MA in Hispanic Studies
Admission Requirements
Applicants are considered on an individual basis. The program will accept and review applications for the fall semester only. Transcripts for all undergraduate and any graduate work must be uploaded along with all other requirements.
In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, applicants must meet the following program requirements (for details, please consult the department website).
- Baccalaureate Field Spanish or related field.
- Grade Point Average At least 3.50/4.00 for the final 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) of study.
- Language Proficiency Applicants must give evidence of proficiency in spoken and written formal standard Spanish.
- Minimum English Competency Test Score
- TOEFL 80, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Speaking 20, and Writing 21 (iBT Test); 60, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Writing 21 (revised Paper-Delivered Test), OR,
- IELTS 6.5, with subscores of 6.0 for all four subscores, OR,
- PTE-Academic 54, with subscores of Reading 51, Listening 47, Speaking 53, and Writing 56.
- Sample of Writing in Spanish Applicants are required to submit one sample of their written work in Spanish in the form of an essay for an academic course.
- Letters of Recommendation Three required from professors; at least one should be from a professor in an upper-level or graduate Spanish course.
- Personal Statement A statement of 500 words is required in which applicants should address their reasons for applying to the Hispanic Studies MA-only program in the concentration desired, Hispanic Linguistics or Hispanic Literary and Cultural Studies.
- CV/Resume Please include TOEFL results (main score and 4 subscores).
- Transcripts Applicants must upload transcripts for all undergraduate work along with all other requirements.
- Nondegree Applicants Nondegree applicants holding an undergraduate degree and interested in advanced studies are welcome. See the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions website for requirements and application procedures.
- Deadlines Application deadlines for this program are listed on the Graduate College website.
Degree Requirements
In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, students must meet the following program requirements:
- Minimum Semester Hours Required 37.
- Course Work
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses for Both Concentrations | ||
| Theoretical and Research Foundations of Communicative Language Teaching (or equivalent) a | ||
| Professional Development Workshop I | ||
- a
LCSL 502 is requirement for students who have been awarded a teaching appointment. Students have not been awarded with a teaching appointment must substitute another course for these 4 hours, selected in consultation with the graduate advisor.
Hispanic Literary and Cultural Studies Concentration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Requirements | ||
| In consultation with the graduate advisor, select 8 additional courses (32 hours) at the 400 and 500 levels, of which at least 5 courses (20 hours) must be completed at the 500 level. Only one course (4 hours) may be completed in a rubric other than SPAN. a | ||
- a
The following courses may not satisfy the above requirements: LCSL 502, LCSL 503, LCSL 504, SPAN 590, SPAN 596, SPAN 599.
Hispanic Linguistics Concentration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Courses | ||
| Spanish Sociolinguistics | ||
| Semantics and Pragmatics in Spanish | ||
| Seminar in Second Language Acquisition and Bilingualism | ||
| Spanish Phonology | ||
| Spanish Syntax | ||
| Second Language Learning | ||
One additional course at the 500 level a | ||
One additional elective at 400 or 500 level selected in consultation with the graduate advisor. Electives may be taken in other UIC programs and departments as long as they relate to the student’s concentration. a | ||
- a
The following courses may not satisfy the above requirements: LCSL 502, LCSL 503, LCSL 504, SPAN 590, SPAN 596, SPAN 598, SPAN 599.
Other Requirements
- Comprehensive Examination
- Concentration in Literary and Cultural Studies: None
- Concentration in Hispanic Linguistics: Required
- Thesis, Project, or Course-Work-Only Options Thesis or course work only. No other options available.
- Thesis: Permission of the department’s graduate committee is required.
Interdepartmental Concentrations
Students earning a graduate degree in this department may complement their courses by enrolling in select concentrations after consulting with their graduate advisor. Interdepartmental concentrations available for this degree include: