Master of Hispanic Studies (Accelerated)

The Department of Spanish at Western Michigan University offers an Accelerated Graduate Degree Program in Spanish that allows seniors to accumulate credits towards the completion of a master's degree while still enrolled as an undergraduate. Students admitted to the Spanish AGDP may take up to 12 credit hours of designated 5000- and 6000-level courses for graduate credit. The designated courses may be used to complete both the bachelor's degree and the master's degree.

Degree hours

An undergraduate degree in Spanish requires a total of 122 credit hours. The Master of Arts in Spanish requires a total of 30 credit hours. Students enrolling in the AGDP for the maximum of 12 graduate credits would earn 140 total undergraduate and graduate credit hours in contrast to the typical combined 152 undergraduate and graduate credit hours under the usual progression to the degree.

A complete list of requirements appears in WMU's Graduate Catalog.

Eligibility

This program is open to undergraduate students in both Spanish majors (non-teaching and education curriculum). You must have:

  • Senior status.
  • A cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 based on at least 45 earned hours.
  • A declared Spanish major. If you have received your B.A. degree you will be ineligible to apply for this program and retroactively claim credits toward the M.A. degree.

Admission

  • Early in your junior year, contact the director of Spanish graduate studies to discuss this option and review the requirements, timelines and application procedures.
  • Before completing your application, apply for graduation by completing your undergraduate audit with the College of Arts and Sciences advising staff, and returning the audit form to the Registrar's Office.
  • Apply for admission to the Spanish master's program and complete the necessary application materials.
  • Upon acceptance into the AGDP, meet with the director of graduate studies and an undergraduate academic advisor to prepare a program of study that meets the requirements for both degrees.
  • An AGDP Course Approval Form listing which graduate courses will be counted in both degrees will be sent to you and to the Office of the Registrar.

Criteria for admission

  • Undergraduate minimum GPA of 3.5 in Spanish (based on at least 20 credit hours in a declared major in Spanish).
  • Three letters of recommendation from WMU's Spanish faculty.
  • A brief statement (approximately 250 words in Spanish) of career objectives and academic and professional interests.

Requirements for continuing eligibility and graduation

  • You will pay undergraduate tuition for AGDP eligible 5000- and 6000-level courses; the courses will be included in the flat tuition rate. Upon completion of the undergraduate degree, you will be reclassified as a graduate student and begin paying graduate tuition.
  • It is expected that the B.A. degree will be awarded within one calendar year after initial AGDP enrollment.
  • Once you have earned their bachelor's degree and have been admitted as a graduate student, you will be eligible to apply for a teaching assistantship.
  • Follow the program of study developed with the graduate studies director and the undergraduate advisor.
  • Complete the requirements for the M.A. degree within 24 months from the completion of the B.A. degree.

Questions

For any questions regarding program requirements, please contact the graduate advisor.