Spanish (M.A.)

M.A. Spanish

Students learn to think critically and communicate effectively while acquiring a comprehensive foundation in Hispanic literature, linguistics, and cultures.
students

Program Overview

The dynamic and highly regarded faculty guides graduate students in learning, research and scholarship at the beautiful San Marcos Campus, convenient to the Austin and San Antonio metro areas. Evening and online classes enable professionals to complete their degree. The program also offers graduate assistantships in teaching, translating, editing, and study abroad.

Course Work

Students explore Hispanic cultures in seminar settings through the study of linguistics, translation, 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 in professional translation or research abroad. The 36-hour track includes a minor in another field.

Topics of study include:

  • Mexican and Mexican-American literatures
  • Women and minorities in Hispanic literatures
  • Spanish in professional contexts
  • Don Quijote
  • Language contact and change
  • Translation Studies
DegreeHoursThesis OptionMinor OptionLocation
Degree
M.A.
Hours
33
Thesis Option
Thesis
Minor Option
No minor
Location
San Marcos
Degree
M.A.
Hours
33
Thesis Option
Non-Thesis
Minor Option
No minor & internship required
Location
San Marcos
Degree
M.A.
Hours
33
Thesis Option
Non-Thesis
Minor Option
No minor & additional six hours of Spanish courses required
Location
San Marcos
Degree
M.A.
Hours
36
Thesis Option
Thesis
Minor Option
Minor required
Location
San Marcos
Degree
M.A.
Hours
36
Thesis Option
Non-Thesis
Minor Option
Minor & internship required
Location
San Marcos
Degree
M.A.
Hours
36
Thesis Option
Non-Thesis
Minor Option
Minor & additional six hours of Spanish courses required
Location
San Marcos

What Our Alumni Say

“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, Ph.D. ’18, Spanish, University of Houston, Assistant Professor, Lawrence University

Program Details

Alumni enter Ph.D. programs and find success in a wide range of careers in both the public and private sectors.

Program Mission

The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Spanish program helps students gain the specialized knowledge, skills, cultural awareness, and global perspective necessary to excel in today's increasingly interdependent world community. While students work to develop a high degree of Spanish proficiency in graduate seminars, they teach undergraduate courses and participate in diverse departmental activities, such as research and internships designed to provide the tools to succeed in a competitive global economy.

Career Options

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

Program Faculty

Members of the graduate faculty have a reputation for scholarly excellence and have diverse research interests, such as Iberian 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 publish the journal Letras hispanas.

Contact us for general questions about your application, funding opportunities, and more. If you have specific questions after reviewing the program details, contact the program's graduate advisor.

Graduate Advisor
Dr. Agustin Cuadrado
gradspanish@txstate.edu
512.245.2360
Centennial Hall (CENT), Room 224F

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Application Process

Application Deadlines

DeadlinesU.S. CitizenInternational
Deadlines
Fall - Priority
U.S. Citizen
January 15
International
January 15
Deadlines
Fall - Standard
U.S. Citizen
June 15 (*Flexible)
International
June 1
Deadlines
Spring
U.S. Citizen
October 15 (*Flexible)
International
October 1

*This program’s deadline is flexible for those not requiring an F/J visa. A flexible deadline means applications received after the standard deadline may be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis with no guarantees for admission consideration.

 Funding Information
Applications must be complete by the priority deadline to be considered for certain types of funding.

Decision Timeline
This program reviews applications on a rolling basis.

Admission Requirements

The items required for admission consideration are listed below. Additional information for applicants with international credentials can be found on our international web pages.

Expand FAQ List

  • Review important information about the online application.

    • $55 nonrefundable application fee
      OR
    • $90 nonrefundable application fee for applications with international credentials

    Review important information about application fees.

    • baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited university (Non-U.S. degrees must be equivalent to a four-year U.S. Bachelor’s degree. In most cases, three-year degrees are not considered. Visit our International FAQs for more information.)
    • a copy of an official transcript from each institution where course credit was granted
    • a 2.75 overall GPA or a 2.75 GPA in your last 60 hours of undergraduate course work (plus any completed graduate courses)
    • minimum 3.0 GPA in 12 or more upper-division undergraduate hours in Spanish including at least six hour of Spanish literature. (If you are lacking sufficient background course work, you will be required to take leveling courses. Any required leveling course work must be completed with grades of B or better prior to admission.) 

    Review important information about transcripts. Official transcripts, sent directly from your institution, will be required if admission is granted.

  • GRE

    • GRE not required

    Approved English Proficiency Exam Scores

    Applicants are required to submit an approved English proficiency exam score that meets the minimum program requirements below unless they have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or the equivalent from a country on our exempt countries list.

    • official TOEFL iBT scores required with a 78 overall
    • official PTE scores required with a 52 overall
    • official IELTS (academic) scores required with a 6.5 overall and
      • minimum individual module scores of 6.0
    • official Duolingo Scores required with a 110 overall
    • official TOEFL Essentials scores required with an 8.5 overall

    This program does not offer admission if the scores above are not met.

    Review important information about official test scores.

    • Up-to-date resume/CV
    • statement of purpose written in Spanish (600 words) explaining your professional and personal interest in the M.A. in Spanish
    • three letters of recommendation

    Review important information about documents.

Additional Information

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