Master of Arts Programs

Candidates for all Master of Arts programs should have an undergraduate major or its equivalent in the appropriate field, including advanced composition and surveys of the pertinent literatures. Since nearly all courses in the department are conducted in the target language, students must enter the program with sufficient oral and written proficiency to perform with ease in the relevant linguistic environment.

The department is committed to supporting all graduate students in Romance Languages and Literatures. Teaching Fellowships and Graduate Assistantships are available to M.A. candidates for up to two years.

Admission Procedures

A complete application, to be submitted directly to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, consists of the following:

• Official transcripts of all previous study, both undergraduate and graduate.
• Two letters of recommendation from persons who have worked with you in an academic or other professional setting.
• A statement of purpose (of 2-4 pages) elaborating on your professional objectives and suitability for the graduate program (e.g., previous training in language and literature, related work experience, or travel and study in a target-language country).
• A formal writing sample in the target language of 8 to 12 pages in length (generally a paper written in one's senior year of college, or some other scholarly text, properly identified).
• International students are required to submit the International Application, as well as the TOEFL exam scores.

Applicants are encouraged to contact individual faculty members and to plan a personal visit to the department whenever possible.