Master’s Degrees in Spanish Online
Master of Arts in Spanish and Master of Arts in Teaching – Concentration in Spanish Education Grades P-12
Georgia Southern’s master’s degrees in Spanish offer endless opportunities and career success. Now more than ever the United States is in need of qualified Spanish professionals with advanced credentials. Graduates from our program have a near 100% immediate placement rate.
Why Study Spanish at Georgia Southern?
- Georgia Southern offers a comprehensive curriculum of Spanish, foreign language methodology and general education courses.
- Graduates from our program have a near 100% immediate placement rate.
- Students may apply for a graduate assistantship that includes a tuition waiver and stipend.
- Many classes are offered online and a fully online program is coming soon.
Find a Community While in Graduate School
All currently enrolled graduate students are members of the Graduate Student Organization (GSO). The GSO represents and supports the interests of all graduate students at Georgia Southern, whether prospective or current. You can attend events with other graduate students at Georgia Southern, apply for grants and receive professional development opportunities through the GSO.
Teaching Assistantships
You may also apply for a graduate assistantship which pays stipends plus a tuition waiver. These assistantships give you valuable teaching experience at the university level in both online and classroom settings.
Ready to Apply?
Or, you can:
What Are My Options for Earning a Master’s Degree in Spanish?
Master of Arts in Spanish
Format: In person on the Statesboro Campus or the Armstrong Campus in Savannah
Online coming soon!
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 and culture as well as provide teaching certification at higher education institutions.
On average, a non-certified teacher with an MA working for a number of school districts of the Mid Atlantic Area earns US$2,500 more per year than a non-certified teacher with just a BA.
Three graduate level classes are offered during the Fall and Spring semesters and one or two classes in the summer.
Master of Arts in Teaching – Concentration in Spanish Education Grades P-12
Format: In person on the Statesboro Campus
Online coming soon!
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.
Dual Enrollment in the M.A. in Spanish and MAT – Concentration in Spanish Education Grades P-12
Format: In person on the Statesboro Campus
Online coming soon!
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.
What Can I Do with a Master’s Degree in Spanish?
Spanish speakers are in high demand! With a master’s degree and professional working proficiency in Spanish, you will have a leg up in the job market for many different positions such as:
- Broadcast media manager
- Consultant
- Contract or corporate consultant
- Copy Editor
- Crypto Language Analyst
- Development program officer
- Doctor/nurse
- Engineer
- FBI/NSA/CIA agent
- FBI/NSA/CIA/DSS analyst
- Foreign service officer
- Government relations specialist
- Human intelligence collector
- Human rights representative
- Immigration and customs work
- Intelligence analyst or officer
- International banking
- International marketing
- International relations manager
- Interpreter
- Journalist
- Lawyer or legal assistant
- Legislator
- Linguist/Language analyst
- Military translator or interpreter
- Museum management
- National Security Analyst
- Political risk analyst
- Professor
- Public relations
- Reporter
- Social media manager
- Teacher or administrator
- Translator
- Travel and tourism careers
- Web development
Is a Master’s Degree in Spanish Worth It?
Now more than ever the United States is in need of qualified teachers. Teachers are always in demand regardless of the economic circumstances.
Spanish is often a critical area in many school districts:
$2,000 signing bonus (Savannah-Chatham County Public School System 2021-2022 school year)
$1,500 relocation incentive (Savannah-Chatham County Public School System 2021-2022 school year)
The unemployment rate for holders of a master’s degree is only 2.6% compared to 3.5% for those with only a bachelor’s degree (U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, 2021).
Dual enrollment ma/mat in spanish testimonial
Dinshaw Anklesaria
Major: MA/MAT in Spanish
“¿¡Qué tal, mis águilas?! What’s up, Eagles? My name is Dinshaw Anklesaria. I graduated with my Masters of Arts in Spanish in May 2015 and my Masters of Arts in Teaching in December 2015. Continuing my studies of a world language l has been a constant throughout my life, from middle school till even now. I minored in Spanish at UGA during my undergraduate studies in business and received my masters here at Eagle Nation. Throughout my career, knowing a world language, whether in the business world or in my current profession as a world language educator, has given me amazing opportunities. Before Georgia Southern, I worked at my father’s business and me knowing Spanish allowed me to expand the business’s clientele to the Hispanic community, to provide a more personable customer experience and to increase the business’s brand visibility thanks to my bilingual marketing initiatives, all leading to better financial performance of the company. Helping others, however, is my real passion and I knew world language education was for me. The rate of employment for a world language educator is exceptionally high and demand for us is always in existence, across a variety of settings and academic levels. Due to my language abilities, I can communicate directly to my Hispanic students’ parents and I can assist my school during events like registration, etc, all of which makes me an asset. Simply put-knowing a world language will somehow lead to more connections with people, more money (due to more clients/patients, etc) and a better sense of community realizing we have more in common than different, all of which will allow us to Soar to New Heights! ¡Vamos!”
