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Master of Arts (M.A.)
Spanish
The World Languages and Cultures Department at Bowling Green State University offers one of the best Spanish master’s degree programs in the Midwest. It’s the only master’s degree program where graduate students study abroad in Spain with a faculty-run campus for a semester or full year.
Spanish is spoken by more than 500 million people across the globe. It is a key language of global business, education, diplomacy and connection. Whether you’re driven to make a difference through bilingual instruction or preparing to expand your impact on a global stage, a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Spanish opens doors to a world of opportunity.
BGSU is committed to providing:
- Dynamic, interdisciplinary coursework
- Immersive learning experiences with invaluable study abroad opportunities
- High-quality instruction by outstanding faculty
Graduates with a master’s degree in Spanish go beyond second language acquisition. They demonstrate a depth of knowledge and varied skill sets needed to excel in a wide range of cross-cultural leadership roles – teachers, ambassadors, advocates, communicators and international business professionals – in an increasingly multilingual world.
Program highlights
- Enhanced career prospects. Spanish fluency is a resume-booster leading to better jobs and higher salaries. Spanish is the second most spoken language in the U.S. The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages reports 85% of U.S. companies have a need for Spanish-speaking employees.
- International recognition. Earn your master’s degree in Spanish at a university that has been a leader in world languages and cultural studies for decades.
- Studying abroad in Spain. Immersive learning through Spanish language study abroad includes opportunities in Alcalá de Henares, Spain. Read more in the study abroad section.
- Research opportunities. BGSU supports graduate student research for presentations at conferences such as the Latino/a/x Issues Conference, the Ohio Latin Americanist Conference and for publication in the academic online journal “La BloGoteca de Babel.”
- Compelling community engagement. Graduate students have many chances for meaningful engagement with local and international Latinx communities and organizations serving them.
- Valuable alumni connections. Spanish M.A. alumni have applied their skills in a wide range of career paths. This provides our graduate students an expansive, built-in network of professional contacts that prove invaluable for internships, research and employment opportunities.
- Part-time certificate or M.A. tracks. Busy working professionals can get started with part-time evening and online classes – either as a guest student or with the goal of earning the 18-credit graduate Spanish certificate or the 36-credit M.A. in Spanish.
By 2060, the U.S. will have the second-highest Spanish-speaking population, behind only Mexico.
– The Wilson Center
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Career opportunities
Demand for Spanish speakers in the workforce continues to climb, thanks to the expansion of the U.S. Spanish-speaking population and their average income – which has more than doubled in the last two decades (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis).
What can you do with a Spanish degree? The BGSU master’s degree in Spanish opens a wide spectrum of professional pathways in the U.S. and internationally. Our graduate program equips students to succeed in many fields that value bilingual communication, cultural competency, analytical thinking and global awareness.
Possible careers with a Spanish degree include:
- Education and academia. Demand for postsecondary language and literature teachers is expected to steadily increase faster than other occupations over the next decade (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Graduates may teach in Spanish as high school Spanish teachers (typically gaining licensure or certification alongside their Spanish M.A.) or at the college level. Others may work in curriculum development or language program administration.
- Translation and interpretation. Translation is a particularly promising field. Opportunities are growing for professional Spanish interpreters in the legal, medical, technical, literary and business contexts.
- Government and foreign service. A master’s degree in Spanish is highly relevant for careers in public service and international relations. Graduates may work for agencies such as the U.S. Department of State, the Peace Corps and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
- Business and international commerce. Spanish fluency and Hispanic culture insights can be instrumental for global brand development, advertising, digital content, client relations sales, corporate training and cultural consulting.
- Nonprofit and advocacy work. Many nonprofit organizations need Spanish-speaking professionals to work in multilingual communities to provide culturally competent support and outreach.
