Cosmovitral - Toluca México
Photo by: Lucy Nieto, 2008, Flickr

The M.A. program in Spanish offers a perfect academic environment for students interested in advanced studies in the fields of Hispanic, Latin American and Peninsular literature, and Spanish linguistics. The program has been designed to provide knowledge and develop critical thinking on traditional and modern approaches used in these fields. The main goal of the M.A. program in Spanish is the preparation of future professionals to develop successful careers in education, administration, interpretation and translation in diverse public and private institutions. The M.A. program in Spanish provides a strong preparation to pursue advanced studies at the doctoral level.

For more information about the coursework, expectations, deadlines and the general progression of the master’s program, please see the M.A. Students Handbook.

General Requirements

Minimum requirements for unconditional admission to the graduate program in Spanish

• A bachelor's degree in Spanish from an accredited institution, with an overall grade point average of at least 3.0 (A=4.0) for the last 60 hours of course credit
  • Students who have a bachelor's degree in a field other than Spanish must take the following courses before entering the M.A. program. (Students must have the appropriate level of Spanish to take these courses either by taking the prerequisites or placing into them via the placement-credit exam; equivalent courses taken in other institutions are accepted. Please refer to the department of Hispanic studies course catalog for course details.)
    • SPAN 3306: Intro to the Study of Span Lang
    • SPAN 3384: Introduction to Hispanic Literature
    • Two 4000-level courses according to the student's interest
• Completed online application through CollegeNet (All required documents are to be directly uploaded to your account during the application process. Please prepare them beforehand. Official individual mark sheets in certain countries, transcripts and degree certificates must be sent directly to the graduate school and to the graduate admissions advisor in Hispanic studies at the addresses included below.
• A statement of purpose in Spanish (between 500 and 1,000 words) explaining why you wish to study at the graduate level (See this link to find the guidelines you must follow for writing your statement.)
• Two letters of recommendation from professors detailing your potential as a graduate student
• Graded writing sample from upper-level Spanish courses
• Official transcripts: A set must be sent directly from the institution to the University of Houston Graduate School (102 E. Cullen Building, Houston, Texas 77204-2012).
  • Transcripts that are not in English must be sent along with an official translation made by a certified interpreter.
  • Please see the graduate school guidelines for transcripts and diploma verification.

Additional Requirements for International Students

• Certified copy of diploma: As well as official transcripts and their certified translation, international students must send a copy of their graduation diploma. If the document is not in English, an official translation made by a certified interpreter must be attached. The diploma must be sent to the University of Houston Graduate School (102 E. Cullen Building, Houston, Texas 77204-2012).
• English certifications options:
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): Needed from international students only, unless they have earned a college degree from an American university, with a minimum score of 79.
  • Duolingo English Test needed for English proficiency exams. The exam costs $49 (USD) and may be taken from any computer that has a camera, audio and reliable internet. The exam portion of the Duolingo English Test contains a series of speaking, reading, writing and listening exercises. Following the exam, there will be an interview portion that will ask you to respond to various prompts in 30 to 90 seconds. The exam will take about 45 minutes to complete, and you will need either a passport, driver's license, or national or state ID to show the camera. The score results are generally received within a few days of exam completion. A minimum score of 105 is required.

For information on the TOEFL, visit the Educational Testing Service website. (UH Code: 6870)

Once admitted to the program:

• No course where a grade below B- (2.67) is received may count towards master's degree.
• A minimum grade point average of 3.0 (B) for all graduate courses attempted is required for a graduate degree.
• Failure to maintain this average will result in a warning, probation or suspension.

Comprehensive written and oral examinations are required to obtain the degree

• Scheduled during the last semester of coursework

Application Fees

Fees payable by check or online (credit card) at CollegeNet.

• National Graduate
  • Total cost, $50
  • Payable to University of Houston
• International Graduate Student
  • Total cost, $80
  • Payable to University of Houston

Deadlines

• Spring semester: November 1^st

• Fall semester: May 15^th

For applications and advisement, please write, call or email:

Interim Graduate Director Paola Arboleda-Ríos, Ph.D. at parboeda@uh.edu.

* Phone interviews will be conducted after application file is reviewed.