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The Master of Arts Degree in Spanish offers students the opportunity to pursue studies in Hispanic literature, linguistics, and culture. The program prepares students for doctoral studies and for careers in the teaching of Spanish, bilingual education, international business, social and governmental services, and other related areas.

More information can be found on the Department of World Languages and Literatures  website: www.sjsu.edu/wll.

University Admission Requirements

Applicants must submit a complete graduate application by applying through the CSU Cal State Apply system and meet all the university admission requirements . Applicants apply separately to the department to obtain admission into the MA, Spanish degree program. See the GAPE Graduate Admissions website and this Catalog for general information about graduate admissions at SJSU.

Applicants from countries in which the native language is not English must achieve a minimum English Language Proficiency Exam (ELP) score as indicated on the Graduate Program Test Requirements webpage.

Students can be admitted to either classified or conditionally classified standing.

Admission to Graduate Standing - Classified

Minimum requirements for admission to the Graduate Division are outlined in this catalog. In order to be admitted to classified standing in the MA program in Spanish, students should possess the following:

1. A bachelor’s degree (or its equivalent, as assessed by the department), with a major in Spanish, and including at least 16 units of upper-division work in the major with a grade of “B” or better.
2. Evidence of college-level proficiency in Spanish.

Admission to Graduate Standing - Conditionally Classified

A student may be admitted to conditionally classified standing if he or she meets minimum requirements for admission to the Graduate Division but does not fully meet requirements for Classified admission to the MA, Spanish program. The individual admission notification will explain the required terms and conditions for attaining Classified standing.

Advancement to Candidacy

The university requirements for advancement to candidacy  for the master’s degree are outlined in the Graduate Policies and Procedures  section. Students should seek advancement to candidacy as soon as possible for their given program and on the advice of their graduate program coordinator. Graduate students may submit a Petition for Advancement to Graduate Candidacy form to the Graduate Admissions & Program Evaluations (GAPE) office after satisfying the following: achieved classified status; completed a minimum of nine letter-graded units with all grades “C” or higher; fulfilled the Campus Graduate Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (CGGWAR) requirement; achieved a minimum cumulative and program 3.0 GPA, and, graduate within the seven-year time limit for degree completion. Graduate students must submit their petition no later than one semester prior to graduating. Courses that satisfy the CGGWAR are listed in the course requirements for the program.

Advancement to candidacy requires favorable action by both the departmental graduate committee and the university graduate committee. All applicants meet institutional requirements as set forth in this catalog. 

Program of Study Requirements

Students must complete all residency, curriculum, unit, GPA, and culminating experience requirements as outlined in the Graduation Requirements  section of the Graduate Policies and Procedures . Students must comply with all other graduate requirements contained in this catalog.

The minimum program for a Master of Arts in Spanish degree includes the following:

1. The 32 unit program for a Master of Spanish requires at least 20 semester units of 200-level courses. Included in these 32 units, students must take FORL 200W , which satisfies the Campus Graduate Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (CGGWAR)  .
2. Up to 12 units of approved upper-division (100-level) courses not used to meet a requirement for the BA degree in Spanish at San José State University may be taken in the Graduate Division to complete the minimum 32-unit program.
3. Final comprehensive examination conducted in Spanish.
4. Demonstration of competence in written English.

Culminating Experience

Plan B (Comprehensive Exam)
Each candidate for the master’s degree must successfully complete a final comprehensive written examination.