Spanish (MA)

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

Choose one of the following concentrations:

Linguistics Concentration:

Required Courses (12 Credits)
SPAN 6300Bibliography, Research and Academic Writing

3

SPAN 6301Literary Criticism and Cultural Theory

3

SPAN 6302Fundamentals of Hispanic Literatures

3

SPAN 6303Fundamentals of Spanish Linguistics

3

Spanish Linguistics Electives (12 Credits)
Chosen from the following:
SPAN 6310History of the Spanish Language

3

SPAN 6311Problems and Issues Related to Language

3

SPAN 6312Language in Policy and Training

3

SPAN 6313Sociolinguistics

3

SPAN 6314Descriptive Grammar

3

SPAN 6315Issues in Language Acquisition

3

SPAN 6317Special Studies in Hispanic Language and Culture

3

SPAN 6318Special Topics in Spanish Linguistics

3

Choose one of the following options:
Thesis Option
Electives (6 Credits)

(Taken from Latin American and Peninsular Literature, Creative Writing, Latina/o Literature)

Capstone Requirements (6 Credits)
Thesis
SPAN 7300Thesis I

3

SPAN 7301Thesis II

3

Non-Thesis Option
Cluster Electives (9 Credits)
Choose 3 classes within any ONE of the following clusters:
Cluster 1: Translation and Interpreting
SPAN 6340/TRSP 6340Translation Theory

3

TRSP 6340/SPAN 6340Translation Theory

3

SPAN 6342/TRSP 6342Translation Workshop - Spanish to English

3

TRSP 6342/SPAN 6342Translation Workshop - Spanish to English

3

SPAN 6343/TRSP 6343Translation Workshop - English to Spanish

3

TRSP 6343/SPAN 6343Translation Workshop - English to Spanish

3

SPAN 6344/TRSP 6344Translation of Legal Texts

3

TRSP 6344/SPAN 6344Translation of Legal Texts

3

SPAN 6345/TRSP 6345Translation Topics

3

TRSP 6345/SPAN 6345Translation Topics

3

SPAN 6346/TRSP 6346Business and Finance Translation

3

TRSP 6346/SPAN 6346Business and Finance Translation

3

SPAN 6347/TRSP 6347Translation Technologies

3

TRSP 6347/SPAN 6347Translation Technologies

3

SPAN 6348/TRSP 6348Audiovisual Translation

3

TRSP 6348/SPAN 6348Audiovisual Translation

3

SPAN 6395/TRSP 6395Translation/Research Project

3

TRSP 6395/SPAN 6395Translation/Research Project

3

INTG 6376Consecutive Interpreting

3

INTG 6377Simultaneous Interpreting

3

INTG 6378Court Interpreting

3

INTG 6379Interpreting Practicum

3

INTG 6380Medical Interpreting and Terminology

3

Cluster 2: Spanish AP
SPAN 6350AP Peninsular Prose

3

SPAN 6351AP Peninsular Poetry/Drama

3

SPAN 6352AP Latin American Prose

3

SPAN 6353AP Latin American Poetry and Drama

3

Cluster 3: Journalism in Spanish
SPAN 6370Print Journalism in Spanish

3

SPAN 6371Digital Journalism in Spanish

3

SPAN 6372History of Spanish Journalism

3

SPAN 6373Genres of Hispanic Journalism

3

SPAN 6374Special Studies in Hispanic Journalism

3

Cluster 4: Medical Spanish
SPAN 6360Language Access and Planning in Health Care

3

SPAN 6362Medical Discourse Through Literature

3

SPAN 6364Healthcare Interpreter Training and Evaluation

3

SPAN 6340/TRSP 6340Translation Theory

3

TRSP 6340/SPAN 6340Translation Theory

3

INTG 6380Medical Interpreting and Terminology

3

Cluster 5: 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 Credits)

(Taken from Latin American and Peninsular Literature, Creative Writing, Latina/o Literature)

