ILAC-PHD - Iberian & Latin American Cultures (PhD)

Ph.D. students in the department must take required courses for a letter grade if available, and they are expected to earn a grade of B+ or better in each course taken. Any grade of B or below is considered to be less than satisfactory. Grades of B or below are reviewed by faculty, and the following actions may be taken:

• The grade stands, and the student’s academic performance is monitored to ensure that satisfactory progress is being made

• The student may be required to retake the course

The principal conditions for continued registration of a graduate student are the timely and satisfactory completion of the university, department, and program requirements for the degree and fulfillment of minimum progress requirements. Failure to meet these requirements results in corrective measures, including a written warning, and/or the possible dismissal from the program.

Students who completed graduate coursework at another institution are expected to transfer course units in the winter quarter of their first year of doctoral study. The Director of ILAC will evaluate the transfer of units on a course-by-course basis. Graduate work accepted for transfer of residency does not automatically exempt a student from having to complete a course requirement for the degree.

The department is committed to academic advising to support graduate students’ scholarly and professional development. The overall goal of advising, both in the department of Iberian and Latin American Cultures and the Division of Literatures, Cultures, and Languages (DLCL), is to help graduate students make academic and career choices wisely and think ahead to craft a long-term plan for their graduate student career and beyond. 

The advisor for all entering graduate students is the Department Director, whose responsibility it is to assist students with their course planning and to keep a running check on progress in completing the course, teaching, and language requirements. By the end of the first year of study, each student should have chosen a faculty advisor whose expertise is appropriate to their own area of research and interests.

When most effective, the advising relationship entails collaborative and sustained engagement by the advisor and the advisee. As a best practice, advising expectations should be periodically discussed and reviewed to ensure mutual understanding. Both the advisor and the advisee are expected to maintain professionalism and integrity. Advising is academically invaluable for transmitting expertise and is an essential aspect of creating a strong departmental and Stanford community.

Faculty advisors guide students in critical areas such as selecting courses, designing and conducting research, developing teaching pedagogy, navigating policies and degree requirements, and exploring academic opportunities and professional pathways.

Each year the Iberian and Latin American faculty conduct a review of each student's progress in the program. Performance in coursework and research progress are both used as part of this assessment.

Graduate students are active contributors to the advising relationship, proactively seeking academic and professional guidance and taking responsibility for informing themselves of policies and degree requirements for their graduate program.