Spanish (MA)

Program Overview

The Romance Languages and Literatures Department at Binghamton University offers a Master of Arts (MA) degree program in Spanish, with both thesis and non-thesis tracks available, customized to allow students to focus on cultural and literary studies, linguistics, pedagogy and/or translation. Moreover, students can use their elective courses and MA exams to complete additional graduate certificates in translation studies and in community college teaching. Our program is diverse and highly flexible, and students are encouraged to explore interdisciplinary studies. 4+1 degree programs, dual-degree programs and joint MA-PhD programs are available, including combinations with public administration, social work, education and comparative literature. Students are expected to have a strong background in Spanish, as most courses have a rigorous language component.

Degrees Offered

• MA in Spanish

Internships, Research Opportunities and More

Throughout the MA in Spanish program, students acquire a solid background in linguistic, historical, cultural and literary studies in the Hispanic world. The faculty in the Spanish program are dedicated professors and recognized scholars who offer a wide variety of courses, some of which are linked to their compelling research projects: Judeo-Spanish (Ladino) language, gothic Caribbean literature, detective fiction and memory studies in Latin America, Chicano and Latino communities in the U.S., colonial cartography and expeditions, contemporary poetry and metafictional literature in Spain, and Cervantes literary studies. The Spanish faculty includes professors from the U.S., Puerto Rico and several Spanish-speaking countries (Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Spain, Uruguay and Venezuela), which contributes to the multicultural experience of our graduate students.

Small class sizes (ranging from 5 to 25 students) foster close student-faculty interactions and academic supervision. Students are encouraged to seek academic advising early to develop a suitable course of study for their interests. Many classes are offered in the evenings and at night to accommodate part-time, professional students.

The department offers merit-based scholarships (such as the James and Catherine O'Connor Scholarship in Spanish) as well as awards of excellence to be used toward tuition. For further information, please email Graduate Director Dr. Sandra Casanova-Vizcaíno (casanova@binghamton.edu). Graduate students may also apply for paid assistantships through the “Languages Across the Curriculum” program. These assistantships are part-time, involving work with a professor (possibly in another department) to lead out-of-class discussions or activities. Graduate students can also apply to work for University Tutorial Services. For additional information on financial aid, loans, scholarships and other part-time employment opportunities on campus for graduate students, explore the Graduate School website.

After You Graduate

This degree opens a broad range of professional opportunities in foreign language, culture and public service. Most graduates of the Romance Languages and Literatures Department become language instructors, translators, interpreters, editors and communicators, and many continue on to pursue doctoral studies in leading universities in their field of interest.

Admission Requirements

• General graduate admission requirements
• Program-specific admission requirements

Accelerated/4+1 Degrees

You may also be interested in our accelerated/4+1 degree programs which allow students to complete their bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in just 5 years!

For more information, visit the Spanish website.