Full-time students typically complete our 36-credit hour M.A. program in two years. Students may choose to write a thesis or take a comprehensive exam as their graduation requirement.

Students who choose the thesis option must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours in course work plus six thesis hours. At least 18 of their course work credit hours must be at the (advanced) 7000-level.

Students who choose the comprehensive exam option must complete a minimum of 36 credit hours in course work. At least 21 credit hours of course work must be at the (advanced) 7000-level.

More detailed information is provided in the M.A. program Handbook.

 

Prospective students must complete an on-line application at the LSU Graduate School . The first step in this process is to create an account.
Once you have created an account, you can proceed the online application.

Applicants must submit the following to the Graduate School:
1 completed application
2 application fee
3 official transcript(s) from all colleges or universities attended
4 GRE results.

Applicants must also submit to the Director of Graduate Studies the following:
1 photocopy of transcript(s)
2 a minimum of three letters of recommendation from present or previous professors.

Applications for admission are accepted on an ongoing basis.
For additional information, contact the Director of Graduate Studies, Prof. Laura M. Martins, martins@lsu.edu, 225-578-6616 / Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, LSU, 316 Hodges Hall, Baton Rouge, LA 70803.

Indication of interest in a teaching assistantship is made on the Graduate School application. No additional application is necessary. Candidates will be contacted by the Director of Graduate Studies and by the Coordinator of lower-level Spanish instruction in order to arrange for an interview.

Applicants admitted under regular status are automatically recommended for a Graduate Assistantship. The Graduate Assistantship requires an average of 20 hours of service per week. Teaching Assistantships are normally awarded to first-year graduate students and involve teaching one 4-credit Spanish language course per semester. Teaching Assistants are solely responsible for all aspects of teaching the course, but are given ample training both prior to and during the academic year to facilitate their teaching. Many of the materials (e.g., course syllabus, quizzes, writing and speaking activities, exams) are provided for each TA.

TAs typically receive a stipend plus a full tuition scholarship and health insurance.

Financial Aid applications must be submitted by mid-February or late September for funding for the following semester.

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For additional information, contact the Director of Graduate Studies, Dr. Elena Castro, ecastro@lsu.edu, 225-578-6616 / Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, LSU, 316 Hodges Hall, Baton Rouge, LA 70803.

Applications for admission can be considered at any time.

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Current Students

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Program Alumni

Our program has a good record of placing its graduates after leaving LSU; some of them find teaching positions at schools, colleges and universities across the nation. We also have graduates who are pursuing or have pursued doctorates at other prestigious universities. Currently, LSU Alumni hold positions as assistant professors at Princeton University and Barnard College (Columbia University), among other prestigious institutions.

Upon completion of the M.A. in Hispanic Studies, students may wish to consider pursuing a Ph.D. degree at LSU in Comparative Literature . The Comparative Literature program offers advanced study in Spanish literature and two other literary traditions, selected from English, French, Italian, and Russian. Other doctoral programs in related fields offered at LSU include education,  history,  mass communication,  theatre , and  geography and anthropology.