All students accepted to the graduate program in Spanish begin the degree during an initial summer of candidacy on the Vermont campus.

After successfully completing the summer MA program, a student is officially recognized as a candidate for the Master of Arts degree. Following the initial summer, students may choose to continue their studies in Vermont, Madrid (academic-year option only) or Buenos Aires (summer option only).

Course Requirements

Twelve units of credit, minimum grade in each course is B-. One unit equals three semester hours.

Flexible Timeframe

Students have ten years to complete the MA degree. All credits toward a Middlebury MA (earned at Middlebury or as transfer credits) expire ten years after the study was completed. For example, courses taken during the summer of 2020 will no longer be valid toward a Middlebury degree as of August 2030.

Course Options

Course offerings vary by location. Please see Vermont courses, Madrid courses, and Buenos Aires courses.

Assessment

Students entering the MA in Spanish or the MA in Applied Languages in Spanish (only those selecting Language Teaching specialization) are required to do a public presentation in the form of a conference paper. See more about assessment.

Transfer Credit

After the initial summer, MA degree candidates may transfer up to three courses toward the degree. A transfer course must meet certain requirements and be approved in advance (before the course is taken) by the director and registrar. This option excludes the Applied Languages degree.

Internships

Students in the MA in Applied Languages in Spanish will complete an academically directed internship (a minimum of 130 hours) in their area of specialization. The internship enhances and strengthens foreign language skills, deepens social immersion in a foreign culture, and students gain in-depth experience within a foreign work environment specific to the chosen field which may lead to future career opportunities.