Graduate Program Overview
The Department of Spanish and Portuguese offers Master of Arts (MA) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees with specializations in Spanish American Literature, Peninsular Spanish Literature and Hispanic Linguistics. Our graduates have experienced successful placement. The Department has an active and multinational group of faculty and graduate students with literary, linguistic and cultural interests in several fields.
Program Goals
The graduate program in Spanish integrates the study of the three fundamental fields of Hispanic studies: Peninsular Spanish literature, Spanish American literature and Hispanic linguistics. The Master of Arts provides a solid program developing advanced Spanish language skills for diverse careers (in secondary education, business, health and government services and interpretation and translation). Students also receive training in the pedagogical and research skills necessary for the pursuit of a PhD. The Doctor of Philosophy, meanwhile, provides opportunities for advanced study and research in selected fields in Hispanic studies. Additionally, the program trains scholars/teachers for careers principally at institutions of higher learning. The MA and PhD degrees may be completed on a full-time or part-time basis.
Pursue an MA or PhD in Spanish
The College of Liberal Arts Master of Arts in Spanish students develop advanced Spanish-language skills for diverse careers and learn the research and pedagogical skills necessary to pursue a PhD.
PhD students have robust opportunities for advanced study and research in Spanish Peninsular literature, Spanish American literature and Hispanic linguistics. College of Liberal Arts Spanish PhD graduates are trained scholars who are ready to thrive in higher education careers.
Additional Graduate Resources:
Graduate Certificate
The Online Graduate Certificate in Spanish for Health Professions prepares professionals in healthcare fields to engage in culturally sensitive, knowledgeable Spanish communication with the Latinx and Spanish-speaking community in healthcare settings. This exclusively online certificate offers maximum flexibility in recognition of the unique time and geographical constraints of the working professional.
Graduate Students
Our highly selected MA and PhD students are an intricate part of the learning and teaching experience here in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese. Our graduate students conduct research, teach courses and work closely with various faculty members and students throughout the department. Visit or PhD Students page to learn more about our current doctoral students.
Admissions Process
Please visit the MA in Spanish, PhD in Spanish or Graduate Certificate: Spanish for Health Professionals admission pages to learn more about graduate program requirements, dates and deadlines and instructions on how to apply.
For questions related to the graduate program offerings in general, please check the frequently asked questions and, if you don’t find the answer you need, feel free to contact the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies or the Graduate Coordinator.
Graduate Language Reading Exam
The Spanish and Portuguese Graduate Language Reading Examinations are administered four times per year: twice during the fall semester and twice during the spring semester. We also administer Catalan exams in our department by request. The department will notify students of their exam results by email.
Financial Support
Multi-year competitive financial support (5 years) in the form of teaching assistantships is available exclusively to doctoral students. These awards include a monthly stipend, tuition remission, health insurance, one semester of teaching release and a research fund of $5,000. Moreover, university fellowships are available on a competitive basis. Please note: MA degree terminal students do not qualify for an assistantship. Summer teaching appointments are given to a limited number of students.
