Dr. Erin Graff Zivin

Professor

Build a Statement of Purpose

Generate a tailored SOP for Dr. Erin Graff Zivin. Improve your application with a focused, well-structured draft.

Biography

Erin Graff Zivin is a Professor of Spanish and Portuguese and Comparative Literature at the University of Southern California. She holds a Ph.D. in Spanish and Portuguese Languages and Literatures from New York University, and an M.A. in Comparative Literature and Latin American Studies from the University of California, Berkeley. Her research and teaching focus on modern and contemporary Latin American literature, media studies, deconstruction, and the relationship between ethics, politics, and aesthetics in experimental art. Graff Zivin has directed the Experimental Humanities Lab at USC Dornsife and served in various academic leadership positions, including Chair of the Department of Comparative Literature and the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at USC. She is a published author with works such as "Anarchaeologies: Reading Misreading" and has contributed extensively to both book chapters and journal articles in the field. In addition to her research, she actively engages in curatorial work and theoretical explorations regarding diverse literary and artistic practices in Latin America.

Research Interests

Experience

Professor

2014-01-01 — Present

University of Southern California • Los Angeles, CA

Teaches courses in Spanish and Portuguese Comparative Literature.

Chair, Department of Comparative Literature

2017-01-01 — 2022-01-01

University of Southern California • Los Angeles, CA

Oversaw departmental operations and academic programs.

Chair, Department of Spanish and Portuguese

2013-01-01 — 2016-01-01

University of Southern California • Los Angeles, CA

Led department initiatives and academic curriculum.

Associate Professor

2009-01-01 — 2014-01-01

University of Southern California • Los Angeles, CA

Focused on advanced studies in Spanish and Portuguese literature.

Assistant Professor

2008-01-01 — 2009-01-01

University of Southern California • Los Angeles, CA

Delivered undergraduate and graduate courses in Hispanic Literatures.

Assistant Professor

2004-01-01 — 2008-01-01

University of Pittsburgh • Pittsburgh, PA

Taught courses in Hispanic Languages and Literatures.

Requirements for University of Southern California

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
TOEFL
Listening
Required:20
Reading
Required:20
Writing
Required:20
Speaking
Required:20
Total
Required:90
IELTS
Listening
Required:6
Reading
Required:6
Writing
Required:6
Speaking
Required:6
Overall
Required:6.5
GRE General
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Math, or Hard Science
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Official transcripts
  • Personal Statement
  • Resume/CV
  • Letters of Recommendation (not required for MS CS, but allowed)
Specialization Notes

GRE is NOT required for Master's applicants for 2025-2026.