Spanish Language Faculty
Georgia Southern’s Spanish program features 16 faculty with decades of experience as trained specialists in the history and culture of particular regions of the Spanish-speaking world. All of our faculty have received nationally recognized training from the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. They are genuinely interested in your learning and success, and will provide you with all the tools and support you’ll need during your graduate journey.
Low Tuition
The faculty in our program are experts in a variety of fields, including:
- Literature
- Cultural Studies
- Linguistics
- Second Language Acquisition
- Second Language Teaching
Second dual enrollment ma/mat in spanish testimonial
Bruny Negroni
Degree: MA/MAT Spanish
Career: Spanish teacher- currently at Effingham County High School
“My name is Bruny Negroni-Martínez, and I’m from Puerto Rico. I moved to Georgia in 2019. I live with my husband Henry, my three children and our lovely Louie. Currently I am teaching Spanish 3 and AP Spanish at Effingham County High School. I’m so happy that I decided to major in World Language because I have been able to teach students the language including the diversity, culture and this has encouraged them to keep studying the language at the college level. It was an honor for me to be part of the GSU Foreign Language Department. I learned a lot from them and those skills are helping me become a better teacher in the classroom. It’s an honor and a blessing to be part of the MA/MAT Spanish programs.”
Graduate Study Abroad Experiences
Study Abroad Classes
For classes in Spain and Colombia, you will be enrolled in three credit hours of SPAN graduate-level courses and will do a series of assignments, both orally and in writing, for your Georgia Southern professor. Additionally, as part of your immersion experience, each morning, Monday – Friday, in small groups, you will spend four hours practicing your language skills with native speakers who are trained in teaching their language to foreigners.
Seville, Spain
Seville is the capital of southern Spain’s Andalusia region and is the fourth largest city in Spain. Steeped in history, the city is home to Europe’s largest historic center. Major landmarks include the ornate Alcázar castle complex, built during the Moorish Almohad dynasty, and the 18th-century Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza bullring. The Gothic Seville Cathedral is the site of Christopher Columbus’ tomb and a minaret turned bell tower, the Giralda.
Learn more about Seville, Spain
Partner Language School
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).
Cultural Activities and Excursions
- Flamenco/Sevillanas mini-course
- Spanish cooking lessons
- Excursions to Córdoba (including visit to the Mezquita), Granada and other locations
Barranquilla, Colombia
Barranquilla, the capital of Colombia’s Atlántico Department, is a bustling seaport on the Magdalena River. Barranquilla is the largest city and port in the northern Caribbean Coast region of Colombia, with a population over two million. The city is known for its enormous Carnival, which brings together brilliantly costumed performers, elaborate floats and cumbia music.
Learn more about Barranquilla, Colombia
Partner Language School
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.
Cultural Activities and Excursions
- Dancing lessons of Caribbean rhythms such as salsa, merengue, vallenato, champeta, reggaeton, and some more traditional like cumbia, mapalé, and bullerengue
- Culinary lessons
- Barranquilla tours and field trips
- Cartagena and Barú Island, Usiacurí, Santa Marta, Taganga and other locations
Build Your Own Spanish Study Abroad Experience
The best way to experience the country you are most interested in is to actually go there, explore the area, experience the culture and mingle with the locals. You will get to live with a local family, further expanding your opportunity for language and cultural immersion.
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.
The many possibilities of learning in a Spanish-speaking country are up to you!
Graduate, M.A. (M.A.T.) – Comprehensive Exam
Graduate students take a “Comprehensive Exam”; for info see the respective sections in the M.A./M.A.T Spanish Handbook. This applies to the M.A. Spanish, but also to the M.A.T. Spanish Ed. The latter is assessed through the College of Education but since Spanish is part of the degree FL is involved.
Have Any Questions? Please Contact Us!
Ángela Pinilla-Herrera, PhD
Co-Director and Advisor of MA/MAT Spanish
Email: apinilla@georgiasouthern.edu
Phone: 912-478-7060
Dr. Michael McGrath
Co-Director and Advisor of MA/MAT Spanish
Email: mmcgrath@georgiasouthern.edu
Phone: 912-478-0115
For a comprehensive costs and affordability analysis, please visit https://em.georgiasouthern.edu/finaid/costs-affordability/
Related Programs
Last updated: 5/31/2023
Contact Information
Department of World Languages and Cultures
P.O. Box 8081
Statesboro, GA 30460-8081
Phone: 912-478-5281
languages@georgiasouthern.edu
