M.A. in Spanish

About the Program 

The M.A. in Spanish at CCNY is designed to offer students advanced courses in Spanish and Spanish American literature as well as advanced studies in Spanish language and literary theory. The program prepares students for careers in research and teaching and provides a solid cultural and linguistic competence that gives students the possibility to explore career options in interpreting, translating, diplomatic service, editorial work, social services, commerce and business. The Master of Arts degree also opens opportunities for students to pursue doctoral programs at major institutions.

FAQs & General Info:

What are the advantages of the M.A. in Spanish at CCNY? 

Our graduate students are taught by outstanding teachers and scholars. The Department of Classical and Modern Languages and Literatures boasts dedicated faculty members and mentors, many with awards for their teaching, research, and mentoring. We are a department of active scholars and gifted teachers with diverse research backgrounds within the areas of Peninsular and Spanish American literature, as well as linguistics.

Who is the ideal student for this program?

The M.A. Program in Spanish is ideal for teachers of K-12 Spanish, those planning to work in international settings, those interested in teaching Spanish at a community college or as a university instructor, or those considering doctoral studies. The ideal candidates for our M.A. Program in Spanish are those students who have completed their B.A. degree in Spanish. However, if students have completed their B.A. in other areas/fields, they can meet with the M.A. Director and discuss their individual situations and interests. Students may initially come into the M.A. program as non-degree, try the program, and after 9 completed credits (3 courses), decide whether or not they would like to stay in the program.  

Can students study part-time?

Yes, students can attend part time (actually, most of our students alternate taking one and two courses, depending on their work schedule).
 

How much is tuition and which fees are required? 

For information about tuition, fees and other expenses, check the following link: https://www.ccny.cuny.edu/bursar/tuition-and-fee-information (check the year you are applying in and look for “Graduate Tuition” and then “All Other Masters Programs”). The current tuition (2020; https://www.ccny.cuny.edu/bursar/tuition-and-fee-listing-fall-2020) is $470 per credit for New York State residents and $855 per credit for out-of-state and international students. Students seeking information on costs and eligibility criteria for financial aid should check or contact the Financial Aid Website (https://www.ccny.cuny.edu/financialaid) or Office in the Administration Building, Room 104. Phone: 212-650-6656. E-mail: financialaid@ccny.cuny.edu  

Please, also check the following Graduate Students Financial Aid Summary: https://www.ccny.cuny.edu/financialaid/graduate-financial-aid  

How many credits do I need to earn an M.A. in Spanish?

The M.A. in Spanish is a 33-credit graduate program. 
 

Do you also offer an Accelerated M.A. Program?

Yes, we do. The Accelerated M.A. Program (also known as B.A./M.A. combined or 4+1 Program) is an excellent opportunity for highly motivated CCNY Spanish major students to take graduate-level courses that will count toward the completion of both their B.A. and M.A. degrees. Undergraduate students accepted to the Accelerated Spanish Master’s Program will be able to apply up to 12 credits of graduate coursework toward the completion of both the Spanish B.A. and the Spanish M.A. degree requirements. 

Do I need the GRE?

No, the M.A. in Spanish does NOT require the GRE.
 

What are admissions requirements? Is the program open to students from other undergraduate majors?

The M.A. in Spanish is open to well-qualified students who have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited U. S. institution or the equivalent from a foreign institution, and adequate background in the field of study that they wish to pursue. Normally the equivalent of an undergraduate major in the field is required, but the final judgment of preparation remains with the M.A. Director as well as the Divisional Dean.

Applicants will be evaluated based on the following: 

• Previous academic record: at least a (B) average (3.0) in the undergraduate field of specialization and a (B-) B minus (2.7) overall undergraduate average;

• Letters of recommendation from instructors under whom they have studied, or from persons who know the academic capacity of the applicant.

Recent student job placements and/or distinctions:

The majority of our students either work for the Board of Education (Middle Schools and High Schools) or hold teaching positions as adjunct instructors at the university level. Students have also taken on careers in the non-profit, business and policy sectors. We have an excellent record of placement in Ph.D. programs such as Brown University, Princeton, The Graduate Center, etc.

Deadline (for regular master’s):

There are two deadlines: May and November. However, our Admissions Office may be able to accomodate late or delayed applications upon the request of the M.A. Director. 
 

How can I apply?

You can now also apply online. Please go to: https://app.applyyourself.com/?id=CUNYCCNYG and create an account. You will be able to submit ALL documents electronically and thus speed up the application process. Admission decisions are made only after receipt of all valid credentials. International students should apply at least six months prior to the semester of enrollment. For more information, please check: https://www.ccny.cuny.edu/admissions/graduate-studies 
 

Additional information:

Since 2013, our Department hosts every fall the Cátedra Vargas Llosa. The Cátedra is an international academic project honoring Mario Vargas Llosa, the 2010 Nobel laureate in literature. It serves as an interdisciplinary resource for the study of Mr. Vargas Llosa's writings and promotes emerging Spanish-language writers, as well.  

Since 2016, our Department in association with Routledge publishes Review. Literature and Arts of the Americas, the major U.S. forum for contemporary Spanish American and Caribbean writing in English and English translation. Review regularly features critical articles, fiction, poetry, essays, book reviews, and arts profiles. It has showcased work by/about Isabel Allende, Jorge Amado, Jorge Luis Borges, Guillermo Cabrera Infante, Alejo Carpentier, Julio Cortázar, Carlos Fuentes, Gabriel García Márquez, Clarice Lispector, Elena Poniatowska, Manuel Puig, Luis Rafael Sánchez, Mario Vargas Llosa, Derek Walcott, and many other writers as well as critics, translators, and visual and performing artists. Translators who have published their work in Review include the late Gregory Rabassa, Edith Grossman, Suzanne Jill Levine, Alfred Mac Adam, and Margaret Sayers Peden, in addition to numerous younger practitioners. 

Please click here for the SPANISH GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK

Contact Information

Regina Castro McGowan, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Director, MA in Spanish (NAC - 6/336 A) 
Department of Classical and Modern Languages and Literatures 
The City College of New York, CUNY
Telephone: 212-650-5261
E-Mail: rcastro-mcgowan@ccny.cuny.edu