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Hispanic Studies

TheÌýDepartment of Languages, Literatures and Cultures offers a flexible programme in Hispanic Studies leading to the degree of Master of Arts. Candidates will receive in the classroom preparation in the culture, intellectual history and literature of Spain and Spanish America, including two guided research projects. For those students holding a B.A. Honours in Hispanic Studies or an M.A. from ºÚÁÏÉç or another college or university of recognized standing, the Department offers the possibility of doctoral studies leading to the Ph.D. in Hispanic Studies.

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Program Information

Master of Arts -Hispanic Studies (Thesis)

Hispanic Studies (Thesis) (M.A.) (45 credits)

Offered by: Languages,Literatures,CulturesÌý(Faculty of Arts)Ìý Ìý
Degree: Master of Arts
Program credit weight:Ìý45

Program Description

The Master of Arts (Thesis) in Hispanic Studies is a 45- credit program focusing on Latin American and Spanish literature, film, culture, and/or digital culture. Students must complete an MA Thesis. Areas of interest include but are not limited to, colonial studies, post- and decolonial studies, spatial theory, cinema, transnationalism, nineteenth-century studies, digital humanities, translation studies, urban studies, e-lit, and computational humanities.

Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.

Required Courses (27 credits)

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Course Title Credits
HISP 695Thesis Preparation 1.3

Thesis Preparation 1.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Preparatory work towards the Mater's thesis.

HISP 696Thesis Preparation 2.3

Thesis Preparation 2.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Preparatory work towards the Master's thesis.

HISP 697M.A. Thesis.21

M.A. Thesis.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Written presentation of the thesis to the research supervisor(s).

Complementary Courses (18 credits)

18 credits of graduate-level HISP courses.

Master of Arts -Hispanic Studies (Non-Thesis)

Hispanic Studies (Non-Thesis) (M.A.) (42 credits)

Offered by: Languages,Literatures,CulturesÌý(Faculty of Arts) Ìý Ìý
Degree: Master of ArtsÌý
Program credit weight:Ìý42

Program Description

The M.A. in Hispanic Studies; Non-Thesis focuses on advanced training in the field of Hispanic Studies. It provides a rigorous foundation on the literary and cultural history of the Iberian Peninsula and Latin America from a multidisciplinary perspective.

Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.

Required Course (3 credits)

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Course Title Credits
HISP 603Research Project Methodology.3

Research Project Methodology.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Preparatory work towards the production of the two guided research papers.

Complementary Courses (42 credits)

Research Project

18 credits to be chosen from:

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Course Title Credits
HISP 615Pre-1800 Literature and Culture.9

Pre-1800 Literature and Culture.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

A guided research paper on a selected topic in pre-1800 literature and culture of the Iberian Peninsula and/or Latin America under the supervision of a faculty member.

HISP 616Modern and Contemporary Iberian Literature and Culture.9

Modern and Contemporary Iberian Literature and Culture.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

A guided research paper on a selected topic in Iberian literature or culture from 1800 to present under the supervision of a faculty member.

HISP 617Modern & Contemporary Latin American Literature and Culture.9

Modern Contemporary Latin American Literature and Culture.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

A guided research paper on a selected topic in Latin American literature or culture from 1800 to present.

24 credits at the 500, 600, 700 level in Hispanic Studies courses and courses offered by the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures. Students can take up to 6 credits in courses offered by other departments with permission of the Director of Graduate Studies.

Doctor of Philosophy - Hispanic Studies

Hispanic Studies (Ph.D.)

Offered by: Languages,Literatures,Cultures (Faculty of Arts)ÌýÌýÌý
Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

Program Description

The PhD in Hispanic Studies offers an in-depth exploration of the literature and culture of the Hispanic world, with a focus on key areas such as drama and theatre, cultural studies, cinema, and critical theory.

Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.

Thesis

A thesis for the doctoral degree must constitute original scholarship and must be a distinct contribution to knowledge. It must show familiarity with previous work in the field and must demonstrate ability to plan and carry out research, organize results, and defend the approach and conclusions in a scholarly manner. The research presented must meet current standards of the discipline; as well, the thesis must clearly demonstrate how the research advances knowledge in the field. Finally, the thesis must be written in compliance with norms for academic and scholarly expression and for publication in the public domain.

Required Courses (3 credits)

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Course Title Credits
HISP 701Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination.0

Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination.

Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.

Ph.D. Comprehensive examinations, both oral and written.

HISP 713Research Seminar.3

Research Seminar.

Terms offered: Summer 2025

Doctoral-level research seminar exploring a variety of research topics.

