Spanish

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Return to: Graduate School of Arts & Sciences: Departments/Programs

Degree Requirements

Master of Arts in Spanish

Thirty credits of courses at the 5200 level or above, at least twelve of which must be at the 7000 level or above; none of the thirty credit hours may be derived from non-topical research; SPAN 7220 and SPAN 8210 are required courses; a comprehensive written examination; and a one-hour oral examination. The written and oral examinations are based exclusively on the departmental M.A. reading list.

Doctor of Philosophy in Spanish

Official departmental permission to proceed beyond the M.A. level; a reading knowledge of two other foreign languages (or the mastery of one) pertinent to the major research area; a minimum of 54 credits of courses (24 beyond the M.A. if obtained at the University of Virginia; 36 beyond the M.A. if obtained at another institution) at the 7000-level or above; one course must be in literary theory; and at least two others must be at the level of 8000 or above; SPAN 7220 and SPAN 8210 are required courses, a written and oral comprehensive examination, which includes a Master Class presentation; an approved dissertation; an oral defense examination on the field of the dissertation. The guide for the written and oral exams will be the departmental Ph.D. reading list.

Permission to Proceed to the Ph.D. in Spanish

After completion of the M.A. requirements and acceptance into the Ph.D. program, all students in their first year of Ph.D. course work will be evaluated by the department before permission to proceed is granted. Students are expected to complete all pre-dissertation requirements, including coursework, language proficiency examinations, and qualifying examinations, by the conclusion of their eighth term of study (i.e., at the end of the fourth semester of study after completion of the M.A.).

Teaching Requirement for Spanish

Because this department considers language teaching an integral part of its graduate degree program, and in order that our graduate students may fully develop their teaching abilities at several levels under the close supervision of the Spanish Language Coordinator and the course heads, the department requires that graduate students serve as teaching assistants. Exceptions may be made for part-time and non-resident students; exceptions in other cases must be approved by the graduate advisor.