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The Spanish language and the cultures of the Spanish-speaking world are an essential part of Chicago’s identity. From Pilsen to Rogers Park and beyond, the city’s arts, culture, politics, and foodways are shaped by its Latinx population. DePaul’s flexible master’s in Spanish offers a customizable curriculum to help you develop advanced linguistic and cultural expertise.

The program may be completed in two years. Core courses are offered in the evenings, while most elective courses are offered in the afternoon/evening.

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Study in a city with thriving Latin American communities

As part of the experiential learning component of the degree, apply your linguistic expertise at sites across Chicago such as the Puerto Rican Cultural Center and the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization.

Application Deadlines

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, though we encourage you to submit materials at least two months prior to the quarter in which you wish to enroll.

Admission Requirements

Submit an online application, language proficiency test scores, letters of recommendation, letters of application, and complete an interview with a faculty member in our Spanish program.

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Required Courses

You’ll take three core courses and nine electives taught in either Spanish or English.

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100%

of Modern Language graduates were employed, continuing their education or pursuing other goals within six months of graduation.

 

$55k

The median salary for Modern Language graduates was $55,000.

Study with engaging faculty

In addition to teaching Spanish language, literature, and film courses, Associate Professor Susana S. Martínez contributes to other humanities programs like Catholic Studies and the Peace, Justice and Conflict Studies program. She not only brings her global perspective into the classroom, she has also led students on a service-learning trip to El Salvador.

“I explored historical accounts of Latin America and greatly developed my speaking and writing skills through essays, presentations and talks with professors. I really got to know the teachers in my program and I was able to achieve so much because they gave me the confidence to persevere, even if I was nervous or had questions. Now, I use the resources and skills I acquired from this program in my own teaching and curriculum.”

Danielle (MA ’19)

Spanish Teacher, Elmwood Park High School 

Alumni Network

Alumni of the master’s in Spanish have gone on to a range of careers, including teaching, translation and interpreting. Grow your professional and academic connections with a network of more than 8,900 fellow College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences master’s-level graduates in Chicago and around the world.

Scholarships & Aid

Graduate school is an investment in your future. Learn more about the fellowships, scholarships, and grants available to you.

Admission Requirements

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.  All applicants to any of the MA Programs within the Department of Modern Languages must have, at the time of matriculation into the program:

• A completed BA or BS degree from an accredited college or university in the United States or abroad,
• A cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (on a scale where A=4.0) in all undergraduate coursework, and
• At least 20 quarter credit-hours of advanced undergraduate coursework in the target language OR a rating of at least “Intermediate High” on both the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) and Writing Proficiency Test (WPT) for the target language.
  • For Spring 2021 and beyond, applicants to Arabic, Chinese and Japanese must rate at least "Intermediate Mid" on the ACTFL OPI and WPT.
• Ability to complete graduate-level coursework in both English and the target language.

In addition, applicants must submit:

• Two letters of recommendation, and

• A formal statement of purpose (500-750 words) written in English explaining the applicant's areas of professional interest, reasons for seeking advanced training in a language, and possible post-degree plans, and

• A formal statement of qualifications (500-750 words) written in the language of study describing the applicant's previous language experience and how it has prepared them for graduate study

After all materials are received, applicants will be contacted for an interview with a faculty member to help ascertain their ability to complete graduate-level coursework in both English and the target language. 

Applicants may transfer for credit to their chosen MA Program no more than 8 quarter credit hours of graduate-level coursework completed at other institutions, provided that:

1.  The courses have not already counted in satisfaction of requirements for another degree program, and
2.  The courses bear grades of at least B- or higher (coursework graded P/NP will not be acceptable).

International students (those who were educated outside of the U.S. and/or require an F1 visa) must take additional steps to be considered for admission.  Please click here for exact information.

 

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Degree Requirements

Course Requirements

The curriculum of the MA in Spanish will consist of twelve courses (48 quarter credit hours), divided into two parts:

1. A core curriculum of three courses (12 quarter credit hours) required of all students, and
2. Nine courses (36 quarter credit hours) in the language area.  All courses in the language area must be courses taught in the target language of the student’s program (i.e. courses with prefixes SPN).  In exceptional cases, with the approval of the student’s advisor and the director of the graduate program, a student may count one or two courses taught in English from allied fields (such as art history, economics, education, geography, health sciences, management, philosophy, political science, religion, sociology, etc.) among the nine “language area” courses in the student’s program.

Core Curriculum

The core curriculum consists of the following three courses:

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
MOL 401	PROFESSIONAL FOUNDATIONS	4
MOL 402	LANGUAGE, SELF AND SOCIETY	4
MOL 496	MAMOL CAPSTONE	4

In addition, all three-hundred level language courses are offered simultaneously as 400-level electives to complete the MA program.  These 400-level courses carry different requirements than the lower-level courses. 

Additional Requirements

Additional requirements include:

• Portfolio

The portfolio (completed while enrolled in MOL 496) consists of a compilation and critical assessment of select work done throughout the program and a capstone project.  Capstone projects may include a community service experience, internship, performance or creative work, teaching portfolio, thesis, or translation.

Thesis Option

A thesis option will be available for students who attain a GPA of at least 3.7 in the program after completing 24 credit hours of coursework. 

Graduation Grade Point Average Requirement

In order to graduate from the program, students must complete all program requirements with a minimum GPA of 3.000.

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