Many graduates with a master’s degree in Spanish opt to pursue further academic or professional studies. This Spanish master’s degree lays a solid foundation for those interested in a Ph.D. in Spanish or Hispanic studies, Latin American studies, education or public policy. Some also go on to attend law school or medical school.
Career paths
- Teacher/professor
- Organizer with Latino/a/x-serving nonprofits
- Study abroad administrator
- Corporate researcher
- Professional translator
- NGO administrator
- ESL instructor
- Journalist
- International sales representative
Quick Facts from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
Curriculum
The 36-credit hour Spanish M.A. from BGSU offers not only advanced linguistic training, but also a comprehensive understanding of literature, cultural studies, linguistics and pedagogy.
The curriculum includes academic mentoring and the option to study abroad in Spain for immersive learning. International and domestic internships can be arranged for credit toward the degree. Students also complete a two-part capstone to showcase their skills.
Graduates acquire advanced Spanish language skills, as well as familiarity with the theoretical issues and research tools in the broad fields of Spanish, Latin American and Caribbean literature, cultural studies and linguistics. They are proficient bilingual communicators with a deep understanding of the Spanish-speaking world and well-situated for careers in the growing number of industries that demand superior communication skills, cross-cultural understanding and critical thinking.

Sample courses
- Spanish American Cinema
- Latin American and Caribbean Music, Art and Literature
- Issues in Contemporary Mexican Literature and Culture
- Hispanic Linguistics
- Heritage Language Pedagogy
- Second Language Acquisition
- Teaching College Spanish
- Contemporary Spanish Literature
Study abroad in Spain
Graduate students working toward a master’s degree in Spanish are encouraged to spend time studying and/or interning abroad. Our half-century-old study abroad program in Alcalá de Henares, Spain, features an on-site director and options for a full academic year or four-week summer study abroad experience.
Short-term travel experiences have been periodically arranged in Latin America and the Caribbean. Graduate students may secure a scholarship in Spanish studies. Many have used professional development funding to carry out original research domestically and internationally.
Spanish M.A. admissions
In addition to the admissions application, non-refundable fee and bachelor’s degree transcripts, BGSU M.A. in Spanish applicants must submit:
- Three letters of recommendation
- A personal statement in Spanish that details your motivation for attending graduate school, why you see yourself qualified for admission, what you hope to achieve in your area of interest and your aspirations upon earning a master’s degree in Spanish
- A Spanish writing sample
International applicants may need to meet additional requirements. The Department of World Languages and Cultures begins reviewing completed applications starting Feb. 15. More information is available from BGSU Graduate Admissions.
Graduate certificate in Spanish for professionals and educators
The graduate certificate in Spanish for professionals and educators is ideal for students in complementary programs seeking to add Spanish coursework – without the commitment required for a full graduate degree in Spanish. The 18-credit Spanish graduate certificate allows working professionals to advance their Spanish/ Latin American cultural knowledge and language skills.
Professionals and educators gain essential insights into the Spanish-speaking world that prove essential for education, textual analysis and advanced writing. Many teachers use the BGSU Spanish certificate to pursue credentialing for teaching College Credit Plus (CCP) courses to high school students.
Spanish graduate certificate admissions
In addition to the admissions application, non-refundable fee and bachelor’s degree transcripts, applicants to the 18-credit certificate in Spanish for professionals and educators must submit:
- Two letters of recommendation
- A personal statement written in Spanish detailing your motivation for applying, qualifications and aspirations upon completing the graduate certificate in Spanish
Nearly 9 in 10 bilingual job postings in the U.S. mentioned Spanish language skills as essential to the job.
– Preply
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The Spanish program is part of World Languages and Cultures Department in the BGSU College of Arts and Sciences.
Accreditation
Bowling Green State University [BGSU] is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. BGSU has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 01/01/1916. The most recent reaffirmation of accreditation was received in 2022-2023, with our next reaffirmation of accreditation scheduled for 2032-2033. Questions should be directed to the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.
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Updated: 05/23/2025 12:01PM