Admission 

Admission to the Master of Arts program requires a 3.000 GPA in Spanish. Non-native speakers must have completed 24 credit hours of undergraduate Spanish beyond the basic language courses (for example, WSU classes SPAN 105, SPAN 106 and SPAN 204); 8 of these 24 credit hours should be at the junior-senior level (WSU classes 300 and above). Native speakers must have completed 12 credit hours of Spanish at the junior-senior level or demonstrate equivalent background knowledge. Students with background in other fields (non-Spanish majors) should demonstrate knowledge of the language and of a set of basic analytical tools within the humanities. This level will be determined by the graduate coordinator in consultation with graduate faculty.

Program Requirements 

The MA degree in Spanish requires:

  • The completion of 30 credit hours beyond the bachelor's degree. A minimum of 24 credit hours of Spanish (and maximum of 30 credit hours of Spanish on the plan of study), must include the following:
  • Course Title Hours
    Select three of the following survey courses: 9
    SPAN 610
    		Survey of Spanish Medieval and Premodern Literature 1
    SPAN 711
    		Survey of Spanish Modern Literature 1
    SPAN 720
    		Survey of Latin-American Literature 1
    SPAN 721
    		Survey of Contemporary Latin-American Literature 1
    At least two seminars or equivalent courses that require research papers from the following:
    SPAN 520
    		Hispanic Film: Cinema in the Spanish Speaking World
    SPAN 547
    		Spanish in the United States
    SPAN 623A-Z
    Seminar in Spanish
    SPAN 624A-Z
    Seminar in Latin-American Literature or Culture
    SPAN 626
    		Spanish Civilization
    SPAN 627
    		Latin-American Civilization
    SPAN 633
    		Latin@ Studies
    SPAN 641
    		Seminar in Hispanic Applied Linguistics
    SPAN 622A-Z
    Special Studies in Spanish
    SPAN 726
    		Spanish Grammar and Stylistics
    SPAN 750A-Z
    Workshop in Spanish
    SPAN 805
    		Directed Readings Spanish (can be taken up to 6 credit hours)
    1

    If their equivalents were not taken as undergraduate courses.

  • A maximum of 6 credit hours of related fields may be included in the plan of study. Related fields typically include another world language; English, American and foreign literatures; art; Latin American history; or geography. All related field courses must be approved by the chairperson of the department of modern and classical languages and literatures or the graduate coordinator.
  • Special recommendation is strongly made that all MA candidates in Spanish earn a minimum of 4 credit hours of transferable credit in a university located in a Spanish-speaking country.
  • In certain cases, faculty will recommend students take SPAN 526 Advanced Spanish Grammar and Composition, SPAN 525 Advanced Spanish Conversation, or SPAN 726 Spanish Grammar and Stylistics to improve language proficiency.

Examinations

Before the MA degree in Spanish is granted, all candidates must pass written comprehensive examinations based on two reading lists — Latin American literature and peninsular (Spain) literature — and on a third area of examination of the student's choosing. That reading list will be developed in consultation with faculty. An academic presentation or a report could replace the exam of this particular area. After these three exams are approved, the student has to pass the oral exam. No exam may be taken more than twice.

Applied Learning

Students in the MA program in Spanish are required to complete an applied learning or research experience to graduate from the program. The requirement can be met by successful completion of SPAN 610, SPAN 711, SPAN 720 or  SPAN 721, all of which involve the application of theoretical models to literature, culture and social issues. Additionally, these courses prepare students for careers in teaching and research where knowledge is applied through pedagogy.