The MA degree in Spanish is a two-year program that focuses on the literatures and cultures of Spain, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Students receive training in cultural studies, literary analysis, and basic techniques of criticism, and are exposed to a wide variety of works and authors from different cultural areas, periods, and genres.

Options Available

Thesis Option
Coursework Only with Comprehensive Exam Option

Campus Code

Knoxville Campus

Admissions Standards/Procedures

• Submit an online application to the Office of Graduate Admissions.
• A student should have already completed a major or the equivalent of a major (usually 30 hours) in their main discipline (French, German, or Spanish).
• Although the Graduate Council requires a minimum grade point average of 2.70 (on a scale of 4.00) for admission to the UT Graduate School, prospective students should note that the grade point average of 3.50 (on a 4.00 scale) in all coursework of their major (French, German, Spanish, or a related field) in order to be admitted to the MA programs in French, German, or Spanish.
• In making its decision, the Admissions Committee considers grades, recommendations, a statement of goals (in English and in the target language), and 2 writing samples (ideally, one in English and one in the target language).
• When evaluating a student’s application dossier, the Graduate Admissions Committee looks for high-quality, committed students who could complete the program successfully, and who will add diversity, and intellectual liveliness and energy to the program.

Academic Standards

• After entering the graduate program, students in any of the MA Programs offered by the Department of Modern Foreign Languages and Literatures (MFLL) are expected to maintain a graduate GPA of at least 3.00 in order to remain in good standing. Note, students in the Ph.D. Program in Modern Foreign Languages are expected to maintain a graduate GPA of at least 3.50 in order to remain in good standing.
• The Department of Modern Foreign Languages and Literatures specifies that a student will not be allowed to continue in any of its graduate program if any of the following occurs:
  • The student cheats or engages in any other act of dishonesty with respect to the university community. Such acts include but are not limited to getting or giving help that is considered inappropriate in an academic setting as well as any form of plagiarism. (for details on Academic Honesty, please see the respective passages in Hilltopics and in the Graduate Catalog).
  • The student earns two or more grades of C or below in courses taken for graduate credit.
  • The student receives a grade of D or F in a graduate course that is identified as a core or mandatory course in the student’s graduate program.
  • The student’s cumulative graduate GPA falls below 3.00 for two consecutive semesters, excluding the summer semester if no courses are taken. (UT Graduate Policy).

Thesis Option

The thesis option provides more focus on in-depth research.

Credit Hours Required

Minimum of 30 graduate credit hours

Required Courses

• SPAN 500 , 6 credit hours
• A minimum of 24 credit hours in graduate coursework
  • A maximum of 6 credit hours may be taken at the 400-level (chosen from the 400-level courses that appear in the Graduate Catalog)
  • The remaining 18 credit hours at the 500-level
  • Under certain conditions, the student may take 600-level seminars.
  • MFLL 512  is required for all students and may be taken only once.

Non-Course Requirements

• A thesis with a minimum of 6 credit hours of SPAN 500  
• A written examination covering the coursework and selected items from a master reading list.
• A final oral examination covering the thesis.

Coursework Only with Comprehensive Exam Option

The Coursework Only with Comprehensive Exam option requires more coursework than the Thesis option.

Credit Hours Required

Minimum of 30 graduate credit hours

Required Courses

• Completion of at least 30 credit hours of graduate coursework with
  • A maximum of 6 credit hours at the 400-level (chosen from the 400-level courses that appear in the Graduate Catalog)
  • The remaining 24 credit hours at the 500-level.
  • Under certain conditions, the student may take 600-level seminars.
  • MFLL 512  is required for all students and may be taken only one.

Non-Course Requirements

• A written examination covering the coursework and selected items from a master reading list.