Spanish, M.A.

Saint Louis University's graduate program in Spanish can be finished in two years. Courses are offered year-round on accredited campuses in the dynamic urban areas of St. Louis or Madrid.

SLU's Spanish master's program focuses broadly on language, literature and culture, with courses offered in the four primary areas of Latin American studies, Peninsular studies, linguistics and pedagogy.

Curriculum Overview

Degree requirements include 30 credits of coursework, a final written examination and a final oral examination. Students may fulfill all or part of the program requirements on either campus.

Fieldwork and Research Opportunities

Students may fulfill all or part of the program requirements at the University's main campus in St. Louis or SLU-Madrid.

Students who wish to pursue the program exclusively in Madrid may complete it in three summers (extendable to five) or through a combination of summers and regular spring and fall semesters.

Careers

A master's degree in Spanish is well suited to those planning or already engaged in professional careers such as teaching, translating, foreign service or international affairs, and provides excellent preparation for doctoral studies. Graduates of SLU’s Spanish master's degree program have gone on to careers in education, law and nonprofit institutions.

Graduates will be able to determine viable future career paths through exposure to the field, guidance on professional issues, support in professional development, and networking/connection to peers and mentors both inside and outside of Saint Louis University.

Admission Requirements

• Undergraduate Spanish major (or equivalent)

Application Requirements

All application materials must be submitted through the Office of Graduate Admission. 

• Application form and fee
• Official transcripts (in English)
• Résumé or curriculum vitae (in English)
• Three letters of professional recommendation assessing the applicant's potential for graduate study
• Professional goal statement: This 1000-word statement should be in Spanish. The candidate should describe professional and intellectual goals and specific reasons for interest in graduate studies in Spanish, and demonstrate how these goals align with the curricula offered by SLU’s M.A. program.
• Writing sample: This 10-page piece may be in English or Spanish, can be an excerpt from a longer piece and should demonstrate the candidate’s capacity for graduate-level academic work.
• Interview in Spanish

Requirements for International Students

All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students. International students must also meet the following additional requirements:

• Demonstrate English Language Proficiency
• Academic records, in English translation, of students who have undertaken postsecondary studies outside the United States must include:
  • Courses taken and/or lectures attended
  • Practical laboratory work
  • The maximum and minimum grades attainable
  • The grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations
  • Any honors or degrees received.
• WES and ECE transcripts are accepted.
• In order to be issued an I-20 for your F-1 visa application, students must submit financial documents. Proof of financial support that must include:
  • A letter of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency funding the student's time at Saint Louis University
  • A letter from the sponsor's bank verifying that the funds are available and will be so for the duration of the student's study at the University

Application Deadlines

To be given priority consideration, complete applications must be received by

• April 1 for the fall semester (classes beginning in August)
• October 1 for the spring semester (classes beginning in January)

Review Process

Each item listed above is taken into careful consideration by the examining committee before making admission recommendations.  

Tuition

Additional charges may apply. Other resources are listed below:

Net Price Calculator

Information on Tuition and Fees

Miscellaneous Fees

Information on Summer Tuition

Scholarships and Financial Aid

For priority consideration for departmental graduate scholarships, students should complete their applications by the program admission deadlines listed.

For more information, visit the Office of Student Financial Services.

1. Graduates will be able to dialogue with key works and recent scholarship in Hispanic literatures, cultures and linguistics.
2. Graduates will be able to write and conduct research in Spanish, evidencing analysis, argumentation and organization.
3. Graduates will be able to speak about and present on their coursework and research in Spanish.
4. Graduates will be able to teach language and cultures of the Spanish-speaking world, using current methods in foreign language pedagogy, with a deep understanding of historical development as well as current relevance.

Non-Course Requirements

A final written examination over a reading list, as well as a final oral degree examination over coursework.

Continuation Standards

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.

Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.  

Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.

This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.

Program Notes

The sequence of courses will vary according to the student’s previous experience with the language and individual preferences.

Students may also take courses at SLU-Madrid.

A maximum of six credits of coursework may be approved for transfer toward fulfillment of degree requirements.

Additional requirements include a final written examination and a final oral examination.

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. 

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.

Curriculum Overview

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. 

The first stage consists of advanced study through the completion of 30 credit distributed among 10 3-credit courses. Program requirements do not follow a specific order, which allows you to adapt coursework to your own pace and interests. 

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.

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 Máster de Español me ofreció una visión panorámica de la literatura hispanoamericana y la española, así como también de los estudios lingüísticos. Disfruté de gran libertad en la investigación y aprendí herramientas para la enseñanza. Hay un trato cercano para con los estudiantes y en todo momento me sentí acompañada por el profesorado, tanto en mis estudios como en mi escritura. Lo recomendaría mil veces."

Carla Aparicio, M.A. in Spanish

Internships and Careers

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 — and support themselves financially while in Spain — serving as an English-language teaching assistant at local primary or secondary schools. Find out more through the following websites.

• NALCAP: North American Language and Culture Assistants Program
• CBC's English Language Assistant Program
• BEDA's English Language Assistant Program

Admission Requirements

Applicants should hold a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish or equivalent with an excellent academic record.

Your complete application must include:

• Online application form.
• Undergraduate academic transcripts. At least 18 credits in advanced Culture, Literature or Language are required.
• Three letters of recommendation from people familiar with your academic and professional experience, such as a former employer, university professor, or advisor.
• Statement of purpose of 500 words that addresses your intellectual and professional goals.
• A résumé/CV.
• Writing sample of five to eight pages in Spanish that should include citations and references. You may use a good paper from an undergraduate course.

SLU-Madrid is proud to be a test-optional institution, though you may choose to also submit scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test (MAT).  

Upload all application materials to the online application system according to the instructions in the online application form. Send transcripts via email to graduate-admissions-madrid@slu.edu.

The deadlines below reflect a complete application in which all supporting documentation has been received. The deadlines for admission are:

• Fall semester: rolling admissions until May 1; deadline for assistantship and scholarship applications: April 15.
• Spring semester: rolling admissions until Sept. 1; deadline for assistantship and scholarship applications: Sept. 1.
• Summer session: April 1 (Summer Session II).

Once your application is complete, a committee of faculty members will review it for evidence of preparation for advanced study of literature and the likelihood of academic success. One committee member will conduct a Zoom interview to assess your oral proficiency. 

If you are a non-European Union student, note that acquiring a student visa can take several months, and the process can begin only after you have been admitted and have confirmed your attendance. We urge you to research the student visa process early, and our Visas for Spain page is a good place to start.

Tuition and Fees

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. 

• Tuition and Fees
• Scholarships and Financial Aid

For additional information about our program, email languages@slu.edu or call 314-977-2617 and ask for the graduate program coordinator.