Research in Hispanic studies embraces cultural studies, digital humanities, film and performance, gender and diaspora studies, Hispanic literatures, historical and comparative linguistics, history and presence of Spanish in the U.S., iconography, language acquisition and pedagogy, language variation and change, photography, post-hegemonic and infrapolitical thought and sociolinguistics. Among the Hispanic studies faculty are skilled translators and accomplished creative essayists, narrators and poets.
Graduate work in Hispanic studies prepares the student for academic careers concerned with Spanish and bilingualism, for teaching positions and for government, diplomatic, non-profit and private sector jobs. A high competence in the Spanish language is required.
An interdisciplinary certificate is offered by the Africana studies program in the College of Arts and Sciences. It offers interested masters or doctoral students an opportunity to develop an interdisciplinary graduate concentration in Africana studies while they are also earning a degree in a disciplinary field. In addition to gaining knowledge of peoples and of issues with particular significance to the Africana world, students pursuing this certificate will also benefit from the interdisciplinary training that is the hallmark of Africana studies. They will be exposed to the scholarship, methods and theories of the multiple disciplines that contribute to the critical analysis and understanding of the Africana world. Awarding of the Africana studies certificate requires that the certificate candidate complete of Africana studies-approved coursework.