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About the Program

The Department of Hispanic Studies offers M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Spanish.

The graduate program in Spanish prepares scholars for university teaching and research in Spanish and Latin American literature, linguistics, and/or cultural studies. It is organized primarily for students seeking a Ph.D. degree, although the M.A. degree is awarded in the course of a student’s progress. A small number of students who intend to complete the M.A. only as an advanced study for teaching in high schools or community colleges are admitted.

The faculty in Hispanic Studies offers a wide and diverse group of graduate courses in literary, linguistic, and cultural studies. Research and teaching interests include all areas of Spanish and Latin American literature from its origins to the present. Faculty also have strong research and teaching profiles in the philosophy and practices of translation; cultural studies, including Latin American film, gender studies, theories of the body, historiography, and fiction; psychoanalysis; bilingualism and heritage language studies;  Spanish in the US; sociolinguistics; and political philosophy.

Apply Online

Apply online. You will be able to apply, upload and submit your application materials. Your application progress can be saved and completed at a later time. You will also be able to check on the status of your application and which materials have been received by the department. When listing faculty for letters of reference, please use their university e-mail address. E-mail addresses other than the recommender’s official university e-mail address will significantly delay the processing of your application.

Requirements

• All applicants whose native language is not English and who do not have a degree from an institution where English is the exclusive language of instruction must complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based), or 80 (Internet-based). The Institution Code is 4839 and the HS dept. code is 23.
• 3.0 GPA
• 3 letters of reference. If you have enrolled in a graduate program, at least 1 letter of reference should be from your current/former advisor.
• Graduate Statement of Purpose: The Graduate Statement of Purpose is your opportunity to share why you are applying, including your preparation, motivation, and how UCR's faculty and resources support your goals. The statement must not exceed 2,000 words.
• Writing sample
• The application fee for Domestic (US Citizens, Permanent Residents, and Undocumented* Applicants) applicants is $135
• The application fee for International applicants is $155

Additional Information

We require transcripts with final grades or most recent grades (if degree is in progress) from all college-level institutions attended. We also require proof of any degree(s) awarded to you. Proof of degree conferral must be listed on the final transcript for U.S. institutions. If you have attended an institution located outside of the US, visit International Academic Records for document requirements.

We accept unofficial transcripts for the review of your application; documents uploaded to your application are considered unofficial. Do not send official transcripts electronically or by mail unless requested to do so.

Important Notice for Prospective Students 

Please be aware that if you accept an offer of admission, you will be required to obtain a WES Course-by-Course ICAP Evaluation for degree(s) earned from institution(s) outside the United States.

Frequently Asked Questions

Deadlines

For the Fall quarter, the official deadline is January 5^th 

To receive the fullest consideration for financial assistance, your completed application and all supporting documents, must be received by January 5. We will accept applications until April 1st for international students and September 1 for domestic students, but please keep in mind that completed files received after January 5 are unlikely to receive consideration for most forms of financial aid.

If you have further questions, please contact Graduate Advisor, Professor Carlos Varon, cvarongo@ucr.edu.