Master of Arts in Spanish

Program Coordinator: Dr. Naida Saavedra
Phone: 508-929-8804
Email:  nsaavedra@worcester.edu

Admission Requirements

General admission requirements for the Graduate School are located at http://worcester.edu/graduate. The GRE or MAT test is not required.

Applicants interested in the Master of Arts in Spanish program typically possess a B.A. in Spanish or related field.

Please contact Dr. Naida Saavedra at nsaavedra@worcester.edu for additional information.

Items Needed to Apply:

  • Online application found at www.worcester.edu/apply
  • Essay explaining reason for pursuing this degree program
  • Application fee
  • Two letters of recommendation from professional or academic sources
  • Official transcripts from ALL colleges and universities attended showing a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
  • Official transcript evaluation for any transcript from outside the United States
  • An English language proficiency test if the student’s academic background is not in English
  • Bachelor’s degree in Spanish or related field preferred

Curriculum

Spanish Foundation Courses(3 credits)
SP-994Comprehensive Exam (in Spanish)3
Spanish Concentration Courses(21 credits)
Culture
One course must be in Peninsular Culture, and one in Latin American Culture or Latinx Culture.6
Literature
Two courses must be in Peninsular Literature, two in Latin American Literature, and one in Latino Literature.15
Electives(6 credits)
Students may take graduate elective courses in Advanced Language, Civilization, Spanish for Professionals, Translation, or an Independent Study.6
Total Credits30

Graduate Spanish Courses

SP-901 Advanced Study:Special Topics

Special topics in language, literature, civilization or field work of mutual interest to student and instructor.

3 Credits

SP-910 Southern Cone Literature and Film

Representative works by authors and film directors from the Southern Cone of Latin America. Content and focus will vary in response to particular student and faculty interest.

Spring only and other or on demand. 3 Credits

SP-925 Travel Study Course

Trip will be preceded by a seminar. Classes conducted in Spanish.

3 Credits

SP-931 Spanish Civilization

A historical survey of Spanish social, cultural and political life.

3 Credits

SP-934 Topics in Latin American Film

Representative works by Latin American film directors from early 20th century to the present. Content will vary in response to particular student and faculty interest.

Spring only and every 2-3 years. 3 Credits

SP-940 Ind Study: Spanish

Study of a special topic. Both content and eligibility are subject to departmental guidelines and approval.

3 Credits

SP-955 Effective Teaching of a Foreign Language

Examines and evaluates effective teaching techniques in the Foreign Language classroom at the Middle and Secondary School levels.

3 Credits

SP-990 Directed Study: Spanish

Directed study offers graduate students, who because of unusual circumstances may be unable to register for a course when offered, the opportunity to complete an existing course with an established syllabus under the direction and with agreement from a faculty member. variable credits.

Fall and Spring and every year. 1-6 Credits

SP-994 Comprehensive Exam

Students will take a Comprehensive Exam that evaluates the overall program coursework in order to complete the requirements for graduate work.

Other or on demand. 3 Credits

SP-997 Independent Study: Spanish

Study of a special topic of interest to the student. Both content and eligibility are subject to departmental guidelines and approval.

3 Credits

Upon completion of the Master of Arts in Spanish, students will:

1. Apply theoretical and methodological approaches to the analysis of literary texts from
Latin America, Spain, and the US Latinx culture.
2. Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the populations of Latin America, Spain, and the US
Latinx as it pertains to cultural production.
3. Identify and analyze social, cultural, economic, and political events that interconnect
Latin America, Spain, and US Latinx communities.
4. Evaluate Latin American, Spanish, and Latinx literary texts and films based on their
historical and social contexts.
5. Produce scholarly works that relates to extant research in order to contribute to the
fields of Latin American, Spanish, and Latinx Literature, Cultural Studies, Linguistics, and
Pedagogy.
6. Be able to close-read, analyze, interpret, and discuss literary and cultural works using
appropriate terminology in Spanish.
7. Refine academic writing in Spanish.
8. Acquire knowledge of up-to-date techniques that are essential for teaching Spanish as a
foreign language and for heritage speakers.
9. Apply skills and knowledge in linguistics in order to examine bilingual and/or bicultural
situations and contexts among Latin America, Spain, and the US.
10. Communicate research findings with critical insight on a range of topics to evaluate
historical ideas, arguments, and points of view from Latin American, Spanish, and US
Latinx populations.