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Why Choose Auburn for Your Master of Hispanic Studies?
As an R1 Carnegie Classification institution, Auburn University is a leader in research and innovation with state-of-the-art facilities, generous funding opportunities, and a collaborative research environment. The Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures offers a Master of Hispanic Studies (MHS) degree that will allow you to examine new perspectives, cultures and current issues related to languages and literatures of the Spanish-speaking world. This program is designed to prepare students for careers in teaching, business, government, world affairs, diplomacy, social service, and law enforcement, or for doctoral studies in Spanish.
Our interdisciplinary curriculum covers a wide range of topics in Hispanic literature, linguistics, and culture, and offers both thesis (30 credit hours) and non-thesis (36 credit hours) options to cater to your specific academic and professional goals. Regardless of the option you choose, both require successful completion of written examinations on the last semester before graduation.
Department Life
Our department offers a friendly, supportive, and intellectually stimulating environment for graduate students. Faculty members are dedicated to mentoring you and helping you achieve your academic goals. With courses in Latin American prose, 20th-century Spanish literature, and linguistics topics like bilingualism and second language acquisition, you’ll have opportunities to collaborate on research projects and connect with a diverse community of domestic and international students. Additionally, we host graduate student-run extracurricular activities and conferences.
Life on Campus
Life on campus is great! Auburn University consistently ranks among the top universities in the country for student satisfaction and overall happiness. The city of Auburn has much to offer, with numerous restaurants, shops, and entertainment options within walking distance of campus.
Tuition Waivers, Stipends and Teaching Assistantships
We award teaching assistantships, which include a stipend and tuition waiver, on a competitive basis based on program needs, student qualifications, and funding availability. Most graduate students teach in the Elementary Spanish Program during their second year, after completing coursework and teacher training in their first year. The Biggio Center, a state-of-the-art facility on campus, offers essential resources and support to help our graduate students excel in their teaching roles.
Admission Requirements
Candidates wishing to pursue the MHS must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, with at least 38 semester hours of undergraduate Spanish course work above the freshman level.
International students must have: 1) 79 on the Internet Based Test with at least 16 in each section; 2) IELTS overall band score of at least 6.5; or 3) TOEFL scores of at least 550 on the written test (213 on the computer-based test). Applicants lacking course requirements need to make up deficiencies before admission to the graduate program.
All international graduate teaching assistants are required to submit evidence of satisfactory speaking skills. This can be demonstrated with a score of 23 or higher on the Speaking Section of the Internet-based TOEFL (iBT), or a score of 7 on the Speaking section of the IELTS, or a score of 4.5 and above in the Speaking section of the iTEP (which replaced the SPEAK test), which is administered at Auburn University prior to the start of classes. Submit the International Graduate Teaching Assistant Certification of Eligibility for Employment form with hiring paperwork.
Applicants should ensure that the following materials are sent to the Graduate School via the Graduate Web Application and Admission Process.
- Official transcripts from every undergraduate institution attended
- Official scores from the TOEFL, Internet Based Test or IELTS (for international students)
- Three letters of recommendation
- Graduate teaching assistantship application
- Writing sample. A writing sample in Spanish should be submitted to the Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures at the time of the application. The writing sample typically is a research paper completed for a course taken as an undergraduate, usually a paper written for a senior-level literature or civilization course. It should be a minimum of five pages, typed.
Once the formal application has been completed through the Apply Yourself online system, candidates will be invited to an online interview prior to admission.
All materials should be received by February 15.
Other Graduation Requirements
Reading knowledge of one other world language is required. This knowledge may be demonstrated by earning a passing score on the proficiency test for that language or by completing the first-year sequence (or equivalent) in that language with a grade of B or better.
All MHS graduate students are required to take FLSP 7090 Intro to College Level Spanish Instruction. For more information, check the student handbook available from the department.