Spanish, M.A.

1. An undergraduate major in Spanish or very strong knowledge/proficiency in Spanish.
2. A minimum of three literature courses, including an introductory course, or equivalent.
3. A complete dossier which must include:
   • Two-page Letter of Intent/Statement of Purpose (in English) expressing your objectives in entering the program (educational and career goals).
   • Two letters of recommendation (in English or in the target language) from people familiar with the candidate’s academic work.
   • A writing sample, in Spanish. The Review Committee evaluates more than target language. Hence, in this Spanish paper, you will demonstrate good analytical skills and original ideas, and include some bibliography  (between 1250 and 6000 words; Times New Roman; font 12).
   • Transcripts (one from each institution attended).

3. We do not require the GRE for this program.At the discretion of the Graduate Review Committee, an entrance exam or interview may be required.

Non-Thesis Option:

• Thirty credit hours of courses
• A research paper
• A final master’s portfolio
• An oral exit interview
• Proficiency in a world language other than the student’s major

Thesis Option:

• Twenty-four credit hours of courses
• A written thesis proposal
• Six hours of thesis research
• A thesis
• A final master’s portfolio
• An oral exit interview
• Proficiency in a world language other than the student’s major

Our Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTA-As and GTA-Bs) receive a full tuition waiver. We have two types of Assistantships:

The First Year: A GTA-A is a graduate student with an assistantship who has not yet completed 18 credit hours toward graduation.  As a first-year graduate student, a GTA-A will receive a stipend of up to $3,000 per semester and for up to two consecutive semesters. The stipend is divided into 8 equal payments for a commitment of 12 hours of tutoring per week. GTA-As are expected to complete 18 hours toward graduation in the MA program by the end of three semesters (Summer included) and maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher to upgrade to GTA-B status.

The Second Year: A GTA-B is a graduate student with an assistantship who has completed 18 credit hours toward graduation and who is eligible to teach language courses during the second year of their MA program. If approved, the stipend will increase to $3,000 per class taught (2 to 3 courses total to be taught in the second year based on program needs). Failure to upgrade to GTA-B status could result in the non-renewal of the assistantship.

The assistantship requires daytime availability to tutor in our language lab the first year and to teach languages courses largely offered between 9:30 am and 3:45pm during the second year.

At the end of their Spanish M.A., students are expected to:

• Demonstrate ability in research and/or data collecting
• Demonstrate critical thinking in field and ability to analyze primary material
• Use concepts/theory in field to: describe, explain, evaluate and generate new ideas
• Demonstrate appropriate literary, artistic, linguistic, historical and cultural knowledge
• Defend a thesis/argument with textual evidence and secondary sources
• Demonstrate communicative competence in written language
• Demonstrate communicative competence in oral language
• Demonstrate superior use of grammar or spelling