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Spanish (MA)

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Course Overview

The MA in Spanish is aimed at students and language professionals who wish to consolidate and extend oral and written fluency in Spanish, in addition to developing competency in research methods and, optionally, a deeper knowledge of Spanish and/or Latin American literature. Students will extend their awareness of and sensitivity to a range of intercultural issues and be capable of contributing to professional and economic activities relating to the Spanish-speaking world.

A postgraduate degree is an appropriate means of achieving a very high degree of oral and written fluency in Spanish, in addition to developing competency in research methods and intellectual enquiry. Graduate students achieve greater confidence in the knowledge and skills already acquired from undergraduate study, in addition to becoming articulate members of society, sensitive to cultural issues.

Students will hone their language and translation skills in English and Spanish and, through modules available within Spanish and across other disciplines, be exposed to a range of contemporary critical debates relating to Latin America literature, culture studies, intercultural communication and translation studies.

Scholarships available
Find out about our Postgraduate Scholarships here.

Applications and Selections

Applications are made online via the NUI Galway Postgraduate Applications System. 

Who Teaches this Course

  • Professor B. Richardson
  • Dr K. Quinn
  • Dr L. Shaughnessy
  • Dr L. Kelly
  • Dr M. Boland
  • Ms B. Sangrador-Vegas
  • Ms P. Alderete

Requirements and Assessment

Language work, including translation into and from Spanish, will be assessed throughout the year. Content modules will be assessed through exams and/or essays. A dissertation must also be submitted.

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

Second Class Honours NQAI Level 8 degree or equivalent, with Second Class Honours, Grade 2 or equivalent in Spanish.


Additional Requirements

Duration

1 year, full-time

Next start date

September 2021

A Level Grades ()

Average intake

10

QQI/FET FETAC Entry Routes

Closing Date

You are advised to apply early, which may result in an early offer; see the offer round dates

NFQ level

Mode of study

ECTS weighting

90

Award

CAO

Course code

1MSL1

Course Outline

Within the programme, students may examine literary modules concentrating primarily on Latin American narrative and study work relating to the practice and processes of translation and interpretation. Seminars and translation classes into and out of Spanish take place throughout both semesters. Students subsequently complete a dissertation broadly related to any of the literary, theoretical or social issues broached throughout the year and relevant to the Spanish-speaking world.

The programme includes such modules as:

  • Advanced Language Skills I and II in Spanish
  • Translation Studies I
  • Latin American