Latin American and Iberian Cultures with a concentration in Hispanic Cultural Studies

Program Category: MA Programs
Chair: Alessandra Russo
Director of Graduate Studies: Alberto Medina
Website: https://laic.columbia.edu/content/admission-master-arts-program
Degree Programs: Full-Time: Free-Standing MA

To view this program's application requirements, please click here.

The MA in Latin American and Iberian Cultures with a concentration in Hispanic Cultural Studies is a free-standing, one-year program that aims to provide students with a rigorous foundation on the critical issues attendant to Hispanic culture. The master's program may be undertaken as a preparatory degree to apply subsequently to doctoral programs in the field, but also as a terminal degree by those interested in pursuing a career in education, government, journalism, non-profit organizations, etc.

The MA program is built around two core academic experiences:

• thorough professional training in the discipline that includes: a two-semester sequence to train students on the methodology of teaching Spanish language and culture; a seminar on cultural theory; and the research and writing of a Master's Essay.
• four electives that address the cultural multiplicity of the Hispanic world from a transatlantic and interdisciplinary perspective. Two of these electives must be taken outside the department.

The required and elective courses offered in the department are taught by its graduate faculty—internationally recognized scholars in the fields of Hispanic cultural studies and Spanish applied linguistics. All classes offered in the department are taught in Spanish, and all requirements are in that language as well.

Applicants are admitted as full-time students only and are expected to fulfill all requirements of the program in one year. There is no financial aid from either the department or the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences to pursue the MA in Latin American and Iberian Cultures with a concentration in Hispanic Cultural Studies.

Special Admissions Requirements

In addition to the requirements listed below, all students must submit one transcript showing courses and grades per school attended, a statement of academic purpose, a writing sample (a course paper, term paper, etc. written in Spanish or Portuguese), and three letters of recommendation from academic sources.

All applicants whose undergraduate degree is from an institution in a country whose official language is not English must submit English proficiency exam scores. The English proficiency requirement can be fulfilled through the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

Additionally, fluency in Spanish or Portuguese is required of all applicants. Please note that most coursework is conducted in Spanish or Portuguese.

For more information, refer to our Admissions Information and Frequently Asked Questions pages.

*To be eligible for admission in GSAS, at least TWO letters must be submitted by academic recommenders. You may include up to four letters in your application, regardless of the number required by your program of interest.