Columbia SPPO

M.A. in Hispanic Cultural Studies

Introduction

The Master's in Hispanic Cultural Studies program is a free-standing, one-year course of study that aims to provide students with a rigorous foundation on the critical issues attendant to Hispanic cultural production. The Master's program may be undertaken as a preparatory degree to apply subsequently to doctoral programs in the field, but also as a terminal degree by those interested in pursuing careers in education, government, business, journalism, non-profit organizations, etc.

The M.A. program is built around two core academic experiences:

  • a thorough professional training in the discipline that includes: a seminar on literary and cultural theory, and the research and writing of a Master's Essay under the supervision of the graduate faculty. Interested students may also elect to take a graduate course on the methodologies of teaching Spanish language and culture
  • seven electives that address the cultural production of the Hispanic world from a transatlantic and interdisciplinary perspective. Two of these electives must be taken outside the department in related disciplines such as Anthropology, History, Women Studies, History of Art, Teacher's College, Music, etc.

The required and elective courses offered in the department are taught by its graduate faculty—internationally recognized scholars in the fields of Hispanic cultural studies. All graduate classes are taught in Spanish and all requirements are in that language as well. Master's students can register in any course taught in the department at the graduate level.

See more detailed information about the Master's program's features and expectations. See also our pages on admission requirements to the graduate program, and on Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about graduate admissions in the department.

Applicants are admitted as full-time students only and are expected to fulfill all requirements of the program in one year. There is no financial aid from either the department or the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences to pursue the M.A. in Hispanic Cultural Studies. For information about the costs associated with this program see the relevant page in the GSAS web site.

The deadline for applying for admission for the 2012-2013 academic year is April 1st, 2012. See also the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences M.A. Student Handbook.

For more information, contact the department's Director of Graduate Studies.