Graduate Degree

The Master of Arts degree program in Hispanic Literatures is designed primarily for students who plan to pursue a Doctor of Philosophy degree and to join the faculties of colleges or universities as scholars and teachers.  The program provides study in the language, literatures, and cultures of Spain and Latin America, with an emphasis on Spanish and Spanish–American literatures and scholarly investigation.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Arts and Letters, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

To be admitted to the Master of Arts degree program in Hispanic Literatures on regular status, an applicant must have:

1. A bachelor's degree in Spanish, or have completed the courses in Spanish that are required for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish at Michigan State University or their equivalents.
2. A grade–point average of at least 3.00 in undergraduate Spanish language and literature courses.

Requirements for the Master of Arts Degree in Hispanic Literatures

The program is available under Plan A (with thesis) or  Plan B (without thesis).  A minimum of 30 credits is required for the degree.  The student's program of study must be approved by the graduate advisor.  The student must meet the requirements specified below:

1.	Complete at least one course in each of the following fields of Spanish and Latin–American literature:
	Medieval literature and Old Spanish language
	16th– and 17th–century Spanish literature
	18th– and 19th–century Spanish literature
	20th–century Spanish literature
	Colonial Latin–American literature
	19th-century Latin–American literature
	20th-century Latin–American literature
2.	Complete at least 21 credits in Spanish courses at the 800 level or above. Courses used to satisfy requirement 1. may also be used to satisfy this requirement with advisor approval.
3.	Plan A
	1.	Complete 6 credits of SPN 899 Master's Thesis Research.
	2.	Pass a final oral examination that covers the student's program of study, thesis, and reading list.
	Plan B
	1.	Pass a written and oral examination based on the student's course work and reading list. This examination is given only during the spring semester.

With the approval of the graduate advisor, a minor field of study may be included in the requirements for the degree.  Ordinarily a minor field consists of at least three graduate courses for which the student has had suitable preparation.  Courses in a language other than Spanish at the 400-level, may constitute a minor field.