Capstone Requirements

Written Comprehensive Exam 

Latin American and Peninsular Literature Concentration:

Required Courses (12 Credits)
SPAN 6300Bibliography, Research and Academic Writing

3

SPAN 6301Literary Criticism and Cultural Theory

3

SPAN 6302Fundamentals of Hispanic Literatures

3

SPAN 6303Fundamentals of Spanish Linguistics

3

Latin American and Peninsular Literature Electives (12 Credits)
SPAN 6320Latin American Prose

3

SPAN 6321Latin American Poetry and Drama

3

SPAN 6322Spanish Peninsular Prose

3

SPAN 6323Spanish Peninsular Poetry and Drama

3

SPAN 6325Women Writers in HispanicLiteratures

3

SPAN 6326Transatlantic Literatures

3

SPAN 6327Special Studies in Latin American Literature

3

SPAN 6328Special Topics in Spanish Peninsular Literature

3

SPAN 6329US Latino/a Literature and Language

3

Choose one of the following options:
Thesis Option
Electives (6 Credits)

(Taken from Linguistics, Creative Writing, Latina/o Literature)

Capstone Requirements (6 Credits)

Thesis
SPAN 7300Thesis I

3

SPAN 7301Thesis II

3

Non-Thesis Option
Cluster Electives (9 Credits)
Choose 3 classes within any ONE of the following clusters:
Cluster 1: Translation and Interpreting
TRSP 6340/SPAN 6340Translation Theory

3

SPAN 6340/TRSP 6340Translation Theory

3

TRSP 6342/SPAN 6342Translation Workshop - Spanish to English

3

SPAN 6342/TRSP 6342Translation Workshop - Spanish to English

3

TRSP 6343/SPAN 6343Translation Workshop - English to Spanish

3

SPAN 6343/TRSP 6343Translation Workshop - English to Spanish

3

TRSP 6344/SPAN 6344Translation of Legal Texts

3

SPAN 6344/TRSP 6344Translation of Legal Texts

3

TRSP 6345/SPAN 6345Translation Topics

3

SPAN 6345/TRSP 6345Translation Topics

3

TRSP 6346/SPAN 6346Business and Finance Translation

3

SPAN 6346/TRSP 6346Business and Finance Translation

3

TRSP 6347/SPAN 6347Translation Technologies

3

SPAN 6347/TRSP 6347Translation Technologies

3

TRSP 6348/SPAN 6348Audiovisual Translation

3

SPAN 6348/TRSP 6348Audiovisual Translation

3

TRSP 6395/SPAN 6395Translation/Research Project

3

SPAN 6395/TRSP 6395Translation/Research Project

3

INTG 6376Consecutive Interpreting

3

INTG 6377Simultaneous Interpreting

3

INTG 6378Court Interpreting

3

INTG 6379Interpreting Practicum

3

INTG 6380Medical Interpreting and Terminology

3

Cluster 2: Spanish AP
SPAN 6350AP Peninsular Prose

3

SPAN 6351AP Peninsular Poetry/Drama

3

SPAN 6352AP Latin American Prose

3

SPAN 6353AP Latin American Poetry and Drama

3

Cluster 3: Journalism in Spanish
SPAN 6370Print Journalism in Spanish

3

SPAN 6371Digital Journalism in Spanish

3

SPAN 6372History of Spanish Journalism

3

SPAN 6373Genres of Hispanic Journalism

3

SPAN 6374Special Studies in Hispanic Journalism

3

Cluster 4: Medical Spanish
SPAN 6360Language Access and Planning in Health Care

3

SPAN 6362Medical Discourse Through Literature

3

SPAN 6364Healthcare Interpreter Training and Evaluation

3

SPAN 6340/TRSP 6340Translation Theory

3

TRSP 6340/SPAN 6340Translation Theory

3

INTG 6380Medical Interpreting and Terminology

3

Cluster 5: 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 Credits)

