Spanish, M.A. (Madrid)
SLU-Madrid may be the best place in the world to earn a Master of Arts in Spanish. We offer a rigorous M.A. that follows the U.S. conventions of graduate study in Spain's culturally rich and vibrant capital.
M.A. in Spanish
Our M.A. in Spanish will immerse you in the Spanish language and its cultures. It will also provide you with the tools to achieve high standards of literary scholarship and advance your career as a teacher.
You will gain an appreciation of the cultural and historical events that have shaped Spain and the Americas, as well as the artistic and literary movements that accompanied them. In addition, the program will enhance your academic fluency and accuracy of expression. And you will learn the best teaching practices based on theoretical understandings of language teaching and learning.
Pursuing the M.A. at SLU-Madrid means engaging with our internationally recognized faculty. It means having the option of gaining experience as a teaching assistant. It means presenting at our annual Spanish Symposium, collaborating with faculty on their research, meeting contemporary Spanish writers and scholars after their invited lectures, and being part of a community that is passionate about the Spanish language, its literature, and teaching and learning.
Summer Sessions Open International Study to Spanish Teachers
We offer the option to earn an M.A. in Spanish during the summer only. This is a popular option for primary and secondary school teachers because you can enroll in graduate classes that run from late June to the end of July and complete the full degree over three or four summers. This option lets you focus on your job during the school year and spend the summers connecting with the passion that ignited your teaching career. Students in the program can complement summer instruction with an online course during the fall semester.
El programa de M谩ster de Espa帽ol me ofreci贸 una visi贸n panor谩mica de la literatura hispanoamericana y la espa帽ola, as铆 como tambi茅n de los estudios ling眉铆sticos. Disfrut茅 de gran libertad en la investigaci贸n y aprend铆 herramientas para la ense帽anza. Hay un trato cercano para con los estudiantes y en todo momento me sent铆 acompa帽ada por el profesorado, tanto en mis estudios como en mi escritura. Lo recomendar铆a mil veces."
Carla Aparicio, M.A. in Spanish
For more information about the M.A. in Spanish, contact graduate-admissions-madrid@slu.edu.
For information about the assessment of student learning in this program, please see the University-wide website.
The M.A. in Spanish is designed for students who have majored or minored in Spanish or a related field of study. The program provides a generalist foundation in Spanish Peninsular and Latin American literature, teaching and applied linguistics.
Stage 1:
The first stage consists of advanced study through the completion of 30 credit hours distributed among 10 3-credit-hour courses. Program requirements do not follow a specific order, which allows you to adapt coursework to your own pace and interests. The required credit hours should include the following:
- Six credit hours of Peninsular Spanish studies
- Six credit hours of Latin American studies
- Six credit hours of teaching methods or linguistics
- The remaining 12 credit hours, distributed according to the student's interest: literary analysis, linguistics and teaching, or creative writing
To view the full list of course offerings, visit the Courses and Syllabi page and select "Spanish M.A." in the dropdown menu.
Stage 2:
The student develops the second stage independently by reading a list of selected books and articles. After completing the courses and reading the works on the list, you'll demonstrate that you have fulfilled the program's goals through written and oral exams. The written exam is based on the reading list; the questions during the final oral exam relate to the courses that the student has taken in the program.
M.A. in Spanish Reading List (PDF)
All courses required for the M.A. in Spanish can be taken both during the traditional academic year and over three or four summers or in a combination of both ways. You can also fulfill the requirements for the M.A. in Spanish through a combination of study at the Madrid and St. Louis campuses.
Teaching Assistants
M.A. in Spanish students may be selected to serve as teaching assistants, gaining hands-on experience in the language classroom alongside SLU-Madrid's expert faculty.
Students in our program may also gain valuable international work experience 鈥� and support themselves financially while in Spain 鈥� serving as an English-language teaching assistant at local primary or secondary schools. Find out more through the following websites.
Careers
M.A. in Spanish graduates gain a linguistic and cultural base that positions them for many careers. Some use the background and skills acquired in the program to continue their studies in a Ph.D. program in Spanish or comparative literature. Others launch their careers as secondary school teachers. And others enter other professions, including:
- Writing and editing.
- Translation and interpretation.
- Diplomatic service.
- Social work.
- Leadership positions in international institutions.
- Business and commerce.
Our Spanish faculty are distinguished researchers and outstanding teachers. They bring to the M.A. program a wealth of knowledge across a diverse range of literary movements in Spain and Latin America, as well as in applied linguistics.
SLU-Madrid is committed to providing a quality Jesuit education at an affordable price. Tuition rates at the Madrid campus are approximately 40% lower than at comparable private universities in the U.S.
If you have questions or would like to speak with a financial aid officer, email us at financialaid-madrid@slu.edu.
Applicants should hold a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish or equivalent with an excellent academic record.
Accelerated B.A./M.A. Option
Saint Louis University's accelerated Spanish B.A./M.A. program offers qualified Spanish majors the opportunity to begin work toward the Master of Arts in Spanish while completing requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, thereby reducing the time needed to earn the master's degree. More details here.
Kristen Rader, estudiante del M谩ster de Espa帽ol, promoci贸n de 2020.