Master of Arts in Spanish

Advisor: Patricia Montilla,
511 Sprau Tower
E-mail: patricia.montilla@wmich.edu
Telephone: (269) 387-3040

The Master of Arts in Spanish enables students to extend and deepen their knowledge of literatures, cultures, and linguistics in the Hispanic world. The program provides advanced study for those who intend to pursue professions in Spanish or related fields as well as for those students who desire to do further graduate work.

Admission Requirements

A baccalaureate degree with a major of 30 hours in Spanish, or equivalent.
A minimum 3.0 grade point average in the undergraduate Spanish major.
Three letters of recommendation from persons able to evaluate the applicant’s potential for graduate work in Spanish.
A brief statement regarding areas of interest and academic/professional goals.
An official copy of transcripts for all completed coursework.
A recent version of a curriculum vitae or résumé.
An interview in Spanish, either in person or by telephone.
Applicants who do not meet all of the above requirements may be admitted at the discretion of the Spanish graduate faculty. In such cases, students may be required to complete advisor-approved course work to remove certain deficiencies.

Program Requirements

1. Complete 30 hours of work in courses numbered 5000 and above.

SPAN 5400 and SPAN 5600 may be included with permission from the Spanish graduate advisor.

At least 21 hours of these credits must be in courses numbered 6000 and above. A maximum of six hours of the required 30 hours may be taken in appropriate cognate fields, as approved by the Spanish graduate advisor.

2. Complete specified coursework satisfactorily.

SPAN 6000 - Don Quijote Credits: 3 hours

And one of the following courses:

SPAN 6050 - The Linguistic Systems of Spanish Credits: 3 hours
SPAN 6070 - Variations and Changes in Spanish Credits: 3 hours
SPAN 6260 - Graduate Survey of Spanish Literature to 18th Century Credits: 3 hours
SPAN 6270 - Graduate Survey of Spanish Literature from the 18th Century to the Present Credits: 3 hours
SPAN 6280 - Graduate Survey of Latin American Literature to Modernismo Credits: 3 hours
SPAN 6290 - Graduate Survey of Latin American Literature from Modernismo to the Present Credits: 3 hours

3. Maintain a minumum grade point average of 3.0 in all graduate courses combined.

4. Pass the M.A. comprehensive examination

The comprehensive examination consists of two parts, namely, one written examination and one oral examination conducted in Spanish. All coursework must be completed before the comprehensive exam is taken.

There are six areas of study, from which three are chosen for the exam:

Spanish literature and culture I: Medieval and Golden Age periods
Spanish literature and culture II: 18th century to present
Spanish American literature and culture I: Colonial period through Modernismo
Spanish American literature and culture II: 20th and 21st centuries
Spanish linguistics I: Spanish linguistic systems and their acquisition
Spanish linguistics II: Linguistic variations, uses, and changes in Spanish

The comprehensive examination consists of a four-hour written section and a two-hour oral section. Both sections are based on the reading list of three of the six areas of study and on coursework completed during M.A. studies.

A single grade will be given for the entire exam. Possible grades are: superior, good, pass, or fail. Students who fail the exam may retake it once. At the discretion of the exam committee, they may be required to retake the entire examination or portions of it. Failing the exam for a second time will result in dismissal from the program.

Students should take the comprehensive examination as soon as possible after finishing required coursework, but it is recommended that they take the examination within period of four months after having completed required coursework.

Additional Program Information

For additional information about the Master of Arts in Spanish and for forms needed to apply for admission, students may write to WMU’s Office of Admissions or to the department’s graduate advisor. Students are encouraged to consult information available at www.wmich.edu/spanish. Assistantships may be available for qualified applicants.