Prospective Students
Overview of Admission Requirements for the MA/PhD Program
All applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution, with the equivalent of an undergraduate Spanish major (roughly 30 semester hours of third-and fourth-year coursework, including surveys of Spanish Peninsular and Latin American literature, advanced grammar, Spanish phonetics).
The GRE is required of all students educated (high school and college) in the continental United States.
International students for whom English is not a native language, or who do not hold a baccalaureate or higher degree from an accredited university whose language of instruction is English, must take the TOEFL; the minimum score is 550 paper, 213 computer, or 80-23 for the internet. This is a University requirement. All applicants will submit a narrative statement of purpose, written in Spanish, and outlining their background and the reasons for pursuing graduate work. Applicants will submit a CD in their non-native language (Spanish, English, or both) and include a representative sample of their research (e.g. a term paper, thesis, or article).
To complete the admissions process follow Steps 1 and 2 below.
Step 1
Complete the Graduate School Application.
- Note that there is a non-refundable application fee for electronic application (for more fee information visit http://gradsch.psu.edu/prospective/apply.html). Applications without the included fees cannot be processed. Make payable to The Pennsylvania State University (International money order or a check must be drawn on a U.S. bank. Canceled check serves as your receipt. Credit cards can be processed with the PDF downloadable Graduate School application form).
- Please attach the generated Fee Form if you filed your application electronically and you did not pay by credit card.
- DO NOT SEND CASH
Mail fee to:
Graduate Enrollment Services
114 Kern Building
University Park, PA 16802
Step 2
Mail the following to:
The Department of Spanish, Italian and Portuguese
The Pennsylvania State University
231 Burrowes Building
University Park, PA 16802
- Two official transcripts from all higher institutions attended, both undergraduate and graduate.
- International applicants must submit official or attested university records, with certified translations if the records are not in English
(notarized copies are not sufficient). - Standardized test scores (GRE/TOEFL).
- Representative research (e.g. a term paper, thesis, or article).
- Application for Visa Document (International Students Only)
- Assistantship/Fellowship application.
- Three letters of recommendation.
- Statement of purpose
- Language CD
Please be aware of the deadlines for the materials.
