Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures
Spanish Program
Advising
If you have declared your major in Spanish, please visit your My Fresno State student center to look up the name of your assigned adviser. After you login, your adviser's name will appear on the right-hand side. You can then visit our faculty page to look up your adviser's contact information and office hours.
Advising for students in:
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Bachelor of Arts, Spanish
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Single Subject in Spanish Preparation
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Spanish minor
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Other Advising Notes
If you are interested in declaring a Spanish major or minor, download and complete the change of major form. Make an appointment and take your form to the appropriate advisor for signature.
Undergraduate Advisor
Dr. Maria Dolores Morillo
Office: PB 435
559.278.6122
mdmorillo@mail.fresnostate.edu
Schedule an appointment.
Graduate Advisor and Coordinator: Master of Arts, Spanish
Dr. Rafael Lemus
Graduate Coordinator
Office: PB 335
rlemus@csufresno.edu
Teaching Associate (TA) Positions
Teaching Associate (TA) Positions are available for students in the Spanish MA Program. Please refer to the Teaching Associate page for more information.
Other Advising Notes
"Credit Allowances" are listed for Foreign Language classes. It is based on the student's experience in the language and most from the studies in high school. The following is from the Course Catalog.
Credit Allowance in Foreign Language
Students may begin a study of any language they desire to learn. However, if they want to continue study of a language they recently studied in high school, they must adhere to the following guidelines:
A. Students who have had less than two years of that language in high school will enroll in either a 1A or 1B class in that language, depending on the quality of the high school language experience.
B. Students who have studied a language for two years in high school will enroll in a 1B class in that language.
C. Students who have studied a language for three years in high school will enroll in a 2A class in that language.
D. Students who have studied a language for four years in high school will enroll in a 2B class in that language.
E. Students who have passed an AP test in a language, or who have five or more years of language study, should consult a department adviser for appropriate placement.
F. Students who have taken Greek and Latin in high school should consult a department adviser for appropriate placement.
G. Spanish-speaking students who have appropriate oral language skills will enroll in Spanish 4A.
H. Credit may not be awarded for a lower-division language course if the student has received credit for an upper-division course in that language, other than SPAN 110T and courses taught in English: FREN 149, GERM 103T, LATIN 132.
Credit by Examination: To "test out" of a course, you must be enrolled in the course for the same semester. There is two application procedure (1) the department request and (2) the university's Application for Credit by Examination". The same Department Credit Allowances pertain for students requesting to test out. Please note: Credit may not be awarded for a lower-division course if the student has received credit (credit or letter grade) for an upper-division course in that same foreign language. For example: if a student has received a letter grade for Spanish 119 (upper division course), the student cannot challenge Spanish 4A (lower division course).
The department application is available at the department office (Peters Business Bldg, Room 393). This form will require a copy of your unofficial transcript for the Chair's review and decision.
For more information:
Spanish B.A. Mission
The Bachelor’s Degree Program in Spanish provides undergraduate students with a rigorous academic foundation in advanced oral and written communication, research methodologies, and critical analysis within the fields of Spanish language, literature, linguistics, and culture. This program cultivates intellectual curiosity, cultural literacy, and professional competence, empowering students to engage with diverse perspectives and make meaningful contributions to their communities and professional domains. Through a comprehensive and interdisciplinary curriculum, the program fosters personal and professional growth, encourages scholarly collaboration, and promotes a nuanced understanding of both local and global issues, thereby enriching the academic community and society at large. The Program holds a significant position within General Education, particularly in Area C-2 Humanities, by providing foundational language courses that contribute to Breadth requirements, as well as advanced culture courses that support Integration.
Undergraduate
"Placement Test" for Spanish 1A, 1B, 2A and/or 2B: there are no "placement Tests" for Spanish 1A, 1B, 2A, and 2B.
"Credit Allowances" are listed for Foreign Language classes. It is based on the student's experience in the language and most from the studies in high school. Find those allowances.
Credit by Examination: To "test out" of a course, you must be enrolled in the course for the same semester. There is two application procedure (1) the department request and (2) the university's Application for Credit by Examination". The same Department Credit Allowances pertain for students requesting to test out. Please note: Credit may not be awarded for a lower-division course if the student has received credit (credit or letter grade) for an uper-division course in that same foreign language. For example: if a student has received a letter grade for Spanish 119 (upper division course), the student cannot challenge Spanish 4A (lower division course).