(Taken from Linguistics, Creative Writing, Latina/o Literature)

Written Comprehensive Exam

Creative Writing Concentration:

Required Courses (12 Credits)
SPAN 6300Bibliography, Research and Academic Writing

3

SPAN 6301Literary Criticism and Cultural Theory

3

SPAN 6302Fundamentals of Hispanic Literatures

3

SPAN 6303Fundamentals of Spanish Linguistics

3

Creative Writing Electives (12 Credits)
SPAN 6330Spanish Creative Writing: Short Story

3

SPAN 6331Spanish Creative Writing: Poetry

3

SPAN 6332Spanish Creative Writing: Playwriting

3

SPAN 6333Special Studies in Creative Writing

3

Choose one of the following options:
Thesis Option
Electives (6 Credits)

(Taken from Linguistics, Latin American and Peninsular Literature, Latina/o Literature)

Capstone Requirements (6 Credits)
Thesis
SPAN 7300Thesis I

3

SPAN 7301Thesis II

3

Non-Thesis Option
Cluster Electives (9 Credits)
Choose 3 classes within any one of the following clusters:
Cluster 1: Translation and Interpreting
TRSP 6340/SPAN 6340Translation Theory

3

SPAN 6340/TRSP 6340Translation Theory

3

TRSP 6342/SPAN 6342Translation Workshop - Spanish to English

3

SPAN 6342/TRSP 6342Translation Workshop - Spanish to English

3

TRSP 6343/SPAN 6343Translation Workshop - English to Spanish

3

SPAN 6343/TRSP 6343Translation Workshop - English to Spanish

3

TRSP 6344/SPAN 6344Translation of Legal Texts

3

SPAN 6344/TRSP 6344Translation of Legal Texts

3

TRSP 6345/SPAN 6345Translation Topics

3

SPAN 6345/TRSP 6345Translation Topics

3

TRSP 6346/SPAN 6346Business and Finance Translation

3

SPAN 6346/TRSP 6346Business and Finance Translation

3

TRSP 6347/SPAN 6347Translation Technologies

3

SPAN 6347/TRSP 6347Translation Technologies

3

TRSP 6348/SPAN 6348Audiovisual Translation

3

SPAN 6348/TRSP 6348Audiovisual Translation

3

TRSP 6395/SPAN 6395Translation/Research Project

3

SPAN 6395/TRSP 6395Translation/Research Project

3

INTG 6376Consecutive Interpreting

3

INTG 6377Simultaneous Interpreting

3

INTG 6378Court Interpreting

3

INTG 6379Interpreting Practicum

3

INTG 6380Medical Interpreting and Terminology

3

Cluster 2: Spanish AP
SPAN 6350AP Peninsular Prose

3

SPAN 6351AP Peninsular Poetry/Drama

3

SPAN 6352AP Latin American Prose

3

SPAN 6353AP Latin American Poetry and Drama

3

Cluster 3: Journalism in Spanish
SPAN 6370Print Journalism in Spanish

3

SPAN 6371Digital Journalism in Spanish

3

SPAN 6372History of Spanish Journalism

3

SPAN 6373Genres of Hispanic Journalism

3

SPAN 6374Special Studies in Hispanic Journalism

3

Cluster 4: Medical Spanish
SPAN 6360Language Access and Planning in Health Care

3

SPAN 6362Medical Discourse Through Literature

3

SPAN 6364Healthcare Interpreter Training and Evaluation

3

SPAN 6340/TRSP 6340Translation Theory

3

TRSP 6340/SPAN 6340Translation Theory

3

INTG 6380Medical Interpreting and Terminology

3

Cluster 5: 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 Credits)

(Taken from Linguistics, Creative Writing, Latina/o Literature)

Capstone Requirements

Written Comprehensive Exam

Latina/o Literature and Language Concentration:

Required Courses (12 Credits)
SPAN 6300Bibliography, Research and Academic Writing

