Prepare for a dynamic career in a rapidly globalizing world where proficiency in Spanish is increasingly essential. Deepening your understanding of Spanish language and culture will earn you a competitive edge in the job market, making you a sought-after candidate in the workforce.
Locations
- Statesboro Campus
- Armstrong Campus
- Online
Why Get your Master’s Degree in Spanish?
Majoring in Spanish gives you the opportunity to immerse yourself in a rich and diverse linguistic landscape, while equipping you with the skills you need to succeed in today’s global job market.
Our comprehensive curriculum emphasizes not only the mastery of the Spanish language but also deep dives into literature, culture, history, and linguistics. This interdisciplinary approach fosters critical thinking and cultural awareness, preparing you for a wide range of careers—from education and international relations to media and public service.
At Georgia Southern, you’ll benefit from a supportive learning environment, with opportunities for hands-on teaching experience through graduate assistantships and access to a vibrant community of fellow students. With nearly a 100% placement rate for our graduates, you’ll gain the competitive edge needed to excel in various professions that value language proficiency and cultural understanding. Whether you choose to continue your studies or step directly into a rewarding career, majoring in Spanish at Georgia Southern opens the door to endless possibilities.
Ready to Apply?
What Can You Do With a Master’s Degree in Spanish?
Spanish speakers with advanced credentials are highly sought after in fields like international relations, education, healthcare, government, business, and media.
With a Master’s Degree in Spanish, you can pursue roles like foreign service officer, intelligence analyst, corporate consultant, or educator, leveraging their language skills to make impactful contributions in all kinds of environments.
Whether you choose to work in education, journalism, translation, public relations, or even as a human rights representative, your proficiency in Spanish, combined with a comprehensive understanding of cultural contexts, will position you as a valuable asset in today’s global job market.
Where our graduates work:
- Media and Journalism
- Medical Field
- Engineering
- Federal or Government Agencies
- Human rights organizations
- Immigration and Customs
- International banking
- International marketing
- Interpreting and Translating
- Law and Legislation
- Military
- Education and Museums
What our graduates do:
- Broadcast Media Manager
- Contract or Corporate Consultant
- Crypto Language Analyst
- Medical Professional
- Government Relations Specialist
- Human Rights Representative
- Immigration and Customs Agent
- Interpreter and Translator
- Journalist and Copy Editor
- Linguist/Language Analyst
- Military Translator or Interpreter
- National Security Analyst
- Teacher
What You’ll Learn
Engage in an enriching curriculum designed to deepen your understanding of the Spanish language, its literature, and the diverse cultures of the Spanish-speaking world.
Your studies at Georgia Southern will encompass advanced courses in Spanish literature, cultural studies, linguistics, and second language pedagogy, allowing you to critically analyze and interpret various texts and cultural phenomena. You’ll benefit from the expertise of our dedicated faculty, who bring decades of experience and specialized knowledge to the classroom.
Throughout the MA in Spanish program, you’ll also gain practical teaching skills, preparing you for a career in education or other fields that require strong language proficiency and cultural competence. With a focus on both theoretical foundations and practical applications, you’ll emerge as a well-rounded professional ready to make a significant impact in today’s global society.
Build Your Experience
There are plenty of reasons to further your Spanish studies with a Master’s Degree, and your reasons are entirely your own. That’s why we offer specialized programs that will prepare you for your unique goals.
Master of Arts in Spanish
Format: Online and in person on the Statesboro Campus or the Armstrong Campus in Savannah
Credit Hours: 30
Time to Complete: Four – Five Semesters
The M.A. in Spanish is a 30-credit-hour program of study designed to provide students with advanced level courses in Spanish literature, history, culture, linguistics, and pedagogy.
Three graduate level classes are offered during the Fall and Spring semesters and one or two classes in the summer.
M.A. Admission Requirements
M.A. in Spanish Courses and Curriculum
M.A. and MAT Spanish Student Handbook and Checklists
Master of Arts in Teaching – Concentration in Spanish Education Grades P-12
Format: Online and in person on the Statesboro Campus
Credit Hours: 33
Time to Complete: Four – Five Semesters
The MAT with a Concentration in Spanish Education is a 33-credit-hour program of study designed to provide students with an advanced level of Spanish courses as well as K-12 certification to teach Spanish. The U.S. is in need of certified teachers; many school systems even have a signing bonus.
The MAT is for candidates who already hold a bachelor’s degree in Spanish, have at least 21 credit hours of Spanish content courses, or successfully complete an oral proficiency interview and written exam in Spanish.
More about the MAT
MAT Admission Requirements
MAT in Spanish Education Courses and Curriculum
M.A. and MAT Spanish Student Handbook and Checklists
Dual Enrollment in the M.A. in Spanish and MAT – Concentration in Spanish Education Grades P-12
Format: Online and in person on the Statesboro Campus
Credit Hours: 42
Time to Complete: Five Semesters
The dual enrollment in the M.A. in Spanish and the MAT with a concentration in Spanish Education is a 42-credit-hour program that allows students to earn an M.A., MAT, and get certified at the same time.
Now more than ever the United States is in need of qualified teachers. Teachers are always in demand regardless of the economic circumstances. Get hired fast! Graduates from our program have a near 100% immediate placement rate.