Complementary Courses (18 credits)

Six 3-credit courses

Language Requirement

Proficiency in Spanish, and, when appropriate, in Portuguese, as well as a functional ability in French and English. A reading knowledge of a fourth language will be determined according to the needs of the candidate's research program.

All courses, comprehensive examinations and language requirements will normally be completed before the dissertation topic is formally approved. A dissertation proposal should be submitted to the Graduate Committee of the Department of Hispanic Studies for approval no later than the end of the second year of full-time doctoral studies.

All general regulations of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies regarding the Ph.D. degree shall apply.

Required Academic Activities: All candidates preparing their dissertation are required to give an annual formal presentation of their research to the Department, normally beginning in their third year of full-time doctoral studies.

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Admission Information

Preparing to Apply

The graduate program in Hispanic StudiesÌýwelcomes Canadian and internationalÌýapplicantsÌýwith a specialization in Hispanic literature as well asÌýfrom disciplines other than Hispanic Studies. To be admitted to a graduate program in Hispanic Studies, applicants should have completed at least a B.A. degree.

Students without a concentration in Hispanic Studies mustÌýhaveÌýa strong background in Spanish and/or Latin American history, literature, and culture, as well as advanced knowledge of the Spanish language.Ìý

Students who have completed a B.A. degree without Honours or Joint Honours are encouraged to apply to the M.A. Program (Thesis or Non-Thesis).

Students who have completed a B.A. degree with Honours or Joint Honours in Hispanic Studies may apply either to the M.A.ÌýProgramÌý(Thesis) or to the Doctoral Program in Hispanic Studies (entering at the PhD 1 level).

Students holding a M.A. degree in Hispanic Studies should apply to the Doctoral Program (PhD 2 level).

Students holding a M.A. degree in a discipline other than Hispanic Studies but closely related to this field are encouraged to apply to the Ad Hoc Doctoral Program (PhD 1 level).

Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in Spanish, and when appropriate, in Portuguese, plus a working knowledge of either French or English.

Applicants should submit samples of research papers that they have completed during the course of their previous studies. Submission of the results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is recommended, but not required.

For detailed instructions on how to apply andÌýupload theÌýrequired documents, please see:

/gradapplicants/how-apply

/gradapplicants/apply/prepare/checklist/documents

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Deadlines for Receipt of Completed Applications:

Please note that incomplete applications (including letters of recommendation, testing scores (TOEFL, IELTS), transcripts, sample(s) of written work) by the application deadline will not be considered.

Note: Ph.D. students are only considered for Fall admission

For Fall Admission:Ìý January 6 (Canadian/Permanent Resident/International).

For Winter Admission:Ìý September 15 (Canadian/Permanent Resident)

ForÌý Winter Admission:ÌýÌýÌýAugust 1 (International).Ìý

Special/Exchange/Visiting: ÌýAs above.

Required Documents

Should you decide to formally apply, all supplemental application materials and supporting documents must be uploaded directly to the ºÚÁÏÉç admissions processing system.

(complete instructions: .

  • Online application form.
  • Application fee.Ìý You must pay aÌý non-refundable fee or your application will not be processed.
  • All university transcripts. Those transcripts not in English or French must be accompanied by a certified English or French translation (prepared by a licensed translator).
  • Research proposal. Applicants are requested to send a brief statement of their interests and the areas they wish to study within the Department (1 to 3 pages).
  • Two letters of recommendation. Those letters not in English or French must be accompanied by a certified English or French translation (prepared by a licensed translator). On the application form you must provide the names and email addresses of at least two professors who are familiar with your academic work. ºÚÁÏÉç will contact these referees and invite them to upload references on your behalf. Please note that although you can list public domain addresses such as Hotmail, Gmail, or Yahoo Mail on the application form, references uploaded from these addresses will not be accepted by the Department. Therefore you must list a valid institutional or corporate e-mail address for your referees.
  • One or two samples of written work (in PDF format). This can be in the form of a graded paper, a chapter from a thesis, or an academic article.
  • TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) scores for non-native English applicants. This is a requirement of all students applying whose native language is other than English. Results must be on file by application deadline – Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies no longer process applications without official results. Minimum score of 575 or 231 computer based scale.ÌýIELTS scores are also acceptable: a band score of 6.5 or greater (Academic module).

Contact Information:

Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
ºÚÁÏÉç
680ÌýSherbrooke Street West
Montreal, QC, Canada H3A 2M7

info.llcu [at] mcgill.ca (Email)

PhoneÌý: (514) 398-3650

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