LANGUAGES AND LINGUISTICS MASTER OF ARTS IN SPANISH
ABOUT OUR MA in SPANISH PROGRAM on the NMSU Campus
The Master’s degree in Spanish is offered on the NMSU campus here in Las Cruces, NM. The program is normally completed in two years (four semesters). NMSU is accredited by the North Central Association. We do offer the same thirty-six credit MA Online for those students who are unable to come to campus. Please see our separate webpage for the Online MA Program.
STUDENTS NEED TO SELECT A SPECIFIC AREA OF INTEREST – LINGUISTICS OR LITERATURE
Under Linguistics, a student may take courses in: Linguistics, Research Methods, Language Teaching Methods, Phonetics and Phonology, Technical Translation and more… Reading List
Under Literature, a student may take courses in: Latin American Literature, Poetry, US Hispanic Literature, Women Writers, Mexican Literature, Literary Translation, Teaching Methodology and more… Reading List
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
The degree requires 36 semester hours of credit and has both a thesis and a non-thesis option. Demonstrated proficiency in a second foreign language (other than English) is required equivalent to two years of study. Students will also be expected to complete a final written and oral exam.
NATURE OF THE COURSES
All courses are taught entirely in Spanish. Some courses may require knowledge of English for reading texts and reference materials.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Admission requirements include the BA in Spanish. An undergraduate upper division Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or above that include at least 12 semester hours of upper division undergraduate courses in Spanish with a GPA of at least 3.0 are required. The required TOEFL scores for regular NMSU admission: 79 on the IBT or 550 on the paper-based test for applicants to graduate degree programs.
Students not meeting the above requirements may apply and be recommended for conditional admission by the Committee on Graduate Studies in Spanish. After meeting specific conditions set by this Committee, students may apply for regular graduate standing.
ADMISSION PROCEDURES
In order to apply to the MA Program in Spanish on the NMSU Campus,
prospective students must complete the following the
Graduate School
Application Portal:
STEP 1 –a) Complete an online application for admission form.
b) Have
uploaded to the Graduate School: Original official
transcripts and diplomas of all prior college-level course work from
all schools attended. DO NOT SEND transcripts to the Department of Languages
and Linguistics.
If you have a transcript and diploma from a university outside the United
States you need to submit a certified translation of the transcripts into
English along with this information. DO NOT SEND transcripts to the
Department of Languages and Linguistics.
STEP 2 – The second part of the application procedure for admission
must be uploaded to the
Graduate School
Application Portal.
Do not send the application to the
Department of Languages and Linguistics. This application must include the
following items:
a) A current
resume (C.V.) in Spanish
b) Three letters of recommendation from qualified professionals (written
within the last six months), preferably from past professors
c) A writing
sample in Spanish of a minimum six pages in length (critical or creative
writing texts). If you do not have a six page paper, you may submit multiple
shorter works totaling six pages
d) A
language
evaluation form to be completed and signed by a language evaluator:
Please use pdf form sent with this information
If you have an official ACTFL OPI rating certificate you may submit that in lieu of the Language Evaluation Form.
f) An introductory letter in Spanish:
1) giving a brief biography of one or two paragraphs along with your goals and objectives for obtaining a Master’s degree
2) stating whether you are applying to the on-campus or on-line program
3) declaring your prospective area of interest (Linguistics or Literature)
4) indicating if you are applying to be considered for a Graduate Teaching Assistantship
Applying to the program does not guarantee admissions. Admissions is competitive. It is your responsibility to make sure that all your materials have been sent to the appropriate offices.
APPLICATION DEADLINES: For the On-Campus program, we will review all completed applications once during the fall and spring semesters. Students wishing to be considered for entrance for the fall semester (August) need to have all their materials (including transcripts) to NMSU by February 15. Students wishing to be considered for entrance for the spring semester (January) need to have all their materials (including transcripts) by September 15. Students will be advised upon their formal acceptance into the program.
For additional information contact:
Prof. Jeff Longwell Graduate Program Director MA in Spanish Program (on campus) Department of Languages & Linguistics, MSC 3LBox 30001, New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003-0001
or