FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
ABOUT THE GRADUATE APPLICATION
AND ADMISSION PROCESS.
(Click on topic)
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Getting Started
- Q. Is admission to the graduate
program in Spanish and Portuguese competitive?
- Admission to our graduate program is competitive. If
you are applying, make sure that you submit a completed
application with all required supporting documents. It
is your responsibility to make sure all required information
has been received and that it is correct and current.
For information concerning the required components, click
here.
- Q. How do I apply? Can I apply online?
- We encourage online applications. Online applications are processed more quickly than paper applications. Visit the How to apply page to obtain links and other information. A checklist of materials required by the Department of Spanish and Portuguese is available online (CLICK HERE).
- Q. When are the deadlines for applications?
- Domestic: May 15 for Fall Semester and October 15 for
Spring Semester
- International: December 15 for the Fall Semester and
May 15 for Spring Semester
- Q. Is there an application fee?
Domestic
application |
online=$45.00 |
paper
application=$55.00 |
International
application |
online=$55.00 |
paper application=$60.00 |
- Q. I am a Spanish citizen, but I am a permanent resident
of the United States. What kind of application should I use,
domestic or international?
- If you are a permanent resident of the United States,
you should use the domestic application form.
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- Q. My undergraduate major was history,
but I took a few Spanish classes. Am I eligible for acceptance
to the M. A. program in Spanish?
- We value, but do not require, an undergraduate major
in Spanish. Our minimum admissions requirements stipulate
completion of 15 semester credit hours of literature
courses in Spanish at the survey level or above. We are
looking for applicants with outstanding academic records,
regardless of undergraduate major.
- Q. My undergraduate GPA is below 3.0
but I earned very good grades my junior and senior year,
especially in my Spanish courses for my major. If I apply
to the MA program, do I have any chance of being considered?
- An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better (based on a 4.0
scale) is preferred. The Admissions Committee will makes
its decision based on a review of the applicant's relevant
work experience and accomplishments, statement of professional
objectives, letters of recommendation, scholastic achievement
and GRE scores (if available).
- Q. I have an M. A. in Spanish linguistics,
but I have always liked Latin American literature, and I
have read a lot in this field. Am I eligible to apply for
your Ph.D. program in Hispanic literatures?
- Applicants for the Ph.D. program must hold (or anticipate
completing by the time of admission) an MA degree in
Hispanic literature from an accredited college or university,
or the equivalent from a foreign university. If your
MA is not in literature, you may apply to the MA program
at KU in order to acquire the appropriate background
and foundational courses for doctoral work.
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About the Application Materials
- Q. I am applying to the MA program, and my 3 reference
letters will be from a college professor,
a high school teacher, and my current job supervisor. Are
these appropriate?
- Whenever possible, we prefer to have three academic
references, preferably from professors who can advise
us about your potential in graduate study. We will accept
references from employers, but we require at least one
academic reference for admission.
- Q. What are you looking for in the personal statement?
- As part of the application process, the department
requires a one to two page Statement stating your strengths
as a student, research interests, and career goals. We
hope this statement will describe some of your intended
professional goals and research topics. In evaluating
the statement, we look for evidence that the applicant
has clear scholarly goals, and that our particular department
is an appropriate place for the applicant to realize
those goals.
- Q. I am applying to the Ph.D. program
and would like to submit a paper I wrote for a graduate class
on the Spanish novel. Will that satisfy the writing sample
requirement?
- Yes, the writing sample should reflect your research
interests and experience with literary analysis at the
graduate level. The sample is evaluated as an example
of the applicant’s writing skills and the potential
for doctoral work. You may write the Statement in English, Spanish or Portuguese.
- Q. I am having trouble getting transcripts from
my former university, but I have several photocopies. Will
these be sufficient for my application?
- All applicants must submit one official original transcript
from all undergraduate and graduate schools previously attended. The transcript(s) must be sent directly to the Department
of Spanish and Portuguese from your school's registrar.
International applicants must enclose a translation of
the transcript into English. Do not send copies of the
transcript(s). Students with a degree from the University of Kansas do not have to submit a final transcript as proof they have earned an undergraduate degree.
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Transfer Credit
- Q. I would like to apply to your MA
program, but I have already taken four graduate courses in
Spanish. If I am accepted, can I apply these toward my MA
in your department?
