M.A. Degrees
M.A. Degree in Spanish - literature
M.A. Degree in Spanish - literature emphasis (Plan II)
Requirements (literature)
1. Completion of at least 36 units, chosen in consultation with the graduate adviser. No more than 4 units of SPA 299 may be included in this total.
1 unit: SPA 203 (Research Methodology)
4 units: SPA 201 (Literary Theory I) or CRI 200A (Approaches to Critical Theory)
4 units: Linguistics course – chosen from SPA 205-217, 291
8 units: Two graduate seminars in Spanish Literature – chosen from SPA 222-224, 252-265
8 units: Two graduate seminars in Latin-American Literature – chosen from SPA 230-231, 272-285
8 units: Two graduate seminars in chosen specialty – chosen from SPA 222-285
4 units: One elective graduate seminar
36 Total Units
2. Successful completion of a comprehensive written and oral examination on all areas specified in the M.A. literature reading list:
Medieval, Golden Age, Modern/Contemporary Peninsular
Pre-1900, Modern/Contemporary Latin American
Study Program (literature)
Students are required to meet with the appropriate graduate adviser at the beginning of the first quarter of study and are strongly encouraged to meet with them each quarter thereafter.
New graduate students with teaching appointments are required to take SPA 390 (The Teaching of Spanish in College) during their first quarter of teaching. Exceptions can be made for students with acceptable prior teaching experience. Students taking SPA 390 should enroll in at least one other seminar. Students have the option of using 4 units of SPA 396 (Teaching Assistant Training Practicum) in any quarter in order to total the required 12 units.
In subsequent quarters students must take two seminars but are encouraged to take three. Students should be aware that required courses might not be offered more than once during their course of study, therefore, they are encouraged to take required courses as they are offered.
The M.A. exam will be taken no later than the end of the 6th quarter of graduate work.
MA Reading List-Literature
Comprehensive Exam format and content (literature)
The M.A. comprehensive exam is taken at the end of all coursework, typically in the sixth quarter of graduate study. The exam committee and its chair are determined by the Graduate Program Committee and consist of three professors from the department, who compose and administer the exam; the chair of the exam committee may be the student’s major professor.
The comprehensive exam contains two parts: an 8-hour written exam and a subsequent 1-hour oral exam. The format of the written exam is a combination of four essay questions and five brief identifications from a selection of ten.
The exam is based on the M.A. Reading List, which is drawn from all the required courses. Students are responsible for all texts on the reading list, although probably not all will be covered on the exam due to time constraints. The questions are divided into the following sub-fields: Medieval/Golden Age, Modern/Contemporary Peninsular; Pre-1900, Modern/Contemporary Latin American.
The written exam lasts one full day, from 8 am to 5 pm. Students are given the complete exam at 8 am and must turn in their typed responses by 5 pm. Students are required to take from a minimum of a half hour to a maximum of hour for a lunch break. There is no minimum or maximum number of pages for this exam; as a rough guideline, answers generally range from two to five double spaced pages for each question. Following completion of the written exam, the oral exam is scheduled within the next seven days. No notes are allowed at the oral portion of the exam.
Should a student not pass either the written or oral component of the comprehensive exam, they will be allowed one additional retake of the exam, but only if the graduate adviser agrees. The second attempt will be scheduled within one quarter and will cover only the part(s) of the exam that the student failed. Students who fail to retake the exam within one quarter or who do not pass on the second attempt will be recommended to the Dean of Graduate Studies for disqualification from the program.
Students are encouraged to look at two previous exams, which are available from the graduate program staff. There is available a list of suggested critical readings to accompany the M.A. Reading List. These readings are not required, but are provided to guide students in preparing for the exam.
M.A. Degree in Spanish - linguistics emphasis (Plan II)
Requirements (linguistics)
1. Completion of at least 5 graduate level (200) seminar courses and at least 4 elective seminars in Hispanic linguistics and literature. Two elective seminars may be taken outside the department with the approval of the graduate adviser. The total unit requirement for Graduate Studies is 36 units. No more than 4 units of SPA 299 may be included in this total.
1 unit: SPA 203 (Research Methodology)
4 units: Literature course (Graduate Seminar in Spanish or Latin-American Literature)
4 units: SPA 205 (Spanish Phonology)
4 units: SPA 206 (Spanish Syntax)- or LIN 231
4 units: SPA 207 (History of the Spanish Language)
4 units: SPA 212 (Applied Linguistics)- or LIN 280 or 281
8 units: Two elective linguistics graduate seminars within the Spanish dept.
7 units: Two elective graduate seminars
36 Total Units
2. Successful completion of a comprehensive written examination on three fields – two from group I and one from group II, as listed below:
Group I (select two)
Phonology/Dialectology
History of Spanish
Syntax
Group II (select one)
Literature
Pragmatics
Semantics
Sociolinguistics
Applied Linguistics
Study Program (linguistics)
Students are required to meet with the appropriate graduate adviser at the beginning of the first quarter of study and are strongly encouraged to meet with them each quarter thereafter.
