Research is a vital part component of the NYU in Madrid MA program. In order to graduate all students must complete an MA project, a substantial piece of original scholarly work on a topic of their choice completed under the guidance of an advisor from the faculty. As the final element in the MA degree, the project gives students an opportunity to demonstrate expertise in their chosen area of research. Many students find their MA project to be one of the most intellectually stimulating and rewarding components of their studies.
Students begin to work on their MA project in the Research Methods Seminar in the fall, and are required to present an initial proposal before fellow students and faculty at the end of that semester. Research proposals are drawn up in consultation with, and the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies and the faculty members. The project will usually be related to one of the courses taken by the student over the course of the year, and always come within the student?s area of concentration (Language and Translation or Literatures and Cultures). The format of the MA project will depend on the nature of the topic and of the student?s interests. Typically taking the form of a research paper (of approximately 10,000-12, 000 words or 40-60 pages in length), MA projects may also consist of an undergraduate-level teaching unit on a given topic, a commented translation, or a piece of original creative work in the field of Hispanic studies.
Two weeks into the spring semester students must submit a full proposal of their topic along with a list of bibliographical sources that they intend to use. Working under the guidance of their faculty adviser, they continue working on their projects over the course of the semester and in most cases into the summer months. Projects should be completed before the summer recess in mid July.
Each April, NYU in Madrid hosts a Graduate Research Symposium which gives students the opportunity to share the first fruits of their research with their classmates, faculty and guests from the academic community.
In collaboration with Middlebury College in Spain, NYU in Madrid publishes an on-line interdisciplinary journal featuring research produced by students from the two institutions. With articles covering the full range of disciplines taught in the program, from literature to linguistics, translation to cultural criticism, the Gaceta Hispánica de Madrid provides students with an opportunity to share their work with the wider academic community. Students are strongly encouraged to submit articles to the journal, and receive guidance from faculty about how best to present their work for publication.