- Q. I would like to apply to your
Ph.D. program, but I have already completed a year of doctoral
work in Spanish at another university. If I am accepted,
can I apply this work toward my doctoral work in your department?
- Depending on the courses taken, you may be able to apply
some of this work toward your doctoral work at Kansas
if approved by the doctoral advisory committee. Normally,
applicants are allowed to transfer one seminar of the
required 5 seminars for the doctoral degree. Other courses
may be applied to the Minor if they meet the guidelines.
Contact the Director
of Graduate Studies at 785.864–3851 or click
here to send an e-mail to request for more information.
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GREs and TOEFL
- Q. I took the GRE's, but my scores aren't very impressive.
Does this mean I shouldn't apply to the graduate program?
- The GRE is not required for admission to the program.
We encourage you to submit these scores with your application.
The Admissions Committee gives strong consideration to
letters of recommendation, the breadth and depth of preparation,
relevant work experience, and academic record.
- Q. I just learned about your program, and I will not have
the chance to take the GREs before the
January 15 deadline for fellowship applications. Should I
go ahead and apply to the program anyway, or should I wait
until I can take the GREs before I apply?
- The GRE is not required for admission to the program.
In the case of Fellowships, all applicants must submit
GRE scores before January
15. If you wish to be considered for a Fellowship, you
must take the GRE examination and submit your application
before the deadline. Candidates submitting their applications
after January 15 will still be eligible for Teaching
Assistantships until all positions are filled.
- Q. I am from Bulgaria and will be applying as an international student.
Do I have to take the TOEFL, and, if so, what kinds of scores
to I need to have for admission to the University of Kansas?
- The Graduate School of the University of Kansas requires
the following minimum scores for regular admission:
TOEFL: All part scores at least 57 or
TOEFL CBT: All part scores at least
23; Essay at least 4.0
As an international applicant, you do not
need to submit a TOEFL score report if 1) your native language
is English or 2) you have a degree from an institution in which
the language of instruction was English.
- Q. I am from Perú and the listening component
of my TOEFL score isn't quite as high as the Graduate School
requirement for admission. Is this a problem?
- To be admitted into the Graduate School as a regular
student, applicants must have TOEF, all part
scores at least 57, or TOEFL
CBT, all part scores
at least 23; Essay at least 4.0. Applicants
with a TOEFL of at least 53 or TOEFL
CBT of
at least 20, essay at least 3.0, may be admitted
to the
Graduate
School but on provisional admission status until
the applicants have shown satisfactory proficiency
for full-time
graduate study as determined by the Applied
English Center.
- Q. I am from Argentina, but I have
a B. A. from a college in the United States. Do I need to
take the TOEFL?
- No, in this case TOEFL scores are not required. Graduation
with a baccalaureate degree (or higher) from an accredited
US institution of higher education, or from such an institution
whose medium of instruction is English is accepted proof
of English proficiency.
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Financial
Support and Graduate Teaching Assistantships
- Q. I am very interested in the graduate
program at KU, but I'm afraid that I can't afford to go to
school full time. What kinds of support are available?
- At the time of admission, all applicants to the graduate
program will automatically be considered for all of the
awards for which they are eligible. In order to be considered
for Fellowships, you must submit your application by
January 15. Competitive GRE scores are required for all
Fellowship nominations. Candidates submitting their applications
after January 15 will still be eligible for Teaching
Assistantships until all positions are filled. There
are many special fellowships administered by organizations
outside of the University of Kansas. It may be worth
the effort for you to search out this money. You can
start in any good college library, or peruse Grants for
Graduate Study, via the Graduate
School Web page.
- Q. I understand the Graduate Teaching
Assistantships and Fellowships are only for the academic
year. Is there summer support available for graduate students?
- Summer Teaching Assistantships are available to students
who qualify for these assignments. These summer teaching
position are competitive. The Center
of Latin American Studies awards Foreign Language
and Area Studies Fellowships for summer study. This fellowship
is designed for intensive study of a Latin American language
in a language program administered by a U.S. academic
institution either in the US or abroad. The Tinker Foundation
sponsor an annual competition for independent field research
money open to graduate students for summer research in
the Spanish or Portuguese speaking countries of Latin
America, the Caribbean or the Iberian Peninsula. Awards
can only be used to cover airfare and in-country transportation
expenses. In addition, other sources for summer funding
are also available. Visit the Grants for Graduate Study
site on the Graduate
School Web page. Consult with Stuart Day, Director
of Graduate Studies, for more information.
