The M.A. in Spanish focuses on the strengthening of the knowledge of Spanish teachers as well as of the intensive study of literature, linguistics, and culture for those students who will be continuing their advanced studies. The degree is also appropriate for those students seeking employment in the public or private sector in positions that serve the Latino community or require knowledge of Spanish at an advanced level.

The B.A. in Spanish + M.A. in Spanish is a possible pathway for students who wish to complete both degrees. The B.A. in Spanish + M.A. in Spanish provides an accelerated pathway to the completion of the graduate degree by allowing undergraduate students to take 4 graduate level courses (12 units) while in undergraduate status. These 12 graduate level units can double count toward both the undergraduate and graduate degree requirements. Admission to the B.A. in Spanish + M.A. in Spanish is open to students who have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or an average GPA of 3.0 in undergraduate coursework in Spanish completed at the time of the application. Students who have a lower GPA than 3.0 may still apply and will be evaluated based on the strength of their other supporting materials. Admission must be approved by the Department of World Languages and Literatures following the C.A.P.E Scholars Program policies and procedures (Coyote Accelerated Postbaccalaureate Education). Furthermore, students who do not maintain a 3.0 GPA upon completion of the B.A. in Spanish will not be permited to move to graduate status and will graduate with the B.A.  

Students in the B.A. in Spanish + M.A. in Spanish program must choose the following concentration for the BA:  Spanish – Hispanic Language, Literature and Civilization Concentration (SLLC).

Admission to the Program

In addition to the general requirements of the University, which include a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college, specific requirements for classification in the program are:

1. Completion of an undergraduate major in Spanish from an accredited institution consisting of at least 30 semester units, or 45 quarter units, or equivalent, of upper-division course work;
2. A cumulative undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0 ("B"), and a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in all Spanish classes;
3. Good standing at the last college attended (verified by student transcripts, see below);
4. Three letters of recommendation;
5. A one- to two-page statement describing the student's professional goals in the area of Spanish;
6. Submission of official transcripts from all previous college work to the department's graduate committee;
7. Verification of oral and written proficiency in Spanish at the ACTFL level of advanced mid or higher as determined by an entrance exam given by the Department of World Languages and Literatures, CSUSB. (This requirement is waived for candidates who received their B.A. in Spanish from CSUSB within the last five years of application to the M.A. in Spanish.);
8. Students who do not meet the above criteria may be admitted as conditionally classified graduate students per approval by the Graduate Committee and may be required to take additional upper-division Spanish undergraduate courses. Students who do not possess a B.A. in Spanish (but have a degree in another discipline) may also be required to take selected upper-division undergraduate courses (earning a minimum grade of "B" (3.0) in each assigned class).

Admission to the 4+1 Option (Blended Program)

In addition to the general requirements of the university, specific requirements for being invited into the Spanish BA /MA 4+1 Option (blended program) are:

1. Invitee must be a CSUSB undergraduate student with at least a junior year academic standing with at least 60 units completed;
2. Invitee must apply before the completion of 90-105 semester units;
3. Invitee must have completed at least three courses from the Hispanic Language, Literature and Civilization (SLLC) concentration within the Bachelor of Arts in Spanish program with a GPA of 3.0 or higher across all three courses;
4. Invitee's overall CSUSB grade point average (GPA) should be 3.0 or higher or an average GPA of 3.0 in undergraduate coursework in Spanish. Students who have a lower GPA than 3.0 may still apply and will be evaluated based on the strength of their other supporting materials.
5. Invitee should submit two letters of recommendation supporting their application. Letters should be from people able to make relevant comments on the student's ability to succeed in an accelerated BA/MA blended program.
6. Invitee should submit a one-page personal statement giving a sense of who the student is and their particular interests and goals in pursuing a graduate degree.
7. Invitee should submit a 5-10 page writing sample in Spanish that showcases the student's ability to think critically and articulate their ideas in writing.

Students who accept invitation into the Spanish BA/MA 4+1 program shall be designated as CAPE undergraduates until the BA is conferred. Then they will move to CAPE graduate status.

Advancement to Candidacy

To be advanced to candidacy, the student must have:

1. Achieved classified status;
2. Completion of the writing requirement for graduate candidacy through completion of a program-specific writing intensive mandatory course,SPAN 6606, with a grade no lower than B;
3. Completed all course work taken before advancement to candidacy with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 ("B"). Completed all course work with no more than one course with a grade of "C" or lower. If a second such grade is earned, the student will be dismissed from the program, but may petition the graduate admission committee for readmission. After reviewing the petition, the committee may allow readmission under such conditions as it deems appropriate. A third grade of "C" or lower will result in permanent dismissal from the program with no recourse to petition;
4. Submission of appropriate documentation verifying knowledge of a language other than English or Spanish at either the 1112 or second semester (or equivalent) level.

Requirements for Graduation

1. Advancement to candidacy;
2. Successful completion of 30-semester units of acceptable graduate work with at least 23 units completed at CSUSB. All coursework taken at other institutions must be approved by the Graduate Committee; 
3. An overall GPA of at least 3.0 ("B") in all graduate-level course work;
4. Successful completion of Culminating Experience:  SPAN 6698;
5. The graduation writing requirement is met upon the successful completion of SPAN 6606.

Degree Requirements (30 units)

Hispanic Literature, Linguistics, and Civilization (Program Code: SPNM)

Designed for students who wish to pursue an in-depth study of Spanish, Spanish American, and Latino literatures along with Spanish linguistics, and to prepare students for further advanced study.

Core Courses (3)
SPAN 6606	Research Methods	3
Students may only count four 5000-level courses towards the M.A. (at least six courses must be at the 6000-level)
Linguistics Electives (9)		9
Nine units (three of the following courses):
SPAN 5505	Seminar in Hispanic Linguistics
SPAN 5507	Seminar in Special Interdisciplinary Topics in Spanish Literature, Linguistics, or Culture
SPAN 6608	History of the Spanish Language
SPAN 6615	Second Language Acquisition in Spanish
SPAN 6620	General Spanish Linguistics
SPAN 6655	Spanish Applied Linguistics
SPAN 6656	Spanish Semantics and Pragmatics
Literature Electives (18)		18
Eighteen units (six of the following courses) - students must take at least one course in Peninsular literature and one course in Spanish American literature:
SPAN 5501	Seminar in Peninsular Literature, Culture, Theater and Film
SPAN 5503	Seminar in Spanish American Literature, Culture, Theater and Film
SPAN 5507	Seminar in Special Interdisciplinary Topics in Spanish Literature, Linguistics, or Culture
SPAN 6625	Spanish Peninsular Literature
SPAN 6630	Spanish American Literature
SPAN 6650	Spanish Peninsular Literature and Culture
SPAN 6651	Spanish American Literature and Culture
SPAN 6652	Modern Spanish American Literature
SPAN 6653	Contemporary Chicanx/Latinx Literature in Spanish
SPAN 6654	Modern Spanish Peninsular Literature
Culminating Experience (0)		0
Total Units		30

Culminating Experience (0 units)

Culminating Experience (0)
SPAN 6698	Comprehensive Examination	0
Total Units		0