MA in Spanish in Riverside United States | University of California, Riverside

The Master of Arts in Spanish caters to students with a Bachelor's degree in Spanish who wish to deepen their understanding of Hispanic literary and cultural heritage through higher-level studies. This program primarily serves as a stepping stone for those aiming to enroll in UCR's Ph.D. program, so applicants are advised to consider direct entry into the doctoral program, irrespective of their current degree status. The curriculum immerses students in sophisticated literary theory and contemporary cultural studies discussions, while also offering elective seminars in Hispanic linguistics.
Ideal candidates typically possess a Spanish B.A. with five or more literature and culture courses covering Spain and Latin America. Program participants often serve as Teaching Assistants in Hispanic Studies, balancing three graduate courses per term alongside language instruction responsibilities. These assistantships include pedagogical training as an integral component of both academic and teaching obligations.
To earn the M.A., students must complete 48 graduate units, distributed as at least five courses concentrating on Spain and five on Latin America. (With graduate advisor approval, students may fulfill remaining requirements through interdisciplinary coursework.)
During the program's final phase (typically the fifth and sixth quarters), candidates undergo a comprehensive four-hour written exam, followed by a one-hour oral defense conducted within subsequent weeks. These assessments evaluate mastery of both the M.A. reading list (featuring about 60 seminal Spanish and Latin American works) and completed coursework. Successful examination performance and faculty endorsement are prerequisites for advancing to Ph.D. studies.