- Q. I am applying to the MA program
and I would like to be considered for a Graduate Teaching
Assistantship but I have never taught. Is this a problem?
- Prior experience is not required to receive a Graduate
Teaching Assistantship. The Department assumes that at
the M. A. level applicants have limited experience teaching
college-level Spanish. The Admissions Committee will
makes its decision based on a review of the applicant's
accomplishments, statement of professional objectives,
letters of recommendation, scholastic achievement, and
GRE scores (if available).
- Q. I would like to apply to your graduate program, but
I have missed the January 15 deadline
for fellowship applications. Should I still bother to apply?
- In the case of Fellowships, all applicants must submit
their applications and GRE scores before January
15. If you wish to be considered for a Fellowship, you
must complete your application before the deadline. Candidates
submitting their applications after January 15 will still
be eligible for Teaching
Assistantships until all positions are filled. If
space is still available, we will review application
files that are completed by May 15. Application files
completed after this date will be considered only under
unusual circumstances.
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- Making the Decision about Graduate School
- Q. I have been accepted to your graduate
program, but I am still not sure if this is the right place
for me. Would you encourage a campus visit?
- We encourage all applicants to visit the campus
and meet with faculty and other graduate students. The
Admissions Committee can set up meetings, visits to classes,
and other opportunities to become acquainted with the
academic programs at the University of Kansas. This visit
will also give you a sense of the Lawrence community.
If you are interested in planning a visit to Lawrence
to meet with faculty and students, please contact Rhonda Rodriguez Cook via e-mail at rcook@ku.edu or
by phone at 785-864-3851.
- Q. I have been accepted to your
graduate program, but I am still waiting to hear from another
institution. How long do I have to make a decision?
- In cases where the candidate needs additional
to to make a decision, please contact Prof. Lee Skinner,
Director of Admissions, at 785-864-3851 or
via e-mail at lskinner@ku.edu .
- Q. I have been accepted to your graduate
program and I am very interested in KU, but I have also been
accepted to other departments. Beyond finances and personal
needs, what academic factors should I consider in making
a decision?
- Applicants should take into consider the size of the program,
the breath of coverage, the opportunities for teaching experience,
the library collections available, the number of
faculty, and the areas of specialization available. The University
of Kansas faculty is dynamic, professionally active, and
committed to excellence in scholarship and teaching. Currently
the program has about 200 undergraduate majors. In addition,
40 graduate students are working for the M. A. and Ph.D.
degrees. While the major emphasis of teaching and research
is literature,
the department also offers courses in Spanish language, linguistics,
and culture, Portuguese language, and Brazilian literature.
In 1995 the National Research Council designated the Department
first in the nation, tied with Brown University, for overall
effectiveness of doctoral training.
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- Other Questions
- Q. I am applying to the MA (or Ph.D.)
program, but I would like to enter the program beginning
the Spring semester rather than the Fall. Can this be done?
- Applicants for Spring entry are considered only in
exceptional circumstances and cannot be guaranteed financial
aid. If you wish to defer your admission until the spring
semester, please contact Prof. Lee Skinner, Director
of Admissions, at (785) 864-3851 or
via e-mail at lskinner@ku.edu.
- Q. If I am accepted to the MA program, can I automatically continue
for the Ph.D.?
- Admission into the doctoral program is contingent
upon superior academic achievement and successful completion
of M. A. requirements. Candidates must apply to the Department
for admission, and decisions are made by the faculty
during the Spring semester.
- Q. Once I submit my application, how soon can I expect to
find out if I have been accepted?
- If the application is complete, including receipt of
all letters, original transcript(s), TOEFL score
(when required), and other required materials, the Admissions
Committee will return a decision as promptly as it can.
The Admission Committee will not evaluate incomplete
applications. It is your responsibility to make sure
all required information has been received and that it
is correct and current. For information concerning the
required components, click
here. If at any time you have questions concerning
the status of your application, contact Rhonda Rodriguez Cook, Department Office Manager, at
785-832-0649.
- How long does it take to complete the MA or PhD?
- The MA degree can be completed in four semesters, and the vast majority of students do so. After completing the MA degree at KU or another institution, students generally finish the PhD degree in four to five years. Occasionally students take longer, for example if they study part time or take a leave of absence.
- Q. Is health insurance available?
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To Send an E-mail Request for Additional Information
on Graduate Work
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Updated on
December 11, 2007
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