Spanish, M.A.

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The Department of World Languages & Cultures at Bowling Green State University offers an innovative Master of Arts degree in Spanish that includes academic mentoring by our graduate faculty at BGSU and the option of studying abroad to acquire cultural and linguistic skills through immersion. By the end of the MA program, students will be able to discuss critically and analytically, both orally and in writing, a variety of topics related to the Spanish language as well as Spanish-speaking cultures and literatures. Students will demonstrate advanced competence in the Spanish language and familiarity with the theoretical issues and research tools in the broad fields of Spanish, Latin American and Caribbean literature, cultural studies and linguistics. By acquiring these skills our students become proficient bilingual communicators with a deep understanding of the Spanish speaking world, from Argentina to the U.S. Spanish M.A. alumni are well prepared to succeed in a wide variety of careers that require sophisticated communication skills, cross-cultural understanding, and critical thinking.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Master’s degree, students in the Spanish program are expected to be able to:

Discuss critically and analytically, both orally and in writing, a variety of topics related to the Spanish language as well as Spanish-speaking cultures and literatures.
Demonstrate advanced competence in the Spanish language.
Demonstrate familiarity with the theoretical issues and research tools in the broad fields of literature, culture and linguistics from Spain and Latin America.

Admission Requirements

Submit scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
Three Letters of Recommendation
A personal statement in Spanish: The statement should include your motivation for applying to graduate school, why you see yourself as qualified for admission to this program, what you hope to achieve in your area of interest, and your aspirations following the receipt of the graduate degree.
Writing Sample - An original writing sample in Spanish is also required for the Spanish - MA program

Application Requirements

Admissions Categories and Grade Point Average Requirements

International Application Information

Degree Requirements

Curriculum Requirements

Required Courses (36 credits)

Pass/fail coursework may not count toward 36 hours.

SPAN 6000 and SPAN 6800 are recommended for those spending their first semester abroad in Spain

FREN 6010 , SPAN 6010 , or GERM 6700 is required for anyone planning to serve as a Teaching Assistant on campus.

SPAN 6840 is required for those students who spend their first year abroad.

Select from:

SPAN 5000 to SPAN 6889
SPAN 6890 - Internship in Spanish Studies
SPAN 6891 to SPAN 6989

Other Requirements

All students who study abroad must complete 19 hours of coursework on campus. This requirement can be met by taking 18 hours of coursework on campus, plus a 1-credit reading course and/or by completing an online course offered by on-campus BGSU faculty while studying abroad, in addition to completing 18 hours of coursework on campus.

Culminating Experience (0-6 credits)

Both Plan I and Plan II students take a Qualifying Examination related to key fields and issues within “Spanish Studies”: Spanish linguistics, literary criticism, and cultural studies.

Plan I:
SPAN 6990 - Thesis Research (3-6 credits as part of 36 credit minimum)
Plan II:

Final research project that includes a paper and an oral presentation

Minimum Total Credits (36 credits)

Additional Requirements

Minimum of 3 credits of 6990 required for Plan I master’s students. Maximum of 6 credits may be applied toward degree requirements.
Minimum 3.0 graduate cumulative grade point average
Minimum of 18 credits must be at the 6000-level or higher
Minimum of 24 credits must be earned at BGSU
All requirements must be completed within six years from the end of the earliest course used to fulfill degree requirements.