Spanish, M.A.

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

College of Arts and Sciences
Department: World Languages

Major Contacts, Deadlines, and Delivery Information

Also offered as a Concurrent Degrees

The Spanish Section of the Department of World Languages supports a broad, intellectually-driven approach to teaching language, culture, and literature in higher education. Languages and cultures are complex, multifunctional phenomena that link an individual to other individuals, to communities and to national cultures. The graduate major in Spanish offers students academic and practical training in the languages, literatures and cultures of the Spanish-speaking communities of Spain, Latin America, and the United States. Students who receive a Masters of Arts in Spanish from the Department of World Language Education at USF become well-educated communicators with deep translingual and transcultural competence. Thus, they are exceptionally prepared to either continue studies leading to the Ph.D., or find careers in related fields such as the teaching profession, translation, government, civil service agencies, legal and paralegal services, or foreign and domestic business enterprises.

Admission Information

Must meet University Admission and English Proficiency requirements as well as requirements for admission to the major, listed below.

Three letters of recommendation
A two-page statement of purpose in Spanish
An oral interview in Spanish (can be done by phone, video, Skype, etc.)
Approval from the Graduate Director in case of degree from another discipline

Curriculum Requirements

Total Minimum Hours 36

Core - 6 credit hours
Electives - 24 credit hours
Non-Thesis/Thesis Option - 6 credit hours

Core Requirements (6 Credit Hours)

SPW 6806 Introduction to Hispanic Graduate Studies Credit Hours: 3
SPN 5525 Modern Spanish American Civilization Credit Hours: 3

Electives (24 Credit Hours)

Students will take twenty-four (24) semester hours in SPN or SPW graduate courses. Students may substitute up to nine (9) semester hours with courses in a related area, as approved in advance by the Graduate Director.

SPW 5135 Colonial Spanish American Literature Credit Hours: 3
SPW 5339 Golden Age Drama Credit Hours: 3
SPW 5375 Latin American Short Story Credit Hours: 3
SPW 5387 Spanish American Prose Credit Hours: 3
SPW 5405 Medieval Literature Credit Hours: 3
SPN 5525 Modern Spanish American Civilization Credit Hours: 3
SPW 5597 Latin American Culture in Fantastic Literature and Film Credit Hours: 3
SPW 5605 Cervantes Credit Hours: 3
SPW 5934 Selected Topics Credit Hours: 3
SPW 6427 Golden Age Novel Credit Hours: 3
SPN 6845 History of the Spanish Language Credit Hours: 3
SPN 6846 Spanish Paleography and Textual Criticism Credit Hours: 3
SPW 6775 Caribbean Literature Credit Hours: 3
SPW 6910 Directed Research Credit Hours: 1-19

Non-Thesis (6 credit hours)

Students who choose the non-thesis option complete an additional six (6) credit hours of electives.

Thesis (6 Credit Hours)

SPW 6971 Thesis: Master’s Credit Hours: 2-19 (6 credits for this program)

Comprehensive Exam

Successful completion of a comprehensive exam (typically taken in the second semester of the second year). The comprehensive exam is administered in writing. Students will answer questions on literary works and cultural topics selected from a list of works or from questions prepared by the faculty.

Department Handbook

To obtain a copy of the Masters of Arts in Spanish handbook, please visit the Department of World Languages in CPR 419.

Concurrent Degree

Also available as a Concurrent Degree

University of South Florida

Main Navigation