The Baylor faculty takes the teaching vocation seriously and mentors graduate students individually in the best practices of teaching Spanish language and literature. Small classes provide not only rich interaction between the professors and students but also a sense of community among the graduate students. Although Baylor welcomes students from any faith tradition, as a Christian university it seeks to take seriously the relevance of faith to all of its pursuits and encourages students to think broadly and critically about questions of human value.
The goals of the Master of Arts program in Spanish are:
The Master of Arts degree in Spanish requires thirty-six semester hours and can normally be completed in two years. There are two options for the degree, one that requires a thesis and one that does not. The curriculum requirements depend on which option is chosen:
Thirty-six total semester hours, including six hours for the thesis. A minimum of fifteen hours, excluding the thesis, are required at the 5000 level.
3.0 Literary Theory, Research, and Writing
6.0 Thesis
9.0 Three linguistics courses
6.0 Two peninsular literature courses
6.0 Two Latin American literature courses
6.0 Electives*
36.0 Total Hours
A minimum of eighteen hours must be taken at the 5000 level.
3.0 Literary Theory, Research, and Writing
9.0 Three linguistics courses
9.0 Three peninsular literature courses
9.0 Three Latin American literature courses
6.0 Electives*
36.0 Total hours
For both options, students must demonstrate intermediate-level proficiency in a second romance language and must also pass written and oral final examinations and/or research projects. Comprehensive exams are given in four areas. Three are required of all students: 1) Linguistics, 2) Latin American Literature, and 3) Spanish Literature of the Golden Age. The fourth exam students may choose between Spanish Medieval Literature and Spanish Literature of the 19th and 20th Centuries.
In selecting electives, students must declare an area of emphasis: literature or linguistics. Those who have chosen a literature emphasis may substitute one linguistics course with a literature course (except for the second language acquisition course, which is required of all), or with another non-linguistics course, that is approved by the advisor.
Those who have chosen a linguistics emphasis may substitute one literature course with a linguistics course or a non-literature course that is approved by the advisor.
*Electives must be approved by the graduate advisor and must fit the area of emphasis chosen by the student.