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Program:
Spanish
MA

Spanish

Application Deadline

  • Fall: Feb 1

    • Contact Information

    3190 JFSB
    801-422-2196
    Email (graduate): spanportgradstudies@byu.edu
    Website
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    Admission Requirements
    Required Tests
    • GRE
    • CAE, E3PT, IELTS, or TOEFL (international applicants only)
    Additional Requirements
    • Resume
    • Statement of Intent
      • The purpose of the statement of intent is to provide information which is not included in your application or academic records and which may be useful to the admissions committee. Write a carefully constructed statement of your academic preparation and goals, indicating how graduate work fits into those goals. Statements are generally 1–2 pages but may have more specific requirements by department. This statement gives the admissions committee an opportunity to learn the following:
        • Your preparation and background for the program to which you are applying and your desired area of specialization in that program (Hispanic Literatures, Hispanic Linguistics, or Spanish Pedagogy)
        • Your academic or professional goals and reasons for your choice of career
        • Your particular academic or professional reasons for applying to Brigham Young University and the scholarly or professional contributions you expect to make to your program
        • Your expected graduate degree completion date
      • Any special circumstances you wish the department to consider, such as whether or not you plan to attend full-time or part-time, circumstances that may have affected undergraduate academic performance, test scores, etc.
    • Writing Sample
      • An 8–10-page research paper in Spanish. Papers written in English will not be accepted. If you do not have an 8–10 page research paper related to the area of specialization to which you are applying (literatures, linguistics, or pedagogy), you may either 1) submit two papers related to the area of specialization as a single document (8–10 pages), 2) expand a previously written research paper related to the area of specialization (8–10 pages), or 3) create a new research paper exploring a topic related to the area of specialization (8–10 pages).
    • References
      • Request three Letters of Recommendation – academic references are preferred, but professional references are also acceptable
    Applicants with Foreign Credentials
    Applicants with foreign credentials must complete a foreign credential evaluation BEFORE the application deadline in order for their application to be considered complete. We recommend using IERF and that you request to have the official evaluation report sent electronically to BYU Graduate Studies. Please plan accordingly as this process may take 6 weeks or longer to complete.
    Program Requirements
    Students must choose one of the following areas of specialization before applying to the program: Hispanic Literatures, Hispanic Linguistics, and Spanish Pedagogy.

    Requirements for Hispanic Literatures Specialization:
    • Credit hours: 33.
    • Core required courses: 21 hours, including Span 601B
    • Five courses in Hispanic Literature:  at least two courses from each regional emphasis (Peninsular or Spanish American Literature).  SPAN 635 (Hispanic Cinema) and SPAN 602R (Contemp. Lit. Theory) may not be used to fulfill this minimum regional requirement.
    • Three 1-credit mini-courses (SPAN 581R, 582R, 583R). Choose two in Literature (SPAN 581R) and one in either Linguistics (SPAN 582R) or Pedagogy (SPAN 583R)
    • Electives (6 hours):
    • One Hispanic Linguistics Course (SPAN 529R, 622, 625, 626 and 629R may not be appropriate selections for candidates without significant experience in linguistics):
    • One Spanish Pedagogy Course:
    • Thesis or two-paper option: 6 credit hours of SPAN 699R, plus an oral defense.
    • Examinations: comprehensive, culminating written exam in the specialty.
    • Completion of three semesters (college level or equivalent) of a second foreign language other than English in addition to the language of specialization.
    • Teaching requirement: teach at least one Spanish language class (100/200 level).

    Requirements for Hispanic Linguistics Specialization:
    • Credit hours: 33.
    • Core required courses: 21 hours including:
      • SPAN 601A
      • SPAN 625
      • SPAN 626
      • History of the Spanish Language (choose one course):
      • Spanish Language Variation (choose one course):
      • One additional course in Linguistics from the following:
    • Three 1-credit mini-courses (SPAN 581R, 582R, 583R)  Choose two in Linguistics (SPAN 582R) and one in Literature (SPAN 581R) or Pedagogy (SPAN 583R)
    • Electives (6 hours):
    • Thesis or two-paper option: 6 credit hours of Span 699R, plus an oral defense.
    • Examinations: comprehensive, culminating, written exam in specialty.
    • Completion of three semesters (college level or equivalent) of a second foreign language other than English in addition to language of specialization.
    • Teaching requirement: teach at least one Spanish language class (100/200 level).

    Requirements for Spanish Pedagogy Specialization
    • Credit hours: 33.
    • Core required courses (21 hours) include:
    • Three courses in Spanish Pedagogy from the following (SPAN 673R does not count for this requirement)
    • Three 1-credit mini-courses (SPAN 581R, 582R, 583R)  Choose two in Pedagogy (SPAN 583R) and one in either Literature (SPAN 581R) or Linguistics (SPAN 582R)
    • Electives (6 hours):
    • Thesis or project option: 6 credit hours of Span 698R or 699R, plus an oral defense.
    • Examinations: comprehensive, culminating written exam in specialty.
    • Completion of three semesters (college level or equivalent) of a second foreign language other than English in addition to language of specialization.
    • Teaching requirement: teach at least one Spanish language class (100/200 level).
    Program Outcomes
    Please contact the individual department for outcome information.
    Program Stats
    Characteristics of Students from Past Academic Year
    Total Students 11.0
    International 1.0
    Male 5.0
    Female 6.0
    LDS 10.0
    Five Year Average of Graduated Students
    Average Years to Degree 1.89
    Graduated Per Year 18.2
    GMAT Quantitative Percentile 67.5
    Five Year Average of Admitted Students
    Applied Per Year 11.6
    Admitted Per Year 8.0
    Percent Admitted 68.97
    Average GPA 3.72
    Courses and Faculty

    Department Courses Department Faculty