Graduate Program
Admission Criteria
1. Prerequisite Coursework
A Bachelor's degree with a major in Spanish or Portuguese, or demonstration of equivalent knowledge, such as the satisfactory completion of 18 upper-division, undergraduate semester credit hours in either language, is required. The Graduate and International Admissions Center (GIAC) determines degree equivalency.
2. Grade Point Average
A 3.25 GPA in upper-division undergraduate courses, and any previous graduate courses, is preferred.
3. The GRE (Graduate Record Exam) General Test
For native English speakers, a minimum total score of 1100 on the verbal and quantitative is preferred, with a high verbal score. For those who are not native English speakers, a minimum total score of 800 is preferred, with a high verbal score. GRE scores more than five years old will not be accepted. Applicants should take the GRE early enough for the scores to be submitted to GIAC by January 15. For information concerning the GRE, inquire at any college or university, or write to the Educational Testing Service, P.O. Box 6000, Princeton, New Jersey, 08541-6000. Students outside the U.S. may inquire at an American consulate or phone 609-771-7906.
4. Other Factors
The Graduate Admissions and Financial Committee (GAFA) carefully reviews each application and takes into consideration other factors besides the GPA, GRE and transcripts when selecting new students. Recommendation letters and your Personal Statement are important indicators of such qualities as motivation, special interests, maturity, teaching ability, work ethics, and character which are not measured by numbers or transcripts. The interview provides an indication of your fluency in both English and Spanish or Portuguese and helps evaluate your qualifications for a teaching assistantship.
5. Conditional Admittance
Students who do not meet the preferred criteria stated above may be admitted to the graduate program "conditionally" with such stipulations as maintaining a 3.0 GPA and having no incomplete grades, or completing certain pre-requisite classes which will not be counted as degree requirements. The GAFA will determine stipulations for students admitted conditionally. Students admitted with conditions may not be appointed to teaching assistantships until conditions are removed.
6. Teaching Assistantship Selection
Most financial aid is given in the form of teaching assistantships and assistant instructorships to qualified new students. There are only a few scholarships available for which selected students will be nominated. You will be informed in an admittance confirmation letter if you have been nominated for a scholarship or selected to be a teaching assistant or assistant instructor. To apply for a TA/AI position, simply download and fill out the Application to the Spanish & Portuguese Department (PDF, 103K) . (NOTICE: The "Financial Aid Application" mentioned in parts of the application process, is "The Application to the Spanish and Portuguese Department.") (PDF format requires Acrobat Reader, available as a free download from Adobe's website).
7. Transcripts
GIAC requires official transcripts of all scholastic work undertaken, including work done in foreign countries. Since some foreign universities do not send transcripts, copies of original official records may be certified at U.S. consulates, by the university itself, or by other acceptable authorities, and sent to GIAC. A complete and official English translation must be furnished, together with certified copies of the original records. The records should include subjects taken and grades earned, as well as the grading system used.
Additional Info
YOUR APPLICATION WILL NOT BE REVIEWED UNTIL ALL MATERIALS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED. To check on the status of your application to the Spanish & Portuguese Department, please contact the graduate coordinator at: rodriguez@mail.utexas.edu, or phone: (512) 232-4502. To check on the status of your application to the Graduate and International Admissions Center (GIAC), phone 512-475-9950 and choose option 11.
DEADLINE: IT IS THE APPLICANT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE ALL DOCUMENTS REACH THE DEPARTMENT BY JANUARY 15.