Why Study / Key Benefits

• The Spanish major develops practical written and spoken Spanish alongside knowledge of Spanish-speaking cultures, history, literature, art and society.
• Spanish is spoken by more than 400 million people worldwide and is used across Spain, Latin America, parts of Africa and regions of the United States.
• Massey describes the programme as highly interactive, with live online tutorials/lectures offered at different times, including evenings, lunchtimes and weekends, which supports students studying by distance.
• Language learning is combined with cultural study through areas such as film, music, literature, social developments, history and politics.
• The programme is particularly suitable for students interested in Spain and Latin America, international communication, languages, culture and careers involving international engagement.
• Massey also provides opportunities for students to undertake exchanges at partner universities overseas. Current exchange destinations in Spain include Universidad Rey Juan Carlos in Madrid and the University of Barcelona.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The Spanish major consists of 120 credits/eight courses, distributed across introductory, intermediate and advanced Spanish study.

100-level options include:

• 245101 Introductory Spanish Language I – basic spoken and written communication, with contemporary Hispanic culture and society.
• 245102 Introductory Spanish Language II – extension of basic written and spoken Spanish.
• 245103 Hispanic Culture and Heritage – modern Hispanic history, literature, art and culture; no prior Spanish knowledge required.
• 245104 Spanish at Work – introductory Spanish combined with professional vocabulary, structures and cultural knowledge.

Students choose at least 15 credits from this introductory group.

200-level options include:

• 245201 Intermediate Spanish Language I – intermediate written/oral comprehension and communication, with Spanish and Latin American culture, literature and civilisation.
• 245202 Intermediate Spanish Language II – reading, composition, listening and oral communication, with contemporary Spanish and Latin American culture and society.
• 245203 The Sound of Spanish: Diction, Dialects and Diversity – Spanish phonetics, phonology, dialect variation, bilingualism and sociolinguistic aspects.
• 245204 Latin American Voices – 20th-century Latin American literature and its historical and political contexts.

At least 30 credits are selected from the 200-level options, subject to prerequisites and course restrictions.

300-level options include:

• 245301 Advanced Spanish Language – advanced reading, composition, listening and oral communication.
• 245302 Theory and Practice of Spanish Translation – translation theory and practical translation into and from Spanish.
• 245303 Latin American Rhythms and Politics: From Tango to Rock – Latin American music, history and politics; taught in Spanish.
• 245304 Travellers' Tales: the Invention of Latin America – representations of Latin American people, landscapes and cultures through travel writing; taught in Spanish.
• 245305 Spanish Conversation on Film – contemporary Latin American cinema and current socio-political debates.

Disciplines / Specialisations

The main specialisation is:

• Spanish – Bachelor of Arts major.

The Spanish major itself is 120 credits. Students can also combine their BA with a minor. Massey states that a minor is optional and must be in a different subject from the major. A BA minor may be selected from subjects offered through the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Business or Bachelor of Science, subject to the applicable regulations.

Programme Highlights

• Spanish is one of the world's most widely spoken languages.
• The major combines language acquisition with cultural, historical, literary, artistic and political study.
• Some introductory courses do not require previous Spanish knowledge.
• Live online tutorials provide opportunities to practise speaking.
• The programme is designed for distance/online delivery, which is particularly relevant for international students who want to study from outside New Zealand.
• Students can potentially broaden their international experience through Massey's overseas exchange network, including Spanish-speaking and Spain-based opportunities.
• Massey's current exchange information lists Spanish among subjects available at the University of Barcelona and Universidad Rey Juan Carlos.

Career Outcomes

Massey identifies a broad range of career possibilities for graduates with a Spanish major, including:

• Banking
• Journalism
• Management
• Marketing
• Teaching
• Trade and export
• Travel and tourism.

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

• The current Spanish BA page identifies the specialisation as distance and online.
• International students can study the Spanish BA online from outside New Zealand.
• There are no additional Spanish-specific admission requirements beyond Massey's university admission regulations.
• Some Spanish courses have prerequisites; for example, 245102 requires 245101, while 245201 requires 245102 and 245202 requires 245201.
• Several courses have restrictions because of overlapping content, so students should check the course planner before selecting their subjects.
• The BA requires five 300-level courses overall, with specific core/major requirements.
• If a student has already completed a bachelor's degree, Massey allows replacement of 230111 T? Kupu: Writing and Inquiry or 230112 T? Arohae: Critical Thinking with courses of choice through a Special Permission request, with evidence of the completed degree.

International Student Visa Requirements

For students studying the Spanish BA online from outside New Zealand, Massey explicitly allows international students to study this programme online from outside New Zealand. In that situation, a New Zealand student visa is not required simply for online study outside New Zealand.

For an international student who instead intends to study in New Zealand, the relevant immigration route is generally the Fee Paying Student Visa, subject to the student's circumstances.

Current Immigration New Zealand requirements include:

• An offer of place from an approved education provider.
• Evidence of sufficient funds to pay tuition fees, unless an applicable scholarship or other accepted arrangement covers the fees.
• Evidence of sufficient living funds.
• Acceptable medical and travel insurance covering the required period.
• Evidence of genuine intention to study.
• Health and character requirements where applicable.
• Evidence that the student can leave New Zealand at the end of the stay, such as an outward travel ticket or sufficient funds to purchase one.
• Students already holding a student visa must demonstrate satisfactory progress and meet attendance requirements where applicable.