Master of Arts in World Languages and Cultures – Spanish and Hispanic Studies

Check departmental information for additional requirements.

The student learning outcomes for this degree are located at http://www.niu.edu/assessment/clearinghouse/outcomes/index.shtml.

Admission

Students seeking admission to the M.A. program in the Department of World Languages and Cultures must meet all the requirements for admission to the NIU Graduate School. In addition to the standard requirements for graduate admission, the master’s program requires degree-seeking applicants to submit the following materials:

• Grade Point Average: Undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale). This is higher than the GPA minimums set by the Graduate School.
• Statement of purpose: Your statement of purpose should be approximately 250 to 750 words in length. It should outline your preparation for graduate study in Spanish and Hispanic Studies, as well as your goals for graduate school and beyond. It should also explain why you believe the program at NIU can best help you meet those goals.
• Letters of recommendation: Two (2) letters of recommendation from individuals who can speak to your ability to be successful in the completion of a graduate-level degree program in the field of Spanish and Hispanic Studies at a large, public institution. Your recommenders should be individuals who have a professional or academic relationship with you as the applicant.
• Writing sample: Please submit an academic writing sample of at least 16 pages in length, double-spaced, either in Microsoft Word or as a pdf file. The writing sample should be in Spanish and without any notation from an instructor. If you do not have a 16-page paper, you can combine two or more papers to meet the page requirement.
• Interview: An interview is also required for admission to the M.A. in Spanish and Hispanic Studies program. If the outcome of the initial review of your application materials supports the decision, you will be invited to an interview to demonstrate your spoken Spanish skills and to verify that your goals align with the program’s mission. The interview also allows you to showcase abilities and experiences that might not be explicitly evident in other application materials. Please see our web page for a tentative timeline for admission.
• Application Deadlines: The M.A. in Spanish and Hispanic Studies generally admits students in the fall semester, on an annual basis. Applications for admission to the M.A. in Spanish and Hispanic Studies must be received by the Graduate School no later than March 15th for a fall start date.
  • Note: the program deadline is earlier in the application cycle than the general Graduate School deadlines.
• Admission Review Process/Timelines: The M.A. in Spanish and Hispanic Studies program employs a faculty committee to review completed applications for an admission decision on a yearly basis, during the spring semester. Official notifications are released by the Graduate School once a graduate admission decision has been made and processed.