Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test scores are not mandatory for admission. However, applicants wishing to be considered for the competitive Devaney, CHA, or Chancellor's fellowships are strongly encouraged to take the GRE general test and submit their official scores. These fellowships are very prestigious, and they usually provide for a semester or a year of teaching release, which would enable you to devote yourself full time to your seminars. The GRE is not mandatory for consideration for teaching assistantships.
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The Application Process
All international students applying to our MA program whose native language is not English will need to score at least 550 (213 on the computerized exam) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) in order to be admitted.
Students who have completed an MA in the US with two years of study in the US are exempted from this requirement.
All applicants are required to submit a 10-15 page writing sample written in Spanish. Please also include a one-page abstract written in English. The paper should focus on the applicant's area of interest and include pertinent bibliography.
A writing sample is an academic paper that ideally would allow the Graduate Committee to evaluate your potential as a graduate student. It should demonstrate your familiarity (or your potential to become familiar) with the protocols of academic writing and research, your command of Spanish, as well as your previous knowledge of the literature and cultures of Latin American or the Iberian Peninsula, or the field of Hispanic Linguistics (depending on your area of Specialization).
It is a short personal essay in which you should accomplish at least two things: (1) highlight any personal or professional traits / experience / education / goals that you think puts you apart from the general field of applicants (2) state your personal / professional / intellectual goals, and why do you think CU – Boulder would be the place in which you can accomplish them. The statement should not exceed 500 words.
You have to provide four letters of references. One of them (exceptionally, two) can be non-academic. Make sure at the time of requesting the letter that this non-academic reference highlights aspects of your personal or professional profile that are relevant to your future academic endeavors (such as professionalism, ability to meet deadlines, and so forth). However, academic references are a condition sine qua non for consideration to the program.
Applicants using the interactive application (Applying to CU Boulder) their recommenders submit their recommendation on-line. Or if necessasry to:
Graduate Admissions
University of Colorado Boulder
553 UCB
Boulder, CO 80309-0553
For overnight or express mail send to:
Graduate Admissions
University of Colorado Boulder
3100 Marine St Bldg RL3
Ste A122
Boulder, CO 80303-1058
(303) 492-6301
The graduate committee will take into account a number of factors when looking over your transcripts. A poor grade in organic chemistry or computational genetics that affects the overall GPA will likely be overlooked. However, we expect our students to have demonstrated excellence in the humanities and particularly literary study. This generally means that we look for a GPA in the major of above 3.5. It should be stressed however, that a high GPA does not guarantee admittance.
Yes, if your major is somewhat related to Spanish (for example, History, some other literary field, Comparative Literature and so forth), and / or you can demonstrate academic potential and willingness to make up for whatever hiatus in your formation you may have. You will be competing with applicants that did major in Spanish, but your application will be considered seriously. Students that did not major in Spanish should take particular care to ensure that the writing sample shows evidence of a developed literary sensibility.
Decisions are usually made by early February. You can contact us at any time to find out the status of your application at acgs@colorado.edu.
You can live on or off campus. CU provides information about both options at http://www.colorado.edu/prospective/graduate/studentlife/living.html
Applicants must provide us with one copiy of official transcripts from all institutions they have attended. Transcripts from US institutions must be sent by the institutions themselves to:
Graduate Admissions
University of Colorado Boulder
553 UCB
Boulder, CO 80309-0553
For overnight or express mail send to:
Graduate Admissions
University of Colorado Boulder
3100 Marine St Bldg RL3
Ste A122
Boulder, CO 80303-1058
(303) 492-6301
Transcripts from these institutions sent to by applicants will not be accepted.
Notarized copies of transcripts from foreign universities are accepted.
The Program
Each semester you study with us, you will be assigned a five-credit Spanish language class to teach (unless you are enjoying a fellowship). During your first semester you will teach your own section of a beginning Spanish one class. The class meets five days a week for 50 minutes per day. Upon your arrival to cu, one week before classes begin, you will attend an orientation for new TA's and GPTI's during which you will receive you all the materials you need, you will be assigned a specific class, and Prof. Becher and her team will help you get started. In addition you will take a 5-week methods class with Prof. Becher during the first part of your first semester that will support you as you begin to teach. Prof. Becher will send you a message with important details and a new instructor manual to read before your arrival; you may write to her at any time with questions about your teaching assignment.
Our program provides students with a solid foundation in theoretical linguistics and current issues in Hispanic Linguistics. Many of our students are trained in applied linguistics and Second Language Acquisition in coursework they elect to take outside the department.
No, we do not offer an on-line or low-residency program. All of our seminars are offered face-to-face, Monday-Friday, in the late afternoon or early evening.
