Requirement Students must demonstrate a reading knowledge of at least one language in addition to Spanish that will be useful in their research work. In some areas of specialization two or more languages may be required in order to ensure competence in continuing research and learning.

Qualifying Examination Qualification for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy is achieved by successful completion of the following: (1) a written examination on the history of the language (or successful completion of an equivalent course); (2) written examinations on four literary periods; and (3) an oral examination based on a substantial essay (25–35 pages) centering on the area of the dissertation.

Residency Requirement Candidates must spend at least one academic year in residence as full-time students at the doctoral level before presenting themselves for qualifying examinations. (See General Requirements for the PhD in this bulletin.)

Dissertation Prospectus A detailed outline of the dissertation must be submitted to the department.

Dissertation See General Requirements for the PhD in this bulletin.

Advising An advisor is assigned to each student.

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Hispanic Language and Literatures Courses

CAS LS 504 History of the Spanish Language

CAS LS 551 Galdós

CAS LS 552 Lorca and His Contemporaries

CAS LS 553 Prose Fiction of the Spanish Golden Age

CAS LS 554 Jorge Luis Borges

CAS LS 555 Modern Spanish-American Literature

CAS LS 556 Contemporary Spanish-American Novel

CAS LS 557 Poetry of the Spanish Golden Age

CAS LS 558 Contemporary Spanish-American Poetry

CAS LS 559 The Spanish Civil War in Literature

CAS LS 560 Los Novecentistas

CAS LS 561 The Generation of 1898

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CAS LS 562 Colonial Spanish-American Literature

CAS LS 563 Spanish Theatre Since 1868

CAS LS 564 Spanish Realism

CAS LS 565 The Spanish Picaresque Novel

CAS LS 566 Spanish Romanticism

CAS LS 567 Spanish Poetry of the Middle Ages

CAS LS 568 Prose Fiction of the Spanish Middle Ages

CAS LS 569 Nineteenth-Century Spanish-American Literature

CAS LS 570 Don Quixote

CAS LS 571 Sentimental Romance

CAS LS 572 The Spanish-American Colonial Experience: Early Texts, New Interpretations

CAS LS 573 Spanish-American Literary Modernismo and Modernization

CAS LS 574 Literature and Politics in Post-Franco Spain (1975–2000)

CAS LS 575 Topics in Peninsular Literature

CAS LS 576 Topics in Spanish-American Literature

CAS LS 577 Topics in Hispanic Thought and Criticism

CAS LS 578 Spanish Drama of the Golden Age

CAS LS 579 Topics in Hispanic Film

GRS LS 850 A1–Francisco de Quevedo within the Spanish Baroque

GRS LS 850 B1–Secrets and Lies in Contemporary Hispanic Culture and Literature

GRS LS 851 Writing in the Americas I

GRS LS 852 Writing in the Americas II

GRS LS 951, 952 Directed Study in Hispanic Language and Literature

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Italian

CAS LI 551 Narrative Poetry of the Renaissance

CAS LI 553 Petrarch and the Tradition of Love Poetry

CAS LI 555 Dante: The Divine Comedy

CAS LI 556 Dante: The Divine Comedy II

CAS LI 590 Topics in Modern Italian Literature and Criticism

GRS LI 951, 952 Directed Study in Italian Language and Literature

Linguistics

Linguistics courses are also described in the “Applied Linguistics” section of the bulletin.

CAS LX 500 Topics in Linguistics

CAS LX 501 Linguistic Field Methods

CAS LX 502 Semantics

CAS LX 503 Semantics II

CAS LX 504 Topics in Pragmatics

CAS LX 505 Structure of African Language

CAS LX 510 Phonetics

CAS LX 513 Phonology

CAS LX 521 Morphology

CAS LX 522 Syntax I

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CAS LX 523 Syntax II

CAS LX 533 The Structure of Creole Languages

CAS LX 535 Historical and Comparative Linguistics

GRS LX 700 Language Acquisition and Linguistic Theory

GRS LX 801/802 Seminar in Applied Linguistic Research

GRS LX 865 Advanced Topics in Linguistics

GRS LX 951, 952 Directed Study: Linguistics

Methodology

GRS LL 699 Teaching College Languages I

Reading Courses in French, German, Italian, and Spanish

GRS LF 621 Reading French for Graduate Students

GRS LG 621 Reading German for Graduate Students

GRS LI 621 Reading Italian for Graduate Students

GRS LS 621 Reading Spanish for Graduate Students

GRS LP 621 Reading Portuguese for Graduate Students

Related Courses in the Department of Modern Languages & Comparative Literature

Department of Modern Languages & Comparative Literature faculty offer a range of courses and directed study options focusing on the literatures of the German-speaking world, Russia, the Middle East, and Asia. These courses are open to graduate students in Romance Studies and other departments. A more comprehensive program of Comparative Literature courses for graduate students is currently under development.

GRS LC 951, 952 Directed Study in Chinese

GRS LG 951, 952 Directed Study in German

GRS LH 951, 952 Directed Study in Hebrew

GRS LJ 951, 952 Directed Study in Japanese

GRS LR 951, 952 Directed Study in Russian

GRS LT 951, 952 Directed Study in Turkish

GRS LY 781 Contemporary Arab Cultures: Subversion, Censorship, Exile (in English translation)

GRS LY 782 Qur’anic Negotiations: Contemporary Muslim Writers and the Holy Book

GRS LY 951, 952 Directed Study in Arabic

CAS XL 540 Theory of the Novel

CAS XL 560 Topics in Bible and Literature

GRS XL 792 Introduction to Literary Study

GRS XL 951, 952 Directed Study

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Published by Trustees of Boston University
One Silber Way
Boston, MA 02215

19 December 2008
Boston University
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