Spanish

Eleven courses (44 units), nine (36 units) of which must be graduate level, are required for the M.A. degree. Spanish 495 may count as one of the eleven courses but may not replace one of the graduate courses. Up to two graduate courses may be taken in another department with the approval of the graduate adviser. Spanish 596 may be taken only once; courses 597 and 598 do not count toward the degree.

Students choose a concentration from the following options: (A) literature; (B) linguistics.

Option A Literature: Students who choose the literature concentration are required to take Spanish M201A and at least one graduate course in each of the following areas: (1) medieval Spanish literature; (2) Golden Age Spanish literature; (3) 18th and 19th century Spanish literature; (4) 20th century Spanish literature; (5) Colonial or 19th century Spanish American literature; (6) 20th century Spanish American literature; (7) Chicano literature; (8) 20th century Latin American literature, including Brazilian. The remaining courses may be taken in any area offered by the department. Courses are selected in consultation with the graduate adviser, who considers the student's interests as well as the necessary preparation for the comprehensive examination.

Option B Linguistics: Students who choose the linguistics concentration are required to take one upper division or graduate course in literature offered by the department and ten elective courses to be selected in consultation with the graduate adviser, who considers the student's interests as well as the necessary preparation for the comprehensive examination.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

(A) Literature: The comprehensive examination in literature consists of submission of two revised papers written for seminars taken during the first five quarters and an oral examination on course work and seminar papers completed while in graduate study. With the assistance of the SAO and the Director of Graduate Studies, by the end of the 4th quarter of the program, students must demonstrate that they are on track to complete the course work (11 required courses from the 8 Ph.D. areas) and the language requirement for this first stage of the program. Additionally, by the end of the 4th quarter, students must nominate an ad hoc review committee of three faculty members from the department: the Director of Graduate Studies, the faculty member who will serve as the student’s advisor, and a third faculty member. These requirements must be completed by the 5th quarter of the program for a student to maintain satisfactory degree progress.

In consultation with the ad hoc review committee, students are required to submit two of their strongest seminar papers, 20-25 pages each (with revisions) in different areas of study of the Ph.D. Program. At least one paper must be written in English or Spanish. Students must submit the papers to the ad hoc review committee during the 6th quarter of the program and at least two weeks in advance of the oral exam.

The oral exam is two hours in length and consists of a review of the papers submitted and questions addressed to the student. Questions are aimed at reviewing and synthesizing what the student has learned in the graduate seminars and from the reading/bibliography lists provided by the instructor for each course taken.

The outcome and recommendation of the comprehensive exams is made by the ad hoc committee as follows: (1) Pass with permission to continue to the Ph.D., (2) Pass with reservations and specific recommendations for improvement, or (3) Fail without permission to continue to the Ph.D. phase of the program.

(B) Linguistics: The comprehensive examination in Spanish linguistics consists of four two-hour examinations. Students choose four examination areas from the following: (1) Spanish syntax; (2) Portuguese syntax; (3) Spanish phonetics and morphology; (4) Spanish diachronic and synchronic language variation; (5) Spanish/Spanish-American literature; (6) Luso-Brazilian literature. The examination is based on reading lists for the individual examination areas chosen by the student. Reading lists are provided by departmental faculty members when the examination areas are chosen.

The M.A. program in Spanish is the first phase of the doctoral program in Hispanic Languages and Literatures. When the student has completed all requirements for the M.A. degree, the examination committee will meet to evaluate the student by considering the following: (1) one writing sample in Spanish; (2) results of the comprehensive examination; (3) course work.

A recommendation is made by the committee at a general department meeting. The department decides whether: a) the student has earned a terminal M.A. degree (that is, the student may not proceed to the doctoral program); b) the student has earned the M.A. degree and may proceed to the second phase of the Ph.D. program.

The comprehensive examinations in literature and linguistics are administered only in spring quarter.

Students holding an M.A. degree in a subject area other than Spanish must take the comprehensive examination and present a writing sample to their committee. Students may petition for up to eight graduate courses used for the master's degree to count toward the Ph.D. degree.

Thesis Plan

Every master's degree thesis plan requires the completion of an approved thesis that demonstrates the student's ability to perform original, independent research.

In lieu of taking the comprehensive examination, students in either concentration may seek permission to present a thesis for the M.A. degree. Students must first complete five graduate courses, one of which must be a seminar. In order to endorse the petition, the graduate adviser and the guidance committee need to find evidence of exceptional ability and promise in term papers and course work.

Time-to-Degree

Full-time students (three courses per quarter) with no deficiencies upon entrance should complete the course work and the comprehensive examination within four quarters of admission. Teaching assistants and students with deficiencies at entrance require longer. Students who are not appointed as teaching assistants are expected to complete seven courses for each three-quarter period; students appointed as teaching assistants are expected to complete five courses for each three-quarter period.

MAXIMUM TTD

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

A student who fails to meet the above requirements may be recommended for termination of graduate study. A graduate student may be disqualified from continuing in the graduate program for a variety of reasons. The most common reason is failure to maintain the minimum cumulative grade point average (3.00) required by the Academic Senate to remain in good standing (some programs require a higher grade point average). Other examples include failure of examinations, lack of timely progress toward the degree and poor performance in core courses. Probationary students (those with cumulative grade point averages below 3.00) are subject to immediate dismissal upon the recommendation of their department. University guidelines governing termination of graduate students, including the appeal procedure, are outlined in Standards and Procedures for Graduate Study at UCLA.

UCLA is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and by numerous special agencies. Information regarding the University's accreditation may be obtained from the Office of Academic Planning and Budget, 2107 Murphy Hall.