The Ph.D. program in Hispanic Languages and Literature at UCLA offers an exciting combination of research, writing, teaching, and public-facing humanities. The department supports a range of critical and theoretical approaches and encourages interdisciplinary work that takes advantage of UCLA's many strengths. In the Latin American-Iberian and Afro-Luso-Brazilian tracks, students take a variety of courses in literature, culture, film, and theory, balancing a broad understanding of the cultural field with their chosen specialization as they develop their research agendas. In Spanish and Portuguese Linguistics, students explore theoretical fieldsincluding phonetics, phonology, syntax, and historical linguisticsand engage in psycho- and socio-linguistic research.<br><br>The Department of Spanish and Portuguese offers the Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Spanish, the Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Portuguese, and the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Hispanic Languages and Literatures. New and continuing students in the M.A. program are advised by the Director of Graduate Studies. During this preliminary (M.A.) stage of the graduate program, the student's choice of concentration is provisional. The Director of Graduate Studies is responsible for planning, in consultation with the student, a study program and for a periodic review of the student's progress.