The PhD in Creative Writing and Literature is designed for advanced students, writers, and professionals who wish to delve deeper into literary creation, theory, and interdisciplinary research in the humanities from a contemporary Latin American perspective. Offered in Spanish and based in Puerto Rico, this program integrates academic rigor, creative practice, and critical reflection to train researchers and creators capable of contributing new knowledge to the literary field.

Why study this PhD in Sagrado?

This doctoral program offers a unique training that combines creative writing workshops, theoretical seminars, pedagogical training in writing instruction, and advanced research projects, with an emphasis on ethics, community, and aesthetic experimentation. The program is designed to meet the needs of writers, educators, and professionals from Puerto Rico, Latin America, and the Spanish-speaking community in the United States who seek a high-quality terminal degree in their native language.

Synchronous online modality for professionals

The fully synchronous online format allows participation in seminars, workshops, and advising sessions in real time, maintaining close interaction with faculty and colleagues without the need to travel to campus. This format facilitates access for adults who balance work, creative projects, and personal responsibilities, offering a flexible yet demanding path to a doctoral degree.

Curriculum and Dissertation

The research component is the core of the program and includes milestones such as the Statement of Research (SoR), the Annual Graduate Conference Paper (Copa), the Confirmation of Research (CoR), and three stages of Thesis Work that accompany the project's development. Doctoral students can choose from a Creative dissertation, which integrates an original literary work with a critical text, which situates the creative text within relevant theoretical, historical, and methodological frameworks, or by a Traditional research dissertation, focused on lines of research consolidated in the program.

Possible lines of research

The program's potential lines of research encompass a broad spectrum of theoretical, creative, and pedagogical approaches to the study of literature and writing. These include the analysis of creative and poetic processes, as well as regional studies focused on Puerto Rican, Caribbean, and Latin American literature, comparative studies, studies by literary genre, and work focused on contemporary epistemologies and literary theories. Research on the teaching of writing in diverse contexts is also encouraged, such as Spanish as a second language, heritage speakers, primary and secondary education, and writing in prison settings, along with the examination of ethical issues in the teaching of creative writing.

The program also fosters interdisciplinary proposals, place-based pedagogy, and cultural studies, including audience research (profiles, trends, and development) and reception studies. It also considers lines of inquiry related to the book industry, such as the book as an art object, the tradition of the artist's book, the impact of the local publishing industry, and emerging trends in the publishing world. Other areas of interest include the history of literature and cognitive linguistics, with an emphasis on point of view, narration and narratology, as well as subjectivity and intersubjectivity, encouraging research that integrates literary analysis, critical theory, and innovative pedagogical practices.

Doctoral course sequence

During the first year, foundational courses cover research methodologies, literary theory, culture, and narrative genres, along with an advanced creative writing workshop and an academic writing seminar that culminates in the presentation of a paper at a graduate conference. In the second and third years, the emphasis shifts to teaching practice, the Caribbean publishing industry, editing and translation, and the progressive development of the thesis until its public defense before the Progress Evaluation Committee.