Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Romance Studies - French and Francophone Studies

Graduate training for the PhD in Romance Studies at Duke University combines work in one or more languages taught in the department (French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, and Haitian Creole) with a broad methodological formation in literary and cultural analysis, critical theory, visual studies, and history. Our aim is to provide a combination of depth of knowledge in particular fields with a breadth of intellectual engagement and dialogue. We strongly encourage students to draw broadly on the strength of the faculty within Romance Studies as well as to work with faculty in other departments. The training involves course work, the preparation of portfolios for the Preliminary Examination (Portfolio Exam), and participation in departmental workshops as well as in the variety of opportunities available at Duke University. These include involvement in the Franklin Humanities Institute’s innovative Humanities Labs, participation in graduate working groups sponsored by the Humanities Institute, the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, and numerous other units at Duke. Our students also are nominated for a variety of Duke graduate and teaching fellowships, and participate in annually offered inter-institutional exchanges and projects with universities in the U.S. and abroad. The Department of Romance Studies at Duke University has a distinguished tradition of doctoral programs in French literatures. Through collaboration with other departments and programs, the Graduate Program in Literature and programs in Women's Studies, Medieval and Renaissance Studies, Canadian and Québec Studies, Afro-American Studies, among others, numerous opportunities exist for interdisciplinary study and research. Individual interests and disciplinary combinations thus find ample room for development in a rich and diversified institutional setting. The Duke Difference The Duke Department of Romance Studies has a nationally and internationally recognized faculty of specialists in many fields and critical methods. The Duke learning environment includes exceptional library and computer facilities in the humanities. Perkins Library, one of the nation's major research libraries, houses among others the Gustave Lanson Collection in French. During the academic year, the department sponsors numerous lectures and visits by distinguished critics and writers. The department provides computer facilities and instruction in the use of computer-assisted teaching and research programs, including on-line textual databases.