Learn more about the Master of Arts in Spanish.
About the Program
The graduate program in Spanish integrates the established fields of Literature and Linguistics. At the MA level, the program develops advanced Spanish-language skills for diverse careers and trains students in the exercise of research and pedagogical skills necessary for the pursuit of the PhD.
Time Limit for Degree Completion: 3 years
Campus Location: Main
Full-Time/Part-Time Status: The degree program can be completed on a full- or part-time basis. Courses may be taken in person or online upon availability.
Study Abroad: Students may apply one approved non-Temple graduate course done in a Spanish-speaking country toward fulfillment of the MA requirements in Spanish. Opportunities for graduate study abroad through Temple programs are available occasionally.
Areas of Specialization: Areas of specialization include:
- Spanish Peninsular Literature
- Latin American Literature
- Hispanic Linguistics
Job Prospects: Graduates of the MA program in Spanish typically find employment in secondary education, in business and government, and in social and medical services.
Non-Matriculated Student Policy: Non-matriculated students may take up to three courses with approval of the department or Graduate Chair.
Admission Requirements and Deadlines
Application Deadline:
Fall: January 15
Spring: October 30
Applications are evaluated as they arrive, with attention paid to deadlines. Late applications may be considered.
APPLY ONLINE to this graduate program.
Letters of Reference:
Number Required: 3
From Whom: Letters of recommendation should be obtained from college/university faculty members with personal knowledge of the applicant's academic achievements.
Coursework Required for Admission Consideration: An undergraduate major in Spanish or its coursework equivalent is required for entrance into the MA program.
Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline: A baccalaureate degree, preferably in Spanish, is required for admission.
Statement of Goals: In approximately 2 to 3 pages, share your interest in Temple's Spanish program, future career goals, research goals, academic achievements, and any related experience. Applicants interested in Teaching Assistantships, fellowships or other financial support may describe special needs in an addendum to their personal statement.
Standardized Test Scores:
GRE: Optional. Scores may be submitted if available.
International applicants are required to provide scores from one of the following tests: Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL®), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS™), or the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic™).
Resume: Current resume required.
Writing Sample: A paper or journal article written in Spanish is required.
Transfer Credit: One course (3 credits) undertaken while the student is enrolled in Temple's Spanish MA program may be transferred from a program in a Spanish-speaking country. The course must be a graduate course, and it must be approved by the Graduate Advisor. The maximum number of credits a student may transfer is 3.
Program Requirements
General Program Requirements:
Number of Credits Required Beyond the Baccalaureate: 30
Required Courses:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Non-advanced (5000-level) courses 1 | 12 | |
| Advanced (8000- and 9000-level) courses 2 | 18 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
- 1
Twelve credits is the maximum number that a student may take of 5000-level coursework.
- 2
Eighteen credits is the minimum number that a student may take of 8000- and 9000-level coursework.
Language Examination: Students must pass a written reading-comprehension examination in a foreign language other than Spanish. Examinations are usually taken in the Romance languages or German. Other languages may be accepted with approval.
Culminating Event:
Comprehensive Examination:
The purpose of the comprehensive examination is to evaluate the breadth and depth of students' knowledge of the discipline. Students must write a four-hour written comprehensive examination based on a customized reading list agreed on through consultation with three faculty members from the three course fields within the department: Spanish Peninsular Literature, Latin American Literature, and Hispanic Linguistics. The examination is taken after the student fulfills the 30-credit course requirement and passes the reading-comprehension exam in a language other than Spanish or English.
All examinations must include representation from each of three course fields: Spanish Peninsular Literature, Latin American Literature, and Hispanic Linguistics. Graduate Faculty from each of the three fields write the questions and evaluate responses on a scale of "A" to "F." To be evaluated as passing, a grade of "B-" or higher must be achieved in response to each examination question.
Comprehensive examinations are administered once a term. They are scheduled by the Graduate Chair, with whom students must register.
Accelerated Programs
Undergraduate students may opt to pursue an accelerated +1 program, enabling them to complete both a bachelor's degree and master's degree in less time than the traditional route.
The accelerated pathway for the Spanish MA is only available to students pursuing the Spanish BA.
Cohort Code: XMASPAN
Minimum Cumulative GPA: 3.25
Graduate Courses Approved to Count for Both Undergraduate and Graduate Degrees
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select four courses from the following: 1 | 12 | |
| Special Topics | ||
| Survey in Spanish Literature | ||
| Medieval Spanish Literature | ||
| 16th and 17th Century Spanish Literature | ||
| Cervantes | ||
| 18th and 19th Century Spanish Literature | ||
| Hispanic Modernism | ||
| 20th and 21st Century Spanish Literature | ||
| Survey in Spanish-American Literature | ||
| Spanish-American Short Story | ||
| Spanish American Novel | ||
| Spanish American Poetry | ||
| National Literatures of Spanish America | ||
| Latin American Literature of Social Conflict | ||
| Literature of the Caribbean | ||
| U.S. Latino Literature | ||
| Hispanic Literature through Art | ||
| Spanish Phonetics | ||
| Introduction to Spanish Linguistics | ||
| Spanish/English Contrasts | ||
| Spanish Applied Linguistics | ||
| History of the Spanish Language | ||
| Spanish Sociolinguistics | ||
| The Art of Translation | ||
- 1
Each SPAN 5000-level course will fulfill a SPAN 4000-level elective towards the bachelor's degree in Spanish.
Suggested Academic Plan
| Year 3 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Credit Hours | |
| SPAN 5000-level course from approved list | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 3 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| SPAN 5000-level course from approved list | 3 | |
| SPAN 5000-level course from approved list | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| SPAN 5000-level course from approved list | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 3 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 12 | |
Admissions Criteria
Candidates for the +1 program must:
- be a declared Spanish major.
- have a minimum of 3.25 cumulative GPA and be able to complete the undergraduate degree within one year of program entry.
- have a minimum of 3.50 GPA in Spanish coursework.
- have two letters of support from tenure-track faculty in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese who can vouch for the student's readiness for graduate work.
- submit a writing sample, usually from an upper-division Spanish course.
- submit a resume.
- be able to complete the graduate degree in one additional year.
Application: https://apply.temple.edu/CLA/Pages/Welcome.aspx
Contact Information
Adam Shellhorse
aj.shellhorse@temple.edu
Contacts
Program Web Address:
https://www.temple.edu/academics/degree-programs/spanish-ma-la-span-ma
Department Information:
Dept. of Spanish and Portuguese
428 Mazur Hall
1114 W. Polett Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19122-6090
215-204-8285