The Master of Arts in Spanish is designed to provide a rich variety of graduate course work in a major world language that is becoming increasingly important in the United States.   The program builds on a comprehensive undergraduate curriculum and consists of two tracks: Language, Literature and Culture (LLC) and Translating and Translation Studies (TTS). Staffed by faculty with national and international reputations, the M.A. in Spanish serves individuals who seek a greater understanding of Spanish language, literatures and cultures, and who seek career and professional advancement opportunities in education, translation, applied language (Business Spanish), and who contemplate pursuing a Ph.D. in fields such as Hispanic literature, linguistics, translating and translation studies, intercultural communication, or international studies.

The Master of Arts in Spanish requires either 36 hours of graduate course work or 30 hours of graduate course work plus a master's thesis. With the approval of the department, 3 hours of electives in related areas may be taken as part of the 30-36 hours.   Up to six hours of appropriate graduate credit may be accepted for transfer from another accredited institution.   For any course to count toward the M.A. in Spanish, it must have been taken within six years from the date of enrollment in the program.

For both track options—Language, Literature and Culture (LLC) or Translating and Translation Studies (TTS)—the M.A. in Spanish requires a common set of four graduate core courses (12 hours) distributed as follows: one in Spanish literature, one in Spanish American literature, one in Spanish or Spanish American civilization and culture, and one in Spanish linguistics.

Track I: Language, Literature and Culture (LLC)
The LLC track consists of graduate course work in Spanish and Spanish American literature, Spanish and Spanish American civilization and culture (including film studies), Spanish linguistics, methodology, applied language (Spanish for business and international trade), special topics in Spanish, and up to 3 hours of professional internship in Spanish.  A scholarly thesis may also be written, which constitutes 6 hours of course work.  The LLC track allows for an in-depth development of Spanish language skills and is especially recommended for teachers of Spanish.  It also provides excellent preparation for individuals who may wish to pursue the Ph.D. in Spanish, for whom courses in literature and linguistics are especially recommended.

Track II: Translating and Translation Studies (TTS)
The TTS track consists of graduate course work in the history and theory of translation and in the analysis and translation of different types of texts and discourse: business, technical, medical, legal, scholarly, and literary.  It may also include special topics courses in Spanish-English translation, up to 3 hours of professional internship in translating, and a translation thesis (equivalent to 6 hours).  Course work in applied language areas such as Business Spanish is especially appropriate for the TTS track.  This specialized track serves individuals interested in a career in professional translation or in enhancing their career or work opportunities as language and culture specialists in today's global economy and in a nation where Spanish is becoming increasingly important. It also provides preparation for those who may wish to pursue a Ph.D. in fields such as Spanish, linguistics, translating and translation studies, intercultural communication, or international studies.

• A baccalaureate degree in Spanish or in a related field with an overall GPA of at least 2.75 (on a 4.0 scale).
• An acceptable score on the Aptitude Portion of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
• For international applicants whose native language is not English, a score of at least 550 in the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).   The TOEFL does not apply for applicants who have a four-year degree from a U.S. college or university. In order to be valid, the TOEFL must have been taken within two years of application to the M.A. program.   For further information, contact the Office of International Admissions in Denny Bldg. 211/212 or at www.uncc.edu/intradmn/.
• An essay that addresses the applicant's motivation for enrolling in the M.A. in Spanish, to include particular areas of research interests and career or professional goals.   Students seeking enrollment in the LLC track should write this essay in Spanish and demonstrate a high level of proficiency in Spanish by attaching an additional writing sample (a college term paper or similar document).   Students seeking enrollment in the TTS track may write the essay in either English or Spanish but must demonstrate high levels of literacy and proficiency in both languages by providing writing samples in each.
• An oral interview either in person or by phone with the Graduate Coordinator.
• Three letters of reference.   For those interested in the LLC track, at least two of the letters must be from professors.   For those interested in the TTS track, at least one of the letters must come from a professor, and letters not written by a faculty member must be from professionals working in the field of Spanish, translating and interpreting, or a closely related area (Latin American Studies, International Studies, International Business, etc.).

The department offers a limited number of graduate assistantships and a limited number of non-resident tuition waivers.   Tuition at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, both for in-state and out-of-state students, is among the lowest in the country and provides an excellent return on the dollar.   Additional support may also come from a limited number of professional internships.

Graduate School Publications: Funding a Graduate Education, The Graduate Source Newsletter.  Also visit the Graduate School website for funding sources.   

José Manuel Batista, Ph.D., University of Georgia.   Latin American Poetry, Caribbean Literatures and Cultures, Post-colonial Theory.

Carlos Coria-Sánchez, Ph.D., University of Georgia.   Latin American Literature, Mexican Women Writers and Feminism, Spanish for Business and International Trade.

Michael Scott Doyle, Ph.D., University of Virginia.   Translating and Translation Studies, Spanish for Business and International Trade, 20th Century Spanish Literature.

Concepción Godev, Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University. General Linguistics, Second Language Acquisition, and Pedagogy.

Ann B. González, Ph.D., University of South Carolina.   Central American Literature, Children's Literature in Spanish, 20th Century Spanish American Narrative.

Maryrica Ortiz Lottman, Ph.D., Princeton University. 16th and 17th Century Spanish Literature, especially Theater; Trans-Atlantic Studies; Gender Studies.

Martha LaFollette Miller, Ph.D., Washington University, St. Louis. 19th and 20th Century Spanish and Spanish American Literature, especially poetry; Song Traditions in Spain and Spanish America.

Samuel Monder, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley. 19th and 20th Century Spanish American Literature, with an emphasis on the Southern Cone; Literary Theory and Philosophy and literature.

Anton Pujol, Ph.D., University of Kansas, M.B.A., University of Chicago.   Translation Studies, Spanish for Business, 19th Century Peninsular Literature.

For more information about the academic program, please contact:
      Graduate Program Coordinator
      Department of Languages and Culture Studies
      University of North Carolina at Charlotte
      9201 University City Blvd.
      Charlotte, NC 28223-0001
      Phone: (704) 687-8781
      Fax: (704) 687-3496
      E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
      Web address: http://languages.uncc.edu/graduate-programs/63-masters-in-spanish.html

The Graduate Catalog, application forms and materials can be obtained from:
      The Office of Graduate Admissions
      UNC Charlotte
      9201 University City Blvd.
      Charlotte, NC 28223-0001
      Phone: (704) 687-3366
      Fax: (704) 687-3279
      Web address: www.graduateschool.uncc.edu.

• “Spanish: Bestow great attention on this & endeavor to acquire an accurate knowledge of it. Our future connections with Spain and Spanish America will render that language a valuable acquisition.”  Thomas Jefferson, 1787.
• Spanish is the world's third most spoken “first” language, used as such by more than 412 million people in 23 countries.
• In the year 2000 the U.S. Census Bureau reported 35.3 million persons of Hispanic origin, 12.5% of the total national population. In effect, the U.S. is the world's 5th largest Spanish-speaking country, after Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
• U.S. Hispanics are now the nation's largest minority group.
• Within 45 years one out of every four Americans will be of Hispanic origin (U.S. Census Bureau).
• U.S. Hispanics own 1.3 million businesses (37% of all minority-owned businesses), with annual gross receipts exceeding $200 billion.
• In 1999 Hispanic purchasing power in the U.S. exceeded $383 billion, a growth of 83% since 1990. It is expected to exceed one trillion dollars by the year 2050.
• The U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has more than 500,000 members.