Keep in mind that our graduate program is designed to be full time with a commitment to teach five days a week (between 8:00 AM and 2:00 PM) and attend seminars usually scheduled from 3:30-6:00 PM or 6:30-9:00 PM. Preparation for seminars (reading, preparing presentations and papers) and for the class you teach as a TA/GPTI requires a great deal of time as well. It's unrealistic to work full time and very difficult to maintain a part-time job while you are enrolled in our program. Likewise, it helps to have plenty of support if you are responsible for child or dependent care in your family.
Additionally, if you are not a domestic student, the terms of your student visa stipulate that you are prohibited from working outside the University of Colorado or beyond your 45% appointment.
Through our program you will NOT earn a Secondary Spanish teaching certificate, the credential needed for teaching through in public education system. Our program is mainly intended for students who hope to teach at the post-secondary level. CU-Boulder does offer a secondary Spanish teaching certificate through the School of Education; see this webpage for more information:
http://www.colorado.edu/education/prospective/teachereducation.html
The MA takes four semesters. The PhD takes four years, on average, including Dissertation.
Here you have a Sample Calendar (for reference purposes only):
MA Program
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | |
| Year 1 |
Graduate Seminars (9 units) [Teaching Methodology Course] |
Graduate Seminars (9 units) [Select MA Faculty Advisor] |
| Year 2 |
Graduate Seminars (9 units) [Satisfy Language Requirement] [Select MA Supervisory Committee] |
Graduate Seminars (6 units) [MA Comprehensive Exams] |
PhD Program
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | |
| Year 1 | Graduate Seminars (9 units) |
Graduate Seminars (9 units) [Select PhD Faculty Advisor] |
| Year 2 |
Graduate Seminars (9 units) Portuguese - SPAN 2350 [Form PhD Supervisory Committee] |
Graduate Seminars (9 units) [Satisfy Language Requirement] |
| Year 3 |
Dissertation Credits (8 units) [PhD Comprehensive Exams] [Select PhD Dissertation Committee] [Submit Dissertation Proposal] |
Dissertation Credits (8 units) |
| Year 4 | Dissertation Credits (8 units) |
Dissertation Credits (6 units) [Final Examination] |
Yes, but you will not be offered a Taship. You should take your classes through Continuing Education . Please be aware that you can only accumulate a limited number of credits through Continuing Education and you cannot get a degree with us as a part time student. Consult Graduate Manual for further information.
In case you accept our offer, you will receive a stipend at the MA level teaching one 5 credit hour course. In addition the Department/University will pay for your health insurance premium each semester (Golden Buffalo Student Health Insurance) and your tuition is paid for. You are responsible for the enrollment deposit ($200) which is returned to you upon graduation, the fees and other incidentals which amounts to about 1,200 your first semester. To offset your first semester fees as a foreign student we will pay you a $500 fellowship for the Fall semester only.
In case you accept our offer, you will receive a stipend at the MA level teaching one 5 credit hour course. In addition the Department/University will pay for your health insurance premium each semester (Golden Buffalo Student Health Insurance) and your tuition is paid for. You are responsible for the enrollment deposit ($200) which is returned to you upon graduation, the fees and other incidentals which amounts to about 1,200 your first semester. To offset your first semester fees as a foreign student we will pay you a $500 fellowship for the Fall semester only.
In case you accept our offer, you will receive a stipend at the MA level teaching one 5 credit hour course. In addition the Department/University will pay for your health insurance premium each semester (Golden Buffalo Student Health Insurance) and your tuition is paid for. You are responsible for the enrollment deposit ($200) which is returned to you upon graduation, the fees and other incidentals which amounts to about $1,200 your first semester. To offset your first semester fees as a foreign student we will pay you a $500 fellowship for the Fall semester only.
Most of the students go on to teaching careers, at four year colleges. In past years, we were able to place students at top colleges, research universities, and comprehensive universities, such as Dartmouth College, University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M, Portland State University, West Point Military Academy, Leigh University.
We strive to maintain a balance between domestic and international students (from Latin America and Europe).
The program is comprised of fourteen graduate professors and an average of fifty graduate students, at all stages of their careers. For more information, see “People.”
We accept an average of ten students, total, including both Literature and Linguistics.
Contact
All administrative inquiries should be directed to our staff, at Department of Spanish and Portuguese | University of Colorado at Boulder | McKenna Languages Building, Rm 127C | 278 UCB | Boulder, Colorado 80309-0278 USA | Phone: (303) 492-7308 | Fax: (303) 492-3699 | Email: spanport@colorado.edu
All academic inquiries regarding our graduate program should be directed to Prof. Juan Pablo Dabove, Associate Chair for Graduate Studies | Email: acgs@colorado.edu.
If you are a prospective applicant, please visit our FAQs for prospective students page.