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Master of Arts in Hispanic Studies

The focus on language, culture, and technology in the Spanish M.A. program offers a variety of study options in order to meet the growing demand for students who seek to acquire not only a humanistic preparation in a second language but also the necessary tools for an important practical application of a second language to their future careers. These could include areas such as public and private school teaching, communications, business, law, medicine, or further graduate studies at another institution of higher learning. Enrollment in small seminars allows students to interact easily with peers and create productive mentor relationships with the faculty.

Admission Requirements
Candidates for admission to the graduate program in foreign languages should have the equivalent of the UNLV undergraduate major in the corresponding language with a minimum grade point average of 3.00 in the major field. In some cases, a student who has a bachelor's degree in another discipline could be admitted to the program upon the recommendation of the department graduate advisor. Possible transfer credit will be determined by the graduate coordinator in accordance with the policies of the Graduate College.

To apply for admission, submit to the Graduate College an application and official transcripts of all college-level work. Two letters of recommendation and a statement of goals should be sent directly to the department. Candidates are encouraged to take the GRE in the language of their proposed study.

Degree Requirements
The M.A. program in Spanish is flexible, allowing students to concentrate on language, technology, and culture. The program aims at meeting the needs of students interested in teaching and the professions. Before acceptance into the program, students will take a pre-qualifying examination that will test their Spanish language skills. With the help of a faculty advisor, students will design a program of studies to meet their individual needs.

The 33-hour program includes 12 hours of required graduate coursework in Spanish encompassing four areas: Current Issues in Second Language Acquisition (FOL 714), Textual Analysis (SPAN 720), Writing Workshop (SPAN 709), and Technology-Enhanced Foreign Language Education (SPAN 760). A variety of courses in language, linguistics, literature, culture, and technology will be offered to allow students to complete an additional 15 hours of instruction. Nine of these hours may focus on a concentration that may be taken, upon departmental approval, outside the Spanish program. Examples of concentrations include Translation, Latin American Studies, Women's Studies, Linguistics, and French Language and Literature. A minimum of 18 credit hours must be completed at the 700 level.

Final Examination Options

  • Project: Students will complete their program of studies with a final written project based on an internship, study abroad, or original research for six hours of credit. Before initiating the project, students will establish a three-member faculty examination committee for approval of the project proposal. The committee shall consist of the advisor, two other members of the graduate faculty, and the graduate faculty representative, who is chosen by the Graduate Dean. When the program of studies is complete, students will take the Final Examination, an oral examination covering the final project.
  • Exam: Under this option students will take a written Masters examination. After completing twenty-one credits, students, in consultation with the graduate coordinator, will choose for their examination three of the following areas of conentration: culture, linguistics, leterature, technology in the classroom, and translation theory. Once these areas are chosen they may not be changed. The exam will be based on the curses taken as well as on a supplementary list of readings for each area available in the department. The exam will include three ninety-minute written sections. Grammatical accuracy will also be a graded component of the exam. After passing all three parts of the exam, students will take an oral examination covering these chosen areas. Students who do not pass any part(s) of the exam will be allowed to retake the failed part(s) only once. Students who do not pass all three parts will be separated from the program.