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Subject Overview

With over 500 million speakers on four continents, Spanish is the world’s second most widely spoken language after English. It offers you a passport to a truly global culture and strategic world markets. Spanish is the official language of over 20 countries in Europe, the Americas and Africa, offering various opportunities for travel, study and work. The language and cultural skills you learn can help you in many ways.

Spanish is a Romance language derived from Latin. It is closely related to French, Italian, and Portuguese, so knowledge of any of these languages will help you study the others easily and confidently. Spanish is the language of major figures in history, politics, religion, literature, music, and art from Spain and the Americas.

You can study Spanish language from beginner to advanced levels. You can also explore the cultures of Spain and Latin America from the early modern period to the present day. There are courses on Spanish and Latin American literature, film, art, music and popular culture, as well as Spanish linguistics.

Knowledge and Skills

Postgraduate study in Spanish
We offer specialist postgraduate courses in Spanish language and in Spanish and Latin American literatures and cultures.
Study and research opportunities in Spanish reflect our research strengths:
- Early modern, colonial and modern eras
- National and subaltern identities
- Critical theory
- Film, gender, music, popular culture, theatre
- Translation

Potential Careers

Studying the Spanish language and its related cultures can give you a competitive edge in many lines of work, especially in New Zealand, where few people know a second language. Spanish will be particularly rewarding for careers in teaching, translating, interpreting, foreign affairs, international law, journalism, tourism, business and marketing. It is especially useful for working with international organisations, multinational companies or NGOs in the ten Pacific Rim nations where Spanish is spoken.

The Spanish and Latin American studies programme offers a full programme of study. Courses cover language study (from beginners to advanced levels), focusing on contemporary usage and communication. The Department’s strength lies in a broad spectrum of cultural and literary studies on Spain and Latin America. We use multimedia and interdisciplinary approaches to studying Hispanic literature, film, art, music and popular culture. We support your learning with extensive print, audiovisual, and electronic resources in various library collections and multimedia laboratories.

Other information

Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Spanish
A BA or Bachelor of Global Studies with a major in Spanish including at least two advanced literature courses, one of which must be at Stage III. You must have a Grade Point Average of 5.0 or higher in 45 points above Stage II in the major.
The following subjects may also be considered for entry: Latin American Studies (with two advanced Spanish literature courses).

Schedule

Plan Schedules

Complete 120 points comprising:

  • 90 points from Elective Courses, and
  • Either:
  • 30 points for all Research Project - 1 Semester, or
  • 30 points for all Research Project - 2 Semesters

Research Project - 1 Semester

Complete 30 points for ALL of the following:

Research Project - 2 Semesters

Complete 30 points for ALL of the following: