Course details

Summary

In the world today, Spanish speakers are as numerous as native speakers of English. The largest concentrations are in Spain, Central and Latin America, and the USA. In travel, culture, trade, cyberspace and sport, the Spanish language is a major player.

The Hispanic world is unified by its main official language, but it also represents a rich, complex and heterogeneous space with significant ethnic, cultural, linguistic, political and religious practices. Studying Spanish will give you an insight into this mix of old and new traditions which form the tapestry of Hispanic culture. It will also put you in a position to understand and participate in the economic and political transformations that connect even the remotest places in Latin America with our increasingly global environment.

The Master of Arts (MA) degree consists of coursework followed by a thesis. It provides the opportunity to make a contribution to knowledge while also demonstrating understanding of the principles of research.

Recommended preparation

Spanish language courses cater for total beginners as well as those with some prior knowledge of the language. SPAN101 Beginners' Spanish A is for total beginners, while SPAN201 Intermediate Spanish Language A is the normal entry point for those with Year 13 Spanish.

Qualification structure and duration

The Master of Arts degree consists of two parts:

Part I: Coursework

Part II: A thesis.

Honours may be awarded if the student completes within the timeframe indicated by the schedule. Distinction or Merit may be awarded if the student completes an MA by thesis-only in the timeframe indicated by the schedule and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with Honours.

Further study

Doctor of Philosophy

Career opportunities

Spanish graduates find employment in a wide range of careers including teaching, translation, research, journalism, diplomacy and international law. Government and international organisations as well as research institutions welcome such language skills.

Spanish will also benefit students majoring in a science who wish to work or do further studies in Spain, the USA or Latin America.

Entry criteria

Normally the minimum requirement is a three-year bachelor's degree from a New Zealand university, or a qualification or combination of qualifications considered to be equivalent. If you gained your qualifications overseas, these will need to be assessed to make sure they are of an equivalent standard.

Other English language requirements: TOEFL PBT with a minimum score of 575 and TWE with a minimum score of 4.5; CCEL EAP Level 2 with a minimum B+ grade; CAE or CPE score of 176 with a minimum of 169 in reading, writing, listening and speaking; Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE with an overall score of 64 and no PTE communicative skills score below 58.