Graduate FAQ

A: Our Graduate Program Manager, Merrie Kay Ames, is available to answer questions. She can be reached at merrie_kay@byu.edu or 801-422-2196. Our Graduate coordinator, Dr. Brian Price, brian_price@byu.edu or 801-422-3453, is also available for admissions advisement.

A: Yes, you must indicate an area of specialization at the time of application. Consult with the section heads to see what specialization would be a good fit for you.

• Linguistics Section Head: Dr. Lynn Williams, lynn_williams@byu.edu, 801-422-3273
• Pedagogy Section Head: Dr. Rob Martinsen, rob.martinsen@byu.edu, 801-422-8466
• Literatures Section Head: Dr. Erik Larson, erik_larson@byu.edu, 801-422-1726

A: No, you can only indicate one area of specialization for your MA program. You may obtain a minor in a related graduate program (e.g. English, Linguistics, Portuguese, Spanish, etc.) concurrently with your major MA program, although, a minor should not be undertaken if it would require a student to take longer than two years to graduate.

To declare a minor, a student must obtain the approval of the department chair or the graduate coordinator of the major and minor departments and obtain the approval of the graduate committee.

Consult with the section heads to see what specialization would be a good fit for you.

• Linguistics Section Head: Dr. Rob Smead, rob_smead@byu.edu, 801-422-2636
• Literatures Section Head: Dr. Erik Larson, erik_larson@byu.edu, 801-422-1726
• Pedagogy Section Head: Dr. Rob Martinsen, rob.martinsen@byu.edu, 801-422-8466

You can find additional BYU admissions information here: https://gradstudies.byu.edu/admissions

A: When you apply to any BYU graduate program, you must apply through BYU Graduate Studies. The Graduate Studies application webpage is here: https://gradapply.byu.edu/apply

A: All of our programs begin in the Fall semester.

A: No, all our courses are held in person.

A: The application deadline is Feb. 1 each year for all programs. You can begin filling out the application as soon as Sept. 15 the year prior to the deadline. Beginning the process early is advised.

A: Your letters of recommendation should come from previous professors who know you, your experience, and your work ethic.

A: You must submit your recommenders’ names as part of your application. Their letters do not necessarily need to be submitted by the application deadline. Your recommenders will be contacted if need be.

A: No. You can attach unofficial transcripts to your application. Once you are admitted, you will need to send your official transcripts to the address below:

Graduate Studies

Brigham Young University

105 FPH

Provo, Utah 84602

A: The university requires that we inform students of our decision by June 1, although it is likely that you will be informed before then.

For SpanTran, see https://spantran.com/web/services/evaluations?gclid=CjwKCAiA9qKbBhAzEiwAS4yeDVF3tmgNl0I080VGO2KYFrk4k1ZCDnmHvnUWmk-ZDpdHFx5Z1-15gxoChbcQAvD_BwE.

A: Upon admission, you will need to have your academic transcripts evaluated/accredited) by either IERF or SpanTran. Our department can pay for this service.

• For IERF, see https://ierf.org/uni-evaluation/byu-ces/ for IERF.
  
  
  • To begin the process, go to https://ierf.org/.

A: You may defer enrollment for a religious mission, a medical reason, a military reason, or because of international student visa issuance delays which are no fault of the student. Otherwise, you must be enrolled the Fall semester you are admitted. (Although, you may be considered with a new applicant pool so long as all your application materials are still valid.)

A: The BA requirement varies based on the area of specialization as follows:

For Hispanic Linguistics or Hispanic Literatures, you must either have a bachelor’s degree in Spanish (for a Spanish MA) or have courses equivalent to our Spanish minor.

For Spanish Pedagogy, you must have a bachelor’s degree in Spanish, Spanish Teaching, or the equivalent.

For Luso-Brazilian Literatures or Portuguese Linguistics, you must have either a bachelor’s degree either in Portuguese or another subject, or have Portuguese courses equivalent to our Portuguese minor.

For Portuguese Pedagogy, you must have a bachelor’s degree in Portuguese, Portuguese Teaching, or the equivalent.

A: Yes. You can either have taken the prerequisite courses by the start of your MA program, or take them concurrently during the MA program by their specified deadlines.

A: See https://finserve.byu.edu/students-parents/tuition-fees-deadlines#richtext-2022-2023-tuiti

for current tuition rates. (Note that graduate tuition rates are different from undergraduate tuition rates.) Please note that tuition rates increase each academic year.

A: To be considered a full-time graduate student, US Citizens need to be registered for at least 8.5 credit hours and International students need to be registered for at least 9.0 credit hours.

A: You should take the GRE before applying to the program, if possible. GRE cores are available approximately 10-15 days after the test date and are reportable for 5 years following the individual’s test date. Learn more at https://www.ets.org/gre/score-users/about/general-test.html

A: The minimum overall score is variable. Applicants must have a minimum analytical writing score of 3.0.

A: Yes. You may take the GRE once every 21 days and up to 5 times within any continuous rolling 12-month period (365 days). See https://www.ets.org/gre/test-takers/general-test/register.html#:~:text=You%20can%20take%20the%20GRE,on%20a%20test%20taken%20previously.

A: GRE scores are reportable for 5 years following your test date. See https://www.ets.org/gre/test-takers/general-test/scores/get-scores.html#:~:text=GRE%20scores%20are%20reportable%20for,based%20on%20your%20test%20date

A: Our department accepts English proficiency test scores from the TOEFL, IELTS, E3PT, and CAE C1 Advanced. Our score requirements are aligned with the university’s minimum score requirements found at https://gradstudies.byu.edu/admissions/english-proficiency. Note that citizens of certain countries are ‘exempt’ from this requirement (see the same website).

A: The TOEFL has four sections: Speaking, Reading, Listening, and Writing. Each section has 30 total points possible. The full test has 120 points possible.

A: This is a special case that is addressed by the graduate coordinator and the graduate program manager, Merrie Kay Ames. If you feel that you do not need to take the TOEFL,, CAE, E3PT, and CAE, or that you have a special circumstance, please contact Merrie Kay Ames at merrie_kay@byu.edu, 801-422-2196, and she will be able to help you.

A: This is a special case that is addressed by the graduate coordinator and the graduate program manager, Merrie Kay Ames. If you feel that you do not need to take the TOEFL,, CAE, E3PT, and CAE, or that you have a special circumstance, please contact Merrie Kay Ames at merrie_kay@byu.edu, 801-422-2196, and she will be able to help you.

A: Yes, our department still requires that you take an English proficiency exam if your first language is not English, even if you graduated from an English-speaking university. There are exceptions to this, but you should contact the department directly, specifically Merrie Kay Ames, at merrie_kay@byu.edu, 801-422-2196, so the department can evaluate your case.

A: For housing, see https://housing.byu.edu/secure/services/rs/default.aspx.

A: Please contact the graduate program manager, Merrie Kay Ames @ 801-422-2196, merrie_kay@byu.edu who will assist you in contacting current graduate students.

A: Once an applicant is admitted, they will receive an email notification from BYU Graduate Studies stating that an update has been posted to their applicant status page. The email will give a link. Applicants can click on the link and then accept or decline admission.

A: Your acceptance letter indicates a faculty member (and their contact information) who will serve as your initial advisor. Feel free to contact them immediately upon acceptance.