Spanish MA Exams

Spanish Literature, both thesis and non-thesis options

The examination is based on the courses the student has taken during his/her course of study; thus, it is important that the student keep an archive of the course syllabi of every course taken. Should the student, for any reason, not take a course in one of the assigned areas, he/she will have to make up for this omission by supplying appropriate selections from the Reading List for the Master of Arts in Spanish.

Please check the Spanish Literature MA reading list (PDF) for a detailed description of the selections for each area.

Degree requirements include success on the written comprehensive examination. No oral component is required. The six-part written examination will be based both on coursework and a reading list in each area.  Students are required to take exams in the following areas: either three Peninsular areas (of the student’s choosing) and two Latin American areas (of the student’s choosing) or vice versa, and one area of linguistics. From the selection of questions provided, the candidate must generate six written answers.

Typically there are three exam days, with two exam sessions each day, spread out over the course of a week. Each exam day lasts 3 hours, divided into two session. During each exam session, the examinee writes answers to one question. A typical sequence for taking the exam would follow this schedule: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for 3 hours each.

The professor in each area of specialization, after evaluating the written answers, decides if the student passes his/her question. In order to pass the entire exam, a student must earn a pass in five of the six areas. Should the student fail more than two areas, he/she will have one final opportunity to repeat the failed areas, normally in the following semester (without expectation of renewed support in the form of an assistantship).

Should the student fail in two areas, normally he/she must repeat both areas two weeks later. Should the student pass both repeated areas or fail in only one of the two repeated areas, then the student will earn a pass on the overall exam. Should the student fail both repeated areas, then he/she has one final opportunity to retake the failed exams, normally the following semester (without expectation of renewed support in the form of an assistantship).

Spanish Linguistics, both thesis and non-thesis options

The comprehensive exam for the Linguistics concentration is comprised of three exam sessions.

Typically there are three exam days, with a single three-hour exam session each day, spread out over the course of a week. All exam questions are based on the coursework. At each of the three sessions, the examinee will write answers to two different questions (from a choice of three or more questions, typically from different professors).  The order of sessions may vary, but in all cases, sessions are devoted to:

  • Applied Linguistics
  • Combination of Spanish Linguistics and Electives
  • Peninsular and Latin American Literature

In order to receive a pass on the overall exam, the examinee must earn a pass on both Applied Linguistics questions and on at least three of the other four questions. Failure to do so will require a repeat examination in all failed areas, at a time to be determined in consultation with the Graduate Adviser and exam committee members. (In the event that the repeat examination takes place during the following semester, there can be no expectation of renewed support in the form of an assistantship.)