3

SPAN 6301Literary Criticism and Cultural Theory

3

SPAN 6302Fundamentals of Hispanic Literatures

3

SPAN 6303Fundamentals of Spanish Linguistics

3

Latina/o Literature Electives (6 Credits)
Choose from the following:
SPAN 6380Latina/o Literature Before 1960

3

SPAN 6381US Latina/o Contemporary Writers

3

SPAN 6382US/Mexico Border Literary and Cultural Productions

3

SPAN 6383Studies in US Latina/o Literature

3

Latina/o Language Electives (6 Credits)
Choose from the following:

Choose from the following:

SPAN 6317Special Studies in Hispanic Language and Culture

3

SPAN 6384Introduction to US Latina/o Linguistics

3

SPAN 6385Bilingualism and Language Contact in the US

3

Choose one of the following options:
Thesis Option
Electives (6 Credits)

(Taken from Linguistics, Latin American and Peninsular Literature, Creative Writing)

Capstone Requirements

Thesis (6 Credits)
SPAN 7300Thesis I

3

SPAN 7301Thesis II

3

Non-Thesis Option
Cluster Electives (9 Credits)
Choose 3 classes within any ONE of the following clusters:
Cluster 1: Translation and Interpreting
TRSP 6340/SPAN 6340Translation Theory

3

SPAN 6340/TRSP 6340Translation Theory

3

TRSP 6342/SPAN 6342Translation Workshop - Spanish to English

3

SPAN 6342/TRSP 6342Translation Workshop - Spanish to English

3

TRSP 6343/SPAN 6343Translation Workshop - English to Spanish

3

SPAN 6343/TRSP 6343Translation Workshop - English to Spanish

3

TRSP 6344/SPAN 6344Translation of Legal Texts

3

SPAN 6344/TRSP 6344Translation of Legal Texts

3

TRSP 6345/SPAN 6345Translation Topics

3

SPAN 6345/TRSP 6345Translation Topics

3

TRSP 6346/SPAN 6346Business and Finance Translation

3

SPAN 6346/TRSP 6346Business and Finance Translation

3

TRSP 6347/SPAN 6347Translation Technologies

3

SPAN 6347/TRSP 6347Translation Technologies

3

TRSP 6348/SPAN 6348Audiovisual Translation

3

SPAN 6348/TRSP 6348Audiovisual Translation

3

TRSP 6395/SPAN 6395Translation/Research Project

3

SPAN 6395/TRSP 6395Translation/Research Project

3

INTG 6376Consecutive Interpreting

3

INTG 6377Simultaneous Interpreting

3

INTG 6378Court Interpreting

3

INTG 6379Interpreting Practicum

3

INTG 6380Medical Interpreting and Terminology

3

Cluster 2: Spanish AP
SPAN 6350AP Peninsular Prose

3

SPAN 6351AP Peninsular Poetry/Drama

3

SPAN 6352AP Latin American Prose

3

SPAN 6353AP Latin American Poetry and Drama

3

Cluster 3: Journalism in Spanish
SPAN 6370Print Journalism in Spanish

3

SPAN 6371Digital Journalism in Spanish

3

SPAN 6372History of Spanish Journalism

3

SPAN 6373Genres of Hispanic Journalism

3

SPAN 6374Special Studies in Hispanic Journalism

3

Cluster 4: Medical Spanish
SPAN 6360Language Access and Planning in Health Care

3

SPAN 6362Medical Discourse Through Literature

3

SPAN 6364Healthcare Interpreter Training and Evaluation

3

SPAN 6340/TRSP 6340Translation Theory

3

TRSP 6340/SPAN 6340Translation Theory

3

INTG 6380Medical Interpreting and Terminology

3

Cluster 5: 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 Credits)

(Taken from Linguistics, Latin American and Peninsular Literature, Creative Writing)

Capstone Requirements

Written Comprehensive Exam

Total Credit Hours: 36

Comprehensive Examination

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.