College of Arts and Sciences
Spanish (M.A.)
College of Arts and Sciences
Spanish (M.A.)
Deepen Your Understanding of Spanish Language and Culture
In the Master of Arts in Spanish program at NMSU, you get to focus on either linguistics or literature — whichever suits your interest.
With a linguistics focus, topics include the structure, phonetics, phonology, and pedagogy of the Spanish language. With a literature focus, you explore the poetry, prose, criticism, and film of Spanish artists from various historical eras.
Our faculty consists of recognized scholars in Latin American culture, Spanish and Brazilian literature, and other academic fields, such as drama, gender studies, and border studies.
Admission Deadlines
February 1, 2025 (priority deadline for Fall 2025); September 15, 2025 (priority deadline for Spring 2026). This program offers rolling admissions.
- Total credits: 36
Delivery Format
In person or 100% online
Career Pathways
NMSU provides you with the professional skills you need to develop a successful career in education, administration, or translation in diverse public and private institutions. Here are just a few of the career paths you might take with this valuable master’s degree:
- Civic service agencies
- Education
- Foreign cultural affairs
- Homeland security
- International business
- Nonprofit organizations
- Public administration
- Travel, tourism, and entertainment
Degree questions, answered
Have questions about the Master of Arts in Spanish? Fill out our inquiry form.
Why get an MA in Spanish?
Whether you choose to focus on linguistics or literature, the MA in Spanish from NMSU deepens your understanding of Spanish language and culture. You get to choose which courses you take, giving you the opportunity to individualize the program to your specific interests.
If you opt for the linguistics focus, you could choose to study bilingualism from a psycholinguistic perspective, or examine the relationship between language and society in the Spanish-speaking world. If you pursue the literature track, topics could include literature from the Mexican Revolution, postmodern Spanish novels, and creative writing.
Once you choose an area of interest, you prepare for the final examination that will take place at the end of your degree program. This examination is partially written and partially oral, and will be based on the reading list from your selected area of study.
No GRE Required
We’re removing barriers to graduate education, which is why we don’t require the GRE.
Affordable Tuition
NMSU offers competitively priced tuition and scholarship opportunities.
The MA in Spanish is available in Fall, Spring, and Summer and requires a minimum of 36 credits. 30 of those credits must be earned at the 500 level, and the remainder must be above the 450 level. These courses should be concentrated in your chosen area of study, either linguistics or literature. There are no required core courses, so you should work closely with your advisor and the Graduate Director to establish an individualized degree plan.
Take classes like:
- SPAN 508: Teaching Literature with Technology
- SPAN 509: Teaching Culture with Technology
- SPAN 561: Advanced Spanish Phonetics
- SPAN 589: Spanish Sociolinguistics
- SPAN 591: Advanced Study in History of the Spanish Language
February 1, 2025 (priority deadline for Fall 2025); September 15, 2025 (priority deadline for Spring 2026). This program offers rolling admissions.
Admission requirements include:
- A BA in Spanish with 3.0 GPA or higher
- A statement of purpose
- A resume, written in Spanish
- Three letters of recommendation from qualified professionals
- 12 semester hours of upper-division undergraduate Spanish courses (with a 3.0 GPA)
- All details can be found on the department’s webpage
Ready to take the next step?
Request Information
Scholarships and Financial Aid
At NMSU, we strive to offer competitively priced tuition to keep your tuition costs affordable. If you need financial aid, we’re ready to work with you to determine the best ways to finance your education.
Financial assistance includes loans, grants, and scholarship opportunities. To apply, use NMSU’s convenient Scholar Dollar$ one-stop scholarship application, which serves all students in the NMSU system.
NMSU students are also eligible for loans and grants. The first step in applying for financial aid is to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Learn more about financial aid opportunities at NMSU.
Contact Financial Aid
Phone: 1-888-729-6678
Email: financialaid@nmsu.edu
Accreditation
New Mexico State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Specialized accreditation from other accrediting agencies is also granted for some programs. NMSU’s accreditation ensures that your education meets high-quality standards and that your credits are transferable.