Admission Requirements

Applicants must have completed the requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Spanish or equivalent. Those who do not meet academic standards are invited to apply, but they may be asked to complete additional undergraduate course work in Spanish. All candidates are asked to submit a personal statement explaining the student’s rationale for pursuing graduate studies in Spanish. Only nine semester hours of graduate transfer credits in Spanish with a grade of B or better may be applied to the master of arts program.

Program Requirements - Total Semester Hours: 36

A student will be considered matriculated and a candidate for the master’s degree as long as he/she maintains at least a B level average throughout the program. The candidate must complete a total of 36 semester hours. Of these, 33 s.h. must be chosen from 200-level courses, and 3 s.h. will be given for the master’s essay (see course number SPAN 301). Only grades of B or higher will apply to the degree; no course may be taken on a P/F basis. The distribution requirement follows:

1. 6 semester hours in culture courses: SPAN 205: Studies in the Culture of Spain; and SPAN 206: Studies in the Cultures of Latin America, or SPAN 218: Contemporary Cultures of Latin America; or equivalent.
2. 6 semester hours in courses related to literature and criticism: SPAN 203: Literary Criticism of 20th Century Spain; and SPAN 204: Literary Criticism of 20th Century Latin America; or equivalent.
3. 6 semester hours in language grammar or linguistics courses.
4. 3 semester hours in a course on major authors or literary movements: SPAN 221 through SPAN 226.
5. 3 semester hours for the master’s essay (before registering for SPAN 301, the candidate must consult with the Graduate Program Director and make necessary arrangements with the department faculty member who will supervise the essay).