Spanish (MA)

Program Overview

The Romance Languages and Literatures Department at Binghamton University offers a Master of Arts (MA) degree program in Spanish, with both thesis and non-thesis tracks available, customized to allow students to focus on cultural and literary studies, linguistics, pedagogy and/or translation. Moreover, students can use their elective courses and MA exams to complete additional graduate certificates in translation studies and in community college teaching. Our program is diverse and highly flexible, and students are encouraged to explore interdisciplinary studies. 4+1 degree programs, dual-degree programs and joint MA-PhD programs are available, including combinations with public administration, social work, education and comparative literature. Students are expected to have a strong background in Spanish, as most courses have a rigorous language component.

Degrees Offered

• MA in Spanish

Internships, Research Opportunities and More

Throughout the MA in Spanish program, students acquire a solid background in linguistic, historical, cultural and literary studies in the Hispanic world. The faculty in the Spanish program are dedicated professors and recognized scholars who offer a wide variety of courses, some of which are linked to their compelling research projects: Judeo-Spanish (Ladino) language, gothic Caribbean literature, detective fiction and memory studies in Latin America, Chicano and Latino communities in the U.S., colonial cartography and expeditions, contemporary poetry and metafictional literature in Spain, and Cervantes literary studies. The Spanish faculty includes professors from the U.S., Puerto Rico and several Spanish-speaking countries (Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Spain, Uruguay and Venezuela), which contributes to the multicultural experience of our graduate students.

Small class sizes (ranging from 5 to 25 students) foster close student-faculty interactions and academic supervision. Students are encouraged to seek academic advising early to develop a suitable course of study for their interests. Many classes are offered in the evenings and at night to accommodate part-time, professional students.

The department offers merit-based scholarships (such as the James and Catherine O'Connor Scholarship in Spanish) as well as awards of excellence to be used toward tuition. For further information, please email Graduate Director Dr. Sandra Casanova-Vizcaíno (casanova@binghamton.edu). Graduate students may also apply for paid assistantships through the “Languages Across the Curriculum” program. These assistantships are part-time, involving work with a professor (possibly in another department) to lead out-of-class discussions or activities. Graduate students can also apply to work for University Tutorial Services. For additional information on financial aid, loans, scholarships and other part-time employment opportunities on campus for graduate students, explore the Graduate School website.

After You Graduate

This degree opens a broad range of professional opportunities in foreign language, culture and public service. Most graduates of the Romance Languages and Literatures Department become language instructors, translators, interpreters, editors and communicators, and many continue on to pursue doctoral studies in leading universities in their field of interest.

Admissions Requirements

To be eligible for graduate study, you must:

• Provide a complete set of your undergraduate (and, if applicable, graduate) transcripts showing one of the following:
  • You have earned a bachelor's degree (or its equivalent) from a nationally or regionally accredited college or university
  • You are within one academic year of earning a bachelor’s degree (or its equivalent) from a nationally or regionally accredited college or university
  • You are eligible to apply as part of a memorandum of understanding between your current institution and Binghamton University
• Have earned, at minimum, one of the following:
  • A 3.0 GPA over your entire undergraduate career
  • A 3.0 GPA during your last 60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits of your undergraduate degree, with most courses graded regularly (not as "pass/fail")
  • A 3.0 GPA in a graduate degree, with most courses graded regularly (not as "pass/fail")
  • In consideration of the different grading scales used around the world, each academic department evaluates international transcripts to determine on a case-by-case basis whether they demonstrate one of the above requirements.

To apply, you must submit the following materials. For general guidelines for these materials, see the Admission Requirements website.

• Online graduate degree application with graduate degree application fee
• Transcripts from each college or university that you have attended
• Personal statement of 2 to 3 pages describing your reasons for pursuing graduate study, your career aspirations, your special interests within your field, and any unusual features of your background that might need explanation or be of interest to the graduate admissions committee (in English or Spanish)
• Résumé or curriculum vitae
• Two letters of recommendation (in English or Spanish)
• Writing sample from one of your undergraduate classes (midterm, final, etc.) on any topic and in any style (essay, report, response, note, etc.) that is long enough to demonstrate your ability to organize and develop ideas about a subject in Spanish
• GRE scores not required

International students must also submit the following materials. For more information about these materials, see the International Students section of the Admission Requirements website.

• International Student Financial Statement (ISFS) form
• Supporting financial documentation (such as bank statements, scholarship or sponsor letters, etc.)
• Proof of English proficiency (such as official TOEFL/IELTS/PTE Academic/Duolingo* scores)
  • *In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Graduate School at Binghamton University has temporarily approved the use of the Duolingo English Test as proof of English proficiency through the 2023 application cycle.

This information is subject to change. While we make every effort to update these program pages, we recommend that you contact the department with questions about program-specific requirements.

Deadlines

Accelerated/4+1 Degrees

You may also be interested in our accelerated/4+1 degree programs which allow students to complete their bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in just 5 years!

For more information, visit the Spanish website.