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About the Master of Arts in Spanish

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The Master of Arts program in Spanish combines theoretical research and applied learning designed to advance students' knowledge of the Spanish language, the literatures and cultures of the Spanish-speaking world, and linguistics. The program helps students improve their professional credentials, provides them with the foundation they need to pursue doctoral studies, and prepares them for teaching in a community college and for employment in other fields that require a high degree of proficiency in Spanish. The members of the graduate faculty have varied research and teaching interests, reputations for scholarly excellence, and commitment to students' intellectual growth and academic progress. Online and In-person classes offered.

Students learn to think critically and communicate effectively while acquiring a comprehensive foundation in Hispanic literatures, linguistics, and cultures. The dynamic and highly-regarded faculty guide graduate students in learning, research, and scholarship on the beautiful San Marcos campus, convenient to the Austin and San Antonio metro areas. Evening classes enable professionals to complete their degree. The program also offers graduate assistantships in teaching, editing, and study abroad. Alumni enter Ph.D. programs and find success in a wide range of careers in both the public and private sectors.

Students explore Hispanic cultures in seminar settings through the study of linguistics and the literatures of the Spanish-speaking world. The 33-hour, two-year Master of Arts in Spanish program offers flexible options for writing a thesis or taking internship courses abroad. The 36-hour track includes a minor in another field. Topics of study include:

  • Mexican and Mexican-American literatures,
  • Women and minorities in Medieval and Early Modern literature
  • Spanish in professional contexts
  • Don Quijote
  • Language contact and change

The Spanish Master of Arts (M.A.) program helps students gain the specialized knowledge and skills, as well as the cultural awareness and global perspective, necessary to excel in today’s increasingly interdependent world community. Students work to develop a high degree of proficiency in Spanish to succeed in a competitive global economy.

Members of the graduate faculty have a reputation for scholarly excellence and have distinctive research interests, such as Spanish and Latin American literatures, film, theater and performance, cultural studies, transatlantic studies, women’s and gender studies, and contemporary and historical linguistics. Faculty present their research at national and international conferences and publish books, book chapters, and articles in peer-reviewed journals. The Spanish faculty also publishes the journal Letras hispanas.

Graduates may find career paths in the following fields:

  • Translation/interpretation
  • Government
  • Journalism and media
  • International business
  • Secondary and higher education
  • Criminal justice
  • Healthcare
  • Social work
  • International education

Important Deadlines:

Admissions

  • Priority Fall: January 15
  • Fall: June 15
  • Spring: October 15
  • Summer: no admission

Applications will continue to be considered on a space-available basis after the deadline.

Funding (Scholar/fellow/assistantships):

  • Applications must be complete by the priority deadline to be considered for funding.

 

“. . . The dedication of each professor to his or her students is unparalleled, and this program has prepared me for a lifetime of success by giving me a broad academic background in the literature, culture, and linguistics of the Hispanic world.”
— Allison Yakel, M.A. ’15, Spanish Ph.D., University of Houston
 

Learn more about current Spanish graduate course offerings.

All students seeking teacher certification should consult the Office of Educator Preparation for official information on becoming a certified teacher in the State of Texas.

Contacts

Dr. Agustín Cuadrado
Spanish Graduate Advisor
Professor of Spanish
Office: CENT 224F
Phone: 512.245.2254
Fax: 512.245.8298
E-mail: ac41@txstate.edu

The Graduate College
Texas State University
601 University Drive
San Marcos, TX 78666-4605
Phone: 512.245.2581
Fax: 512.245.8365
E-mail: gradcollege@txstate.edu

For more information, including the current Graduate Catalog, visit the The Graduate College website.