Spanish with a Concentration in Linguistics (MA)

CIP Code

16.0905.00

Overview 

Studies leading to the MA degree in Spanish cover foundational issues in literary, linguistic and cultural studies.

Admission Requirements

To be admitted to the graduate program in Spanish, prospective candidates must first meet all requirements for graduate admission to UT Rio Grande Valley, as well as the other requirements listed below:

1. Bachelor's degree in Spanish from a regionally accredited institution in the United States or a recognized international equivalent.  Applicants that do not hold a BA in Spanish must have completed a minimum of 12 hours of Spanish at the advanced undergraduate level with a GPA of 3.0 in those 12 hours.
2. Undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 in the last 60 semester credit hours.
3. GRE General Test. GRE test scores are valid for 5 years. A waiver of the GRE requirement will be granted to applicants who show proof of completing a graduate degree (master’s or doctoral).
4. Academic paper written in Spanish for an upper-level undergraduate course.
5. Three  letters  of  recommendation  from  professional  or  academic sources.
6. Letter of intent.
7. Personal interview (online or in person).

Application for admission must be submitted prior to the published deadline. The application is available at www.utrgv.edu/gradapply.

Program Requirements

Required Courses - 12 Hours

SPAN 6300	Bibliography, Research and Academic Writing	3
SPAN 6301	Literary Criticism and Cultural Theory	3
SPAN 6302	Fundamentals of Hispanic Literatures	3
SPAN 6303	Fundamentals of Spanish Linguistics	3

Concentration Courses - 12 Hours

Choose four from the following:

SPAN 6310	History of the Spanish Language	3
SPAN 6311	Problems and Issues Related to Language	3
SPAN 6313	Sociolinguistics	3
SPAN 6314	Descriptive Grammar	3
SPAN 6315	Issues in Language Acquisition	3
SPAN 6317	Special Studies in Hispanic Language and Culture	3
SPAN 6318	Special Topics in Spanish Linguistics	3

Thesis Option

Electives - 6 Hours

Choose two from Latin American and Peninsular Literature, Creative Writing, Latina/o Literature courses

Thesis – 6 Hours

SPAN 7300	Thesis I	3
SPAN 7301	Thesis II	3

Non-Thesis Option

Cluster Electives - 9 Hours

Choose 3 classes within any ONE of the following clusters:

Cluster 1: Translation and Interpreting

INTG 6376	Consecutive Interpreting	3
INTG 6377	Simultaneous Interpreting	3
INTG 6378	Court Interpreting	3
INTG 6379	Interpreting Practicum	3
INTG 6380	Medical Interpreting and Terminology	3
TRSP 6340	Translation Theory	3
TRSP 6342	Translation Workshop - Spanish to English	3
TRSP 6343	Translation Workshop - English to Spanish	3
TRSP 6344	Translation of Legal Texts	3
TRSP 6345	Translation Topics	3
TRSP 6346	Business and Finance Translation	3
TRSP 6347	Translation Technologies	3
TRSP 6348	Audiovisual Translation	3
TRSP 6395	Translation/Research Project	3

Cluster 2: Spanish AP

SPAN 6350	AP Peninsular Prose	3
SPAN 6351	AP Peninsular Poetry/Drama	3
SPAN 6352	AP Latin American Prose	3
SPAN 6353	AP Latin American Poetry and Drama	3

Cluster 3: Open (3 hours must be in Spanish)

Students may take 9 hours in any ONE field. They may take additional courses in literature, linguistics, creative writing, or Latina/o literature and language, OR 3 courses in any ONE other field. 

Elective - 3 Hours

Choose one from Latin American and Peninsular Literature, Creative Writing, Latina/o Literature courses. 

Written Comprehensive Exam

A general written comprehensive examination that will test the student’s knowledge of Spanish, and is not necessarily based on courses taken, will be administered to all students at the end of their coursework. The Department Graduate Advisor will administer the exam during the first week of November during the Fall semester and during the first week of March during the Spring semester. A reading list will be provided by faculty in Literatures and Cultural Studies. 

Total Credit Hours: 36