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Spanish MA

Master of Arts in Spanish

Develop your linguistic skills and delve into a robust literary experience with the Master of Arts in Spanish in the College of Liberal Arts at Temple University. This interdisciplinary master’s program integrates language studies with literature while providing students opportunities to refine their research and teaching skills in preparation for doctoral programs or careers in many professional fields. 

The Spanish MA has a 30-credit curriculum that includes a diverse menu of core and elective courses in advanced linguistics and literature. Linguistics courses cover areas such as dialectology, phonology, sociolinguistics and syntax, while literature courses explore works from medieval times through the 21st century. 

You can choose to focus your Spanish studies, and specialize in one of the following areas. 

  • Hispanic linguistics
  • Spanish American literature
  • Peninsular Spanish literature

This opportunity is particularly valuable to students interested in furthering their research at the doctoral level. The Spanish MA program is designed to provide the skills and experience necessary to pursue your PhD in Spanish, or professional opportunities in business, education, government, social and medical services, and more. 

Several dedicated courses are available for those interested in learning Spanish for a career in the healthcare industry. Through these courses, you’ll explore health trends in Hispanic populations and refine your medical Spanish. If this is an area of interest to you, Temple also offers an online graduate certificate in Spanish for Health Professions, which prepares professionals to engage with Latino and Spanish-speaking communities in healthcare settings. 

Student reading out loud from a paper in a classroom.

Program Format & Curriculum

Students have three years to satisfy their requirements for the Spanish MA program, which can be completed on a full- or part-time basis. Classes take place on Temple’s Main Campus.

The 30-credit Spanish MA curriculum comprises one core course, elective courses, a Graduate Language Examination (GLE) and a comprehensive examination. The GLE is administered four times per year⁠⁠—twice during the fall semester and twice during the spring semester. Catalan exams are administered by the department upon request. Register for the GLE.

Learn more about Spanish MA program requirements.

Related Graduate Degrees

Related Graduate Certificates

*College of Education and Human Development
**School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management

Our Community

The College of Liberal Arts at Temple comprises many academic disciplines and research areas. Now more than ever, an interdisciplinary liberal arts education is invaluable for your future pursuits. It offers the opportunity to further push your drive to create real change in the world, here at Temple and beyond. In this graduate program, you’ll work closely with diverse faculty members who are highly esteemed in their field and with a curious, passionate community of peers. Learn more about the College of Liberal Arts. 

Tuition & Fees

In keeping with Temple’s commitment to access and affordability, this Master of Arts offers a competitive level of tuition with multiple opportunities for financial support.

Tuition rates are set annually by the university and are affected by multiple factors, including program degree level (undergraduate or graduate), course load (full- or part-time), in-state or out-of-state residency, and more. These tuition costs apply to the 2025–2026 academic year.

Pennsylvania resident: $1,148.00 per credit
Out-of-state: $1,577.00 per credit

You can view the full cost of attendance breakdown on the Student Financial Services website.

Program Contact

With questions regarding the Spanish MA, contact the following staff member.

Adam Joseph Shellhorse is the graduate chair.
Email:

The following staff members lead the Spanish and Portuguese Department.

Montserrat Piera is the chair.
Phone: 215-204-8285
Email: 

Stephen Walton is academic coordinator in the Spanish and Portuguese Department.
Phone: 215-204-8285
Email:

Graduate Student Resources

Academic Support Services 
The Student Success Center provides support for Spanish language learners.

Conversation Partners
Meet one-on-one with a fluent speaker of Spanish to practice speaking and listening, build vocabulary, develop grammar skills, improve reading-comprehension in Spanish texts, and prepare for examinations. 

Writing Tutoring
The writing tutoring service provides one-on-one support for students who are working on papers for classes, as well as cover letters, creative writing, résumés, scholarship essays, and any other texts students are working on in Spanish.

Contact
For graduate support, contact
Liz Ursell, director and vice provost in the Student Success Center.
Email:

Student Clubs & Organizations

Supplement your Spanish MA coursework and enhance your graduate education experience through student clubs and organizations. You’ll meet and network with other students, become involved with the community, and build invaluable skills to help you realize your personal and professional goals. 

The following clubs and organizations are available to Spanish MA students.

  • Club de Español is a student organization, and its principal goal is to promote the practice of speaking Spanish. This is achieved through weekly conversation tables, which allow students to practice their conversation skills in a relaxed environment. Hispanic culture is celebrated all year through different student activities. 
  • The Graduate Students of Language at Temple connects students who study or have an interest in language, and it helps them form interdisciplinary networks for discussion and research.

Learn more about Temple’s student clubs and organizations.

Accreditation

Temple University’s departments and programs are accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Additional Program Information