Admission Requirements

In addition to the general requirements for admission to the Graduate School, the following are required for the M.A. in Spanish:

• A baccalaureate degree in Spanish or in a related field that required upper-division coursework in undergraduate Spanish (e.g., Latin American Studies, International Studies, International Business), with an overall GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale)
• An essay that addresses the applicant’s motivation for enrolling in the M.A. in Spanish, to include particular areas of research interests and career or professional goals (Students seeking enrollment in the LLC concentration must write this essay in Spanish and demonstrate a high level of proficiency in Spanish by attaching an additional writing sample (a college term paper or similar document).  Students seeking enrollment in the TTS concentration may write the essay in either English or Spanish but must demonstrate high levels of literacy and proficiency in both languages by providing writing samples in each.)
• An oral interview with the Graduate Program Director
• Three letters of reference. (For those interested in the LLC concentration, at least two of the letters must be from professors. For those interested in the TTS concentration, at least one of the letters must come from a professor, and letters not written by a professor must be from professionals working in the field of Spanish, translation and interpreting, or a closely related area (e.g., Latin American Studies, International Studies, International Business).  Letters not written by professors should not come from a friend or family member, but from a work supervisor or somebody in a similar professional capacity.)

Note: GRE scores are not required.

Prerequisite Requirements

LLC concentration applicants who do not have advanced-level undergraduate coursework in Spanish language and the literature and culture of Spain and Latin America will be required to take a minimum of two courses in these areas as part of their preparation for enrollment in the M.A. program.  Such coursework may be taken as a post-baccalaureate graduate student (PBG), and up to 6 credit hours of such coursework with a grade of B or higher may be transferred forward to the M.A. program upon admission to the program.  Applicants should consult with the Program Director for counseling.

Early Entry Program

Exceptional undergraduate students at UNC Charlotte may apply for the Early Entry Program and begin work toward the graduate degree before completion of the baccalaureate degree.  See the Undergraduate Catalog for details and requirements.  Also see the Degree Requirements and Academic Policies  section of the Graduate Catalog for more information about Early Entry Programs.

Degree Requirements

The Master of Arts in Spanish requires 30 graduate credit hours.  For any course to count toward the M.A. in Spanish, it must have been taken within seven years from the date of enrollment in the program.  No more than 6 credit hours evaluated with a grade of C may be counted toward the minimum hours required for the master’s degree.  Up to 6 credit hours of appropriate graduate coursework may be accepted for transfer from a college or university accredited by an accepted accrediting body.  Additional non-residence credit for graduate study abroad may be possible via departmental pre-approval.

Degree Total = 30 Credit Hours

Advising

Graduate students are advised by the Graduate Program Director and by designated graduate faculty members in good standing.

Comprehensive Examination

After Admission to Candidacy, students must successfully complete a four-hour comprehensive examination, based partly on a core Reading List and partly on the coursework completed.  The Reading List is published online at languages.uncc.edu.  Students must be enrolled during the semester in which they take the comprehensive examination, which is usually taken during their final semester of enrollment in the program.  The exams are scheduled twice a year: usually in mid to late November of each Fall semester and in mid to late April of each Spring semester.

Application for Degree

Students should make application for their degree by completing the online Application for Degree through Banner Self Service no later than the filing date specified in the University Academic Calendar.

Assistantships

A limited number of graduate assistantships are available on a competitive basis each year. Applications must be received no later than April 15 for assistantships beginning the following academic year. Further information is available in the Department of Languages and Culture Studies.

Cooperative Education

The Department offers TRAN 6481  to provide on-site work in translating texts or interpreting, English↔Spanish, with site, workload, and remuneration to be determined in consultation with employer and one faculty co-op advisor.  Provides practical and professional training experience under conditions that the University cannot duplicate.

Internships

The Department approves a limited number of internships (SPAN 5410  and TRAN 6480 ) which provide program-related experience for graduate students who seek to develop their Spanish skills in a professional setting. Further information is available in the Department of Languages and Culture Studies.

Licensure

Students seeking licensure in Spanish should obtain information on requirements from the Office of Teacher Education Advising and Licensure (TEAL) in the College of Education.

Tuition Waivers

A limited number of in-state as well as out-of-state tuition waivers may be available for new graduate assistants and/or outstanding applicants.