The department application is available at the department office (Peters Business Bldg, Room 393). This form will required a copy of your unofficial transcript for the Chair's review and decision.
Graduate Program
The Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures offers the Master of Arts degree in Spanish.
The Master of Arts degree in Spanish language and literature serves several categories
of students: those anticipating doctoral studies, those teaching or preparing to teach
in high school and community college, and those interested in further study beyond
the baccalaureate degree. For specific requirements, consult the department graduate
program advisor and coordinator, Dr. Rafael Lemus.
Catalog: Spanish, M.A.
Spanish M.A. Mission
The mission of the MA program in Spanish is consistent and well-aligned with the university’s missions of empowering students for success by expanding students’ intellectual horizons, preparing them for conducting research on critical issues, and becoming a diverse generation of leaders with a local focus and global impact. Through its course offerings and preparation in academic writing, the MA program provides students with the advanced knowledge and research skills required for professional academic study related to the Spanish language. The program thus aligns with the university’s mission of fostering curiosity and open-mindedness by encouraging personal and professional growth, supporting innovative research and pedagogy to address pressing issues, promoting diverse and interdisciplinary perspectives, and preparing students to engage with the world and experience different cultures and viewpoints.
Graduate Program Advisor and Coordinator
Contact Dr. Rafael Lemus for initial and continuous advising in the Spanish MA Requirements.
Dr. Rafael Lemus
rlemus@csufresno.edu
PB 339
Please send an email to Dr. Lemus to make an appointment.
Spanish M.A. Handbook
All information concerning the M.A. in Spanish may be found in the Spanish MA Handbook
Version: August 2025, which may be downloaded as a PDF.
Master of Arts in Spanish
The Master of Arts degree in Spanish is awarded upon satisfactory completion of a 30-unit program of study. For the culminating experience, students may select either a thesis/project or a comprehensive exam.
Program Prerequisites
Admission to the M.A. degree program in Spanish requires a minimum 3.0 GPA and assumes an undergraduate major in Spanish but it is open to others with a bachelor's degree who show intellectual promise and ability to perform at a satisfactory level during their graduate studies. Students lacking the B.A. in Spanish will be required to make up deficiencies prior to acceptance into the M.A. program.
(See also Graduate Studies-Regulations regarding Admission to Graduate Standing, Advancement to Candidacy, Program Requirements, and Criteria for Thesis and Project in the General Catalogue.)
Admission Prerequisites
The MCLL Department's Spanish M.A. program requires applicants to have a 3.0 overall GPA.
Supplementary Admissions Materials
In addition to the materials required for application to Fresno State via Cal State Apply, the Spanish program requires the following supplementary materials to be submitted directly to the graduate advisor and coordinator, Dr. Rafael Lemus, rlemus@mail.fresnostate.edu:
- Three (3) original letters of recommendation.
- A 500-word statement of purpose, written in Spanish or English.
- A 10-12 page writing sample in Spanish.
M.A. Language Exam
Students are expected to take the Language Exam during their first semester as graduate students in the Program. See the M.A. Language SAMPLE Exam.
Teaching Associate (TA) Information
Translation and Interpreting
The demand for translation and interpreting professionals continues to grow across the United States, and in the Central Valley in particular. To better prepare our students for these opportunities, the Spanish program offers coursework in translation and interpreting, open to all Fresno State students who are bilingual or have advanced Spanish-language skills. The courses help students develop professional skills applicable in a wide range of fields and offer specialized training in medical interpreting, legal interpreting, and written translation.
Minor Program
For students interested in pursuing a career in translation and interpreting—or in adding a versatile complement to their major—the Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures offers a minor in Spanish Translation and Interpreting. The purpose of the minor program is to provide bilingual speakers with the communicative, cultural, and professional skills necessary for bridging English and Spanish in the workplace and our communities. Students enrolled in the minor program learn relevant theories and techniques, gain hands-on experience through realistic assignments, and prepare to take certification exams if they choose to do so.
The minor in Spanish Translation and Interpreting requires a minimum of 15 units. It also requires a 2.0 GPA. If interested, contact Dr. Berríos for planning your program. Read more information on the Minor.
Phrase
This department has been granted free access to the Phrase Academic Edition, an academic program designed for universities with translation courses.
Spanish Faculty