New graduate students with teaching appointments are required to take SPA 390 (The Teaching of Spanish in College) during their first quarter of teaching. Exceptions can be made for students with acceptable prior teaching experience. Students taking SPA 390 should enroll in at least one other seminar. Students have the option of using 4 units of SPA 396 (Teaching Assistant Training Practicum) in any quarter in order to total the required 12 units. In subsequent quarters students must take two seminars but are encouraged to take three. Students should be aware that required courses might not be offered more than once during their course of study, therefore, they are encouraged to take required courses as they are offered.
The M.A. exam will be taken no later than the end of the 6th quarter of graduate work.
MA Spanish Linguistics Reading List 2021
Comprehensive exam format and content (linguistics)
The M.A. comprehensive exam is taken at the end of all coursework, typically in the sixth quarter of graduate study. The exam committee is determined by the Graduate Program Committee and consists of three professors from the department, who compose and administer the exam.
The comprehensive exam consists of an 8-hour written exam. The format of the written exam is six essay questions from three topics; two for each topic. The exam is based on the M.A. Reading List, which is drawn from all the required courses. Students are responsible for all texts on the reading lists in the fields that they choose, although probably not all will be covered on the exam due to time constraints. Students choose two fields from among Phonology/Dialectology, History of Spanish, and Syntax; and one field from among Literature, Pragmatics, Semantics, Sociolinguistics, and Applied Linguistics.
The written exam, to which students may not bring any notes or reference materials, lasts one full day, from 8 am to 5 pm. Students are given the complete exam at 8 am and must turn in their typed responses by 5 pm. Students are required to take from a minimum of a half hour to a maximum of hour for a lunch break. There is no minimum or maximum number of pages for this exam; as a rough guideline, answers generally range from two to five double spaced pages for each question.
Should a student not pass the comprehensive exam, they will be allowed one additional retake of the exam, but only if their graduate adviser agrees. The second attempt will be scheduled within one quarter. Students who fail to retake the exam with one quarter or who do not pass on the second attempt will be recommended to the Dean of Graduate Studies for disqualification from the program.
Students are encouraged to look at previous exams, which are available from the graduate program staff.
Residence Requirement
M.A. students must be in residence for a minimum of three regular quarters of full-time enrollment (12 units per quarter). Two six-week summer sessions may be counted as the equivalent of one regular quarter for purposes of satisfying this requirement. A minimum of two units must be taken in each summer session.
Normal Progress Schedule
For an understanding of normal M.A. progress, please see the M.A. Degree timeline.
Course load
Graduate students must enroll in 12 units each quarter to be considered full-time. In order to be eligible for fellowships or employment, graduate students must be registered full time.
Part-time students are limited to no more than 6 units per quarter. Doctoral students advanced to candidacy are not eligible for part-time status. To apply for part-time status, locate the form on the Graduate Studies website: https://gradstudies.ucdavis.edu/current-students/forms-information.
Teaching Assistants are expected to enroll in 12 units of course work while serving as a TA. To bring enrollment up to 12 units, professional development units (e.g., 390, 396, 397) can be used. Professional level courses (300s) do not contribute toward graduate seminar units required for the degree.
Graduate Student Researchers must be enrolled in 12 units of course work while serving as a GSR. To bring enrollment up to 12 units, 299 units can be used.
How to arrange an independent study (299)
Students should not enroll in 299 until they have completed their required coursework. Once the required coursework is completed, the student will typically enroll in SPA 299 with his or her Major Professor. These units can help students to achieve full-time status while studying for exams or writing the dissertation. To set up a 299, seek permission from the instructor and then complete the Variable Unit Course Request form: https://langlit.ucdavis.edu/langlit-forms/variable-unit-restricted-gradu.... This form describes weekly contact hours and expectations of what will be completed during the quarter. Once you have permission from the instructor, request the Course Registration Number (CRN) from the Graduate Program Coordinator in order to enroll via sisweb.
Procedure for continuation to the Ph.D.
All M.A. students will be advised when they begin the program that they must prepare and submit a statement of purpose for the Ph.D. by the admissions deadline of January 5 describing: your academic plans and research interests, your specialization within your academic field, your research experiences, and your career goals. You may consider how your past experiences and the opportunities you recognize at UC Davis (i.e. specific faculty and resources) will converge in the work you anticipate doing for the degree. Please also include a letter of support from the faculty member who will be your major professor/dissertation chair.
The Graduate Program Committee will review the student’s portfolio and statement. If the Committee determines that a student should not continue for the Ph.D., the student will be awarded a terminal M.A. after passing the comprehensive exam. If the Committee approves a student’s petition, the student will receive an M.A. and continue for the Ph.D after passing the comprehensive exam.
Students must also complete the Petition for Change of Graduate Major, Degree Objective, or for Double Graduate Major. This form is available from the Graduate Studies web site (gradstudies.ucdavis.edu/forms) or from the graduate program coordinator. Students should also have identified a mentor (or mentors) that they will work with should they continue for the Ph.D.