Spanish, MA
Degree Awarded: MA Spanish
The Master of Arts program in Spanish includes tracks in literature and culture and in linguistics. While the former includes Spanish, Spanish American and Mexican American literature and culture, the latter includes sociolinguistics or second language acquisition and applied linguistics.
Degree Overview
The 30-hour program of study equips you with both transferable and industry-specific skills. Regardless of your focus, you’ll strengthen your ability to interpret literature and cultural production, communicate in Spanish, solve linguistic challenges, analyze research and apply a global perspective. You’ll also learn to explain complex concepts, mentor others and lead group discussions.
Courses and Electives
Program requirements include a core course, a literature and culture elective, and a linguistics elective. The remaining credits consist of electives based on your interests in literature, culture, applied linguistics and linguistics. Broad topic areas include Spanish, Spanish-American and Mexican-American culture, as well as Spanish second language acquisition, language program administration, sociolinguistics and applied linguistics. Students in the immersion program must complete a portfolio, and students in the online program must complete SPA 597 Capstone.
Curriculum
Program coursework equips you with both transferable and industry-specific skills. Regardless of your focus, you’ll strengthen your ability to interpret literature and cultural production, communicate in Spanish, solve linguistic challenges, analyze research and apply a global perspective. You’ll also learn to explain complex concepts, mentor others and lead group discussions.
Depending on your course selections, you may gain skills in:
- Digital tools and techniques
- Work with e-learning platforms, explore digital humanities and apply data analysis in language studies.
- Language and linguistics
- Master advanced Spanish fluency, phonetics, grammar, syntax and sociolinguistics.
- Research and analysis
- Analyze texts, conduct comparative literature studies and apply qualitative and quantitative research methods, including corpus linguistics.
- Teaching and pedagogy
- Explore second language acquisition, heritage language pedagogy, design effective curricula and create assessments for language learners.
Degree Requirements
Curriculum Plan Options
- 30 credit hours and a portfolio
- 30 credit hours including the required capstone course (SPA 597)
Required Core (3 credit hours)
SPA 540 History of the Spanish Language (3)
Other Required (6 credit hours)
SPA 542 Studies in the Spanish Southwest (3) or SPA 546 Heritage Language Pedagogy (3) or SPA 598 Topic: Bilingualism (3)
SPA 586 Chicano/Chicana Short Novel (3) or SPA 576 Contemporary Spanish American Short Story (3) or SPA 568 Cervantes (3)
Restricted Electives (18 or 21 credit hours)
Culminating Experience (0 or 3 credit hours)
portfolio (0)
SPA 597 Capstone (3)
Additional Curriculum Information
Students seeking a master's degree in Spanish should consult with the respective graduate representative. Students in the immersion program must complete the portfolio, and students in the online program must complete SPA 597 Capstone.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's degree in Spanish or another related field from a regionally accredited institution.
Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.
All applicants must submit:
- graduate admission application and application fee
- official transcripts
- personal statement
- resume or curriculum vitae
- writing sample (in Spanish)
- two letters of recommendation
- proof of English proficiency
Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
Applicants should provide a personal statement that is no more than two pages, summarizing past educational experiences and goals in pursuing a graduate degree.
Applicants should provide an academic writing sample such as an academic term paper, critical paper or research paper written in Spanish of at least six pages in length that was prepared in an upper-division or graduate Spanish course. Applicants may update an older paper to better demonstrate a current level of proficiency, write a completely new paper, or enroll in a graduate-level course as a nondegree-seeking student in preparation for applying for this program.
Two letters of recommendation are also required from a previous instructor or professor, work supervisor or character reference (anyone who can speak to the applicant's academic skill, character, motivation and persistence).
Flexible Degree Options
Accelerated program options
This program allows students to obtain both a bachelor's and master's degree in as little as five years.
It is offered as an
accelerated bachelor's and master's degree
with:
BA - Spanish
Website | Locations: TEMPE,ONLNE
Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. During their junior year, eligible students will be advised by their academic departments to apply.
Next Steps to attend ASU
Learn about our programs
Apply to a program
Visit our campus
Application Deadlines
Fall
Learning Outcomes
- Analyze the historical evolution of Latin to Spanish language.
- Critically evaluate cultural productions from Spanish or, Spanish-American, or Mexican-American literature.
- Critically evaluate linguistic aspects of a specific area within the Spanish language.
Career Opportunities
Professionals with this degree can confidently move into further academic, business and international fields. Skills developed through this program are valued for teaching positions, including in museums and libraries; translation work; work in a larger sector such as governmental, diplomatic and international business; and for careers in publishing, media, nonprofits and international relations.
Career examples include:
- area, ethnic and cultural studies teachers and professors
- foreign language and literature teachers and professors
- historians
- interpreters and translators
- lawyers
- reporters and correspondents
- social and community service managers
Attend Online
ASU offers this program in an online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. Applicants may view the program description and request more information here.
Program Contact Information
If you have questions related to admission, please click here to request information and an admission specialist will reach out to you directly. For questions regarding faculty or courses, please use the contact information below.
- [email protected]
- 480/965-6281