Spanish with a Concentration in Creative Writing (MA)
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:
- 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.
- Undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 in the last 60 semester credit hours.\
- 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).
- Academic paper written in Spanish for an upper-level undergraduate course.
- Three letters of recommendation from professional or academic sources.
- Letter of intent.
- 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 6330 | Spanish Creative Writing: Short Story | 3 |
| SPAN 6331 | Spanish Creative Writing: Poetry | 3 |
| SPAN 6332 | Spanish Creative Writing: Playwriting | 3 |
| SPAN 6333 | Special Studies in Creative Writing | 3 |
Thesis Option
Electives - 6 Hours
Choose two from the Linguistics, Latin American and Peninsular Literature, Latina/o Literature courses
Thesis – 6 Hours
Non-Thesis Option
Cluster Electives - 9 Hours
Choose 3 classes within any one of the following clusters:
Cluster 1: Translation and Interpreting
Cluster 2: Spanish AP
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 the Linguistics, Latin American and Peninsular Literature, 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