Foreign Languages MA

You’ll need a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and a minimum 3.00 GPA to apply. The application process includes:

• Completed online application with fee ($50 domestic, $60 international)
• Official transcripts from all institutions where bachelor’s or higher degrees were earned
• Three letters of recommendation

Application Deadlines:

• Fall and Spring: Rolling admissions
• Summer: April 15

Important to know: This program is primarily offered in summer, with select academic year courses available. All students complete at least one summer session on campus.

This program does not grant initial teaching licensure — if you’re seeking your first teaching license, you might consider:

• BA in Spanish Teaching, or
• Multilingual Education M.A. – World Language Licensure Program in the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences. For more information, contact:
  John Ryan, Professor of Spanish and Linguistics and Graduate Program Director
  Department of World Languages and Cultures
  john.ryan@unco.edu
  970-351-3105

See detailed Graduate Admissions requirements and process

The MA in Foreign Languages requires 30-36 credit hours of graduate coursework focusing on:

• Advanced Spanish language proficiency (listening, reading, speaking, writing)
• Hispanic civilization and culture
• Spanish and Latin American literature
• Linguistics and language acquisition theory
• Current pedagogical methodologies for secondary education

You will follow a carefully sequenced curriculum that rotates through regional emphases each year. You’ll develop expertise in teaching while deepening your understanding of the Spanish-speaking world.

Explore full degree requirements in the UNC Catalog.

Our curriculum develops both your expertise in Spanish and your teaching effectiveness. You will:

• Achieve advanced proficiency in all four language skills: listening, reading, speaking, and writing
• Explore the rich diversity of Hispanic civilization, from Peninsular Spain to Latin America to Hispanic communities in the United States
• Analyze Spanish and Latin American literature across genres and time periods
• Study linguistics and language acquisition theory to understand how students learn languages
• Master current methodologies for teaching Spanish in secondary schools
• Apply research-based practices to real-world teaching challenges
• Design engaging, culturally responsive curriculum for diverse learners

Throughout the program, you’ll connect theory to practice, preparing you to inspire the next generation of Spanish speakers in your classroom.

Your MA in Foreign Languages opens doors to advancement in education:

• Enhanced secondary Spanish teaching credentials
• Leadership roles in language departments
• Curriculum development positions
• Educational program coordination
• Increased earning potential through advanced certification
• Opportunities to teach dual enrollment or community college courses

Graduates leave prepared to create dynamic, engaging Spanish language programs that connect students to the broader Hispanic world while meeting the growing demand for skilled language educators.

During the Spanish Peninsular rotation year, you can earn up to nine credit hours through our summer Study Abroad program in Salamanca, Spain—one of the world’s most historic university cities.

Immerse yourself in Peninsular Spanish language and culture while earning graduate credit that transfers to your UNC degree. It’s an unforgettable way to deepen your linguistic proficiency and cultural knowledge while experiencing Spain firsthand.