Skip to header Skip to Content Skip to Footer
A group of people pose during the Hispanic Heritage Month Party

Spanish, Bachelor's/Master's Combined Program

Accelerate Your Academic Journey and Earn Two Degrees
  • 5

    Earn Two Degrees in Five Years

  • 2nd

    Spanish is the Second Most Spoken Language in the World – Over 300 Million Speakers in Latin America, Spain & U.S.

Find your career in:

Become a K-12 Spanish teacher, community college instructor or university professor.

Spanish-language skills are valuable in medical professions.

Spanish speakers work as interpreters and translators in the U.S. and abroad.

Work in Student Affairs at a university, meeting the needs of prospective and current Latinx students.

Teach English abroad or in the U.S. to speakers of other languages (requires licensure at the K-12 public schools level).

Learn To

Train professionals ready to work and interact with the Latinx population in the U.S. and abroad

Increase, improve and promote cultural understanding and awareness of regional, national and international Spanish-speaking communities

Provide knowledge and advanced skills in the Spanish language and Hispanic cultures necessary for higher-level graduate work

Provide critical and practical skills necessary for analyzing, assessing, and addressing academic and societal issues related to Hispanic cultures

“ I was to be one of the first three students to go through the combined program. I began my master's the following semester and could not be more grateful for the opportunity. ”
Mourghan Mencio ‘13, ‘14
Spanish, Bachelor’s/Master’s Combined Program Overview

2 Degrees in 5 Years

Our program provides you with an accelerated five-year option to pursue baccalaureate and master’s degrees simultaneously. Students can count up to 12 hours of graduate-level courses to fulfill requirements for the B.A. and use those same 12 credits toward the M.A. in Spanish. The combined degree program offers a range of courses that explore literature, linguistics, culture and pedagogy.

How Does It Work?

Much like AP credits that count for high school and college, in the combined B.A./M.A. program you can take graduate courses during your fourth year that satisfy requirements for the undergraduate degree and that can also be used toward the M.A. in Spanish. The result is that the typical two-year M.A. program is completed in just one year.

This program is designed for students currently in the B.A. in Spanish program at UNCW who have:

  • Completed a minimum of 75 and a maximum of 98 credit hours, including credits earned from advanced placement if they start at UNCW or are transfer students
  • Completed a minimum of 12 hours of 300- or 400-level Spanish courses
  • Completed at least one of these courses: SPN 308, 311, 312, 321, 322, 323, 385
  • A minimum overall grade point average of 3.3 and minimum grade point average of 3.3 in the Spanish major

Steps for Admission to Combined Programs

  1. Undergraduate Application: If you are not a current UNCW student, submit the appropriate application to the Undergraduate Admissions Office.
  2. Communicate: Communicate your interest to participate in the combined program with your undergraduate advisor and the coordinator of the graduate program. This includes reviewing the process to be considered for the combined program and discussing when to apply to the Graduate School.
  3. Combined Program Approval: The graduate coordinator will review your request to participate in the combined program. Approval to apply for the combined program does not guarantee admission to the Graduate School.
  4. Junior Year: During your junior year, you will work with your undergraduate advisor and the coordinator of the graduate program to identify which graduate courses you may take as an undergraduate student.
  5. Senior Year: During your senior year, you will work with the graduate program coordinator to obtain approval to take graduate courses as an undergraduate student.
  6. Graduate School Application: UNCW's Graduate School requires that your bachelor's degree be awarded prior to the first day of graduate classes for the term that you begin the master's degree program. Apply to take graduate classes for the term you begin the master's program.
  7. UNCW Graduate School Contact Info: Email gradschool@uncw.edu with questions prior to submitting the graduate application as the application fee is non-refundable and non-transferable.

How to Apply

Are you a UNCW junior majoring in Spanish? Use the button below to apply for the combined B.A./M.A. in Spanish. 

Request Consideration for the Spanish B.A./M.A. Program

Four students sitting at a table, talking and smiling

Sample Courses In Spanish B.A./M.A. Program

Sample Courses
SPN 306 Advanced Grammar
SPN 308 Hispanic Linguistics
SPN 311 Spanish Civilization
SPN 322 Intro to Latin American Literature
SPN 512 Identidades mexicanas
SPN 522 Studies in Spanish American Literature: Critical Approaches
to 20th & 21st Century Latin American Narrative
SPN 508 Teaching Spanish for Social Justice
See The Full Curriculum

Explore More Program
Details

Learn more about the
Department

  • Related Programs

    Spanish, M.A.

    Advance your Spanish language skills in a traditional graduate program.

    Spanish, MAT

    The MAT in Spanish is designed for people who are seeking licensure to teach Spanish in elementary or secondary schools.

    Certificate in Hispanic Studies

    Prepares community college, four-year college or university instructors who must have at least 18 hours of graduate credit to teach Spanish, according to SACS guidelines.

  • Graduate Programs to Consider Next

    Spanish or Hispanic Studies, Ph.D.

    Continue your studies of Spanish by pursuing a doctorate in Spanish or Hispanic Studies. You will complete advanced coursework in the field along with a dissertation on a topic of interest.

    JD

    Consider a degree in law where you will be able to put your linguistic and cultural skills to use representing Latinx clients.

    MD

    Continue to medical school where you will be able to use your advanced linguistic and cultural proficiencies to provide direct medical care to the Spanish-speaking community.