spanish

M.A. Program

M.A. Degree in Spanish  - Literature emphasis (Plan II)

Requirements (literature)

1. Completion of at least 36 units, chosen in consultation with the graduate adviser. No more than 4 units of SPA 299 may be included in this total.

SPA 203 (Research Methodology)- for those entering the program in Fall 2025 and those who have not completed SPA 203 already, there is no longer a SPA 203 requirement but a 1st year requirement of 2 workshops or trainings.
4 units: SPA 201 (Literary Theory I) or CRI 200A (Approaches to Critical Theory)
4 units: Linguistics course – chosen from SPA 205-217, 291
24 units: 6 graduate seminars in Literary and cultural studies, balanced thematically and geographically.
4 units: One elective graduate seminar
36 Total Units

2. Successful completion of a capstone report.

Study Program (literature)

Students are required to meet with the appropriate graduate adviser at the beginning of the first quarter of study and are strongly encouraged to meet with them each quarter thereafter.

New graduate students with teaching appointments are required to take SPA 390 (The Teaching of Spanish in College) during their first quarter of teaching. Exceptions can be made for students with acceptable prior teaching experience. Students taking SPA 390 should enroll in at least one other seminar. Students have the option of using 4 units of SPA 396 (Teaching Assistant Training Practicum) in any quarter in order to total the required 12 units.

In subsequent quarters students must take two seminars but are encouraged to take three. Students should be aware that required courses might not be offered more than once during their course of study, therefore, they are encouraged to take required courses as they are offered.

Capstone Report 

Students will complete a written capstone report by the end of year 2, no later than May 1. Each M.A. student will select a final paper (of a maximum of 8,000 words) that they completed in a graduate seminar taken in the department during year 1, or during the first quarter of year 2. Working with the faculty member who taught the seminar, and a second faculty member chosen by the department, the student will revise the paper in order to meet a reasonable standard for potential submission to an academic journal in the field. The revision process aims to produce a paper of publishable quality but does not require actual submission to the journal. The revision process will be two quarters in length, i.e. the second and third quarters of year 2 (5th and 6th quarters). The language of the capstone report will be determined in consultation with the two committee members and selected from Portuguese, Spanish or English. The student will enroll in a SPA 299 in each of the 2 quarters with one of the two committee members. The capstone report may not be repeated more than once.
 

M.A. Degree in Spanish  - linguistics emphasis (Plan II)

Requirements (linguistics)

1. Completion of at least 36 graduate seminar units. 

SPA 203 (Research Methodology)- for those entering the program in Fall 2025 and those who have not completed SPA 203 already, there is no longer a SPA 203 requirement but a 1st year requirement of 2 workshops or trainings.
SPA 390-The teaching of Spanish in College (to be eligible for TA employment)
4 units: Literature course (Graduate Seminar in Spanish or Latin-American Literature)
4 units: SPA 205 (Spanish Phonology)
4 units: SPA 207 (History of the Spanish Language)
4 units: SPA 212 (Applied Linguistics)- or LIN 280 or 281
4 units: SPA 217 (Sociolinguistics: Spanish of the United States)
4 units: Two elective linguistics graduate seminars within the Spanish dept.
7 units: Two elective graduate seminars
36 Total Units

2. Successful completion of a capstone report.

Study Program (linguistics)

Students are required to meet with the appropriate graduate adviser at the beginning of the first quarter of study and are strongly encouraged to meet with them each quarter thereafter.

New graduate students with teaching appointments are required to take SPA 390 (The Teaching of Spanish in College) during their first quarter of teaching. Exceptions can be made for students with acceptable prior teaching experience. Students taking SPA 390 should enroll in at least one other seminar. Students have the option of using 4 units of SPA 396 (Teaching Assistant Training Practicum) in any quarter in order to total the required 12 units. In subsequent quarters students must take two seminars but are encouraged to take three. Students should be aware that required courses might not be offered more than once during their course of study, therefore, they are encouraged to take required courses as they are offered.

 

Residence Requirement

M.A. students must be in residence for a minimum of three regular quarters of full-time enrollment (12 units per quarter). Two six-week summer sessions may be counted as the equivalent of one regular quarter for purposes of satisfying this requirement. A minimum of two units must be taken in each summer session.

Normal Progress Schedule

For an understanding of normal M.A. progress, please see the M.A. Degree timeline.

Course load

Graduate students must enroll in 12 units each quarter to be considered full-time. In order to be eligible for fellowships or employment, graduate students must be registered full time. 

Part-time students are limited to no more than 6 units per quarter.  Apply for Part-Time Status

 

How to arrange an independent study (299)

Students should not enroll in 299 until they have completed most of their required coursework.  Once the required coursework is completed, the student will typically enroll in SPA 299 to prepare the Capstone requirement. These units can help students to achieve full-time status while studying. To set up a 299, seek permission from the instructor and then complete the Course Enrollment form available from the Graduate Program Coordinator. This form describes weekly contact hours and expectations of what will be completed during the quarter.  Once you have permission from the instructor, request the Course Registration Number (CRN) from the Graduate Program Coordinator in order to enroll via Schedule Builder.

Procedure for continuation to the Ph.D.

All M.A. students will be advised when they begin the program that they must prepare and submit a statement of purpose for the Ph.D. by the admissions deadline of January 5 describing: your academic plans and research interests, your specialization within your academic field, your research experiences, and your career goals. You may consider how your past experiences and the opportunities you recognize at UC Davis (i.e. specific faculty and resources) will converge in the work you anticipate doing for the degree. Please also include a letter of support from the faculty member who will be your major professor/dissertation chair.

The Graduate Program Committee will review the student’s portfolio and statement. If the Committee determines that a student should not continue for the Ph.D., the student will be awarded a terminal M.A. after passing the comprehensive exam. If the Committee approves a student’s petition, the student will receive an M.A. and continue for the Ph.D after passing the comprehensive exam.

Students must also complete the Petition for Change of Graduate Major, Degree Objective, or for Double Graduate Major. This form is available from the Graduate Studies web site (gradstudies.ucdavis.edu/forms) or from the graduate program coordinator. Students should also have identified a mentor (or mentors) that they will work with should they continue for the Ph.D.

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