Dual Enrollment Courses and Curriculum
M.A. and MAT Spanish Student Handbook and Checklists
Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s Pathways
BA World Languages and Cultures, Concentrations in Spanish Studies or Spanish for the Professions to Master of Arts (MA), Spanish
Get Ready to Fast-Track Your Master’s Degree!
Accelerated bachelor’s to master’s (ABM) pathways allow you to begin master’s studies in your senior year so you can accelerate completion of a master’s degree.
ABM pathways are perfect if you’re interested in proceeding directly from bachelor’s to master’s studies. They allow you to reduce the time it takes to get your master’s degree, giving you a head start on your career. And since any master’s courses taken as an undergraduate are billed at the undergraduate tuition rate, you’ll save money too. Learn more about the accelerated bachelor’s to master’s programs for the MA.
Georgia Southern Preferred Graduate Admissions for GS Students
Master of Art – Spanish / GPA 3.0+
Students completing a BA in World Languages and Cultures with a Concentration in Spanish Studies or Spanish for the Professions
https://www.georgiasouthern.edu/cogs/admission/preferred-graduate-admissions/
Admission Requirements – Regular Admission
Completed requirements for the Bachelor’s degree in a college accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting associations or a Ministry of Education approved institution if an international student.
A 3.0 (4.0 scale) cumulative grade point average or higher on all upper-division undergraduate work in which the language of instruction was Spanish.
An undergraduate major or the equivalent in the proposed field of study or permission of the graduate director and the chair of the department.
Two letters of recommendation by persons familiar with the applicant’s academic experience.
Minimum oral and writing proficiency rating of Intermediate High (ACTFL Standards) as determined by a trained ACTFL Proficiency evaluator (the department has trained evaluators).
Applicants may be approved for provisional admission based on the quality of the admission material presented. Provisional students must earn grades of ‘B’ or higher in their first nine (9) hours of course work after admission and meet any other stipulations outlined by the department to be converted to regular status.
*International transcripts must be evaluated by a NACES accredited evaluation service and must be a course by course evaluation and include a GPA. (naces.org)
Graduate Comprehensive Exam
All degree candidates will take comprehensive written and oral examinations.
Students who fail the Comprehensive Exams may appeal to retake the exams one additional time. Students must retake the Comprehensive Exams within one year of their original attempt. Under no circumstances may the Comprehensive Exams be taken a third time. Students do not need to be enrolled in courses in order to retake the Comprehensive Exams.
MAT Admissions Requirements
Admission Requirements:
Complete requirements for a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.
Present a transcript evaluation by the College of Education’s Director of the Graduate Academic Services Center, and completion of a specified prerequisite content course work.
Present a cumulative 2.50 (4.0 scale) grade point average or higher on all undergraduate and graduate work combined.
Present a total adjusted GPA of 2.75 or higher on all teaching field course work.
Candidates are not required to take either the MAT or the GRE; rather, they must pass an Oral Proficiency Interview and a Writing Proficiency Test in Spanish at the ACTFL-defined IH or above (tests administered by the Department of World Languages and Cultures).
Submit a passing score on the GACE Content Assessment in the area for which one is seeking certification.
Submit a passing score on the state-required Georgia Educator Ethics Assessment.
Qualify for a Georgia Pre-Service certificate or Provisional certificate
Submit a personal statement of purpose, not to exceed 200 words, that identifies the applicant’s reasons for pursuing graduate study and how admission into the program relates to the applicant’s professional aspirations.
Acknowledge “Disclosure and Affirmation” statements that address the Code of Ethics for Educators and the need for tort liability insurance.
International applicants and U.S. citizens whose native language is not English must demonstrate competence in English. Applicants must pass an Oral Proficiency Interview and a Writing Proficiency Test in English at the ACTFL-defined IH or above (tests administered by the Department of World Languages and Cultures).
If an applicant was previously enrolled in an initial teacher preparation program, an interview must be completed with the Program Coordinator prior to admission to the program.
Per the Georgia Professional Standards Commission Rule, candidates must earn a minimum grade of “B” in SPED 6130.
Candidates must successfully complete assessments at each program transition point.
Study Spanish Abroad
In the MA in Spanish program, you can study abroad at our Partner Schools in Colombia and Spain, or build your own experience with Independent Study Abroad Coursework.
Partner Language School—Barranquilla, Colombia
Universidad del Norte is an innovative university, recognized as the most outstanding institution of higher learning in the Caribbean Region of Colombia. The Language Institute at Universidad del Norte has been offering Spanish as a foreign language courses since 1994. The university offers between three and six weeks of study and cultural immersion, with six different levels based upon language proficiency.
Partner Language School—Seville, Spain
CLIC (Centro de Lenguas e Intercambio Cultural) is a Spanish language and culture study abroad program located in Seville, Spain. CLIC was founded in 1983 and is dedicated to providing a variety of intensive and flexible programs for those interested in acquiring functional fluency in Spanish while learning about the Spanish culture. To learn more about CLIC and Seville, view the photobook (pdf).
Independent Study Abroad Coursework
For each Georgia Southern credit hour earned, at least 20 hours must be completed of language and culture immersion classes per week.
Go on afternoon and weekend trips including cultural activities and report back to your Georgia Southern instructor on your experiences.
Keep record of interesting interactions you have in Spanish.
Meet with your Georgia Southern instructor weekly to discuss your language progress.
Write a research paper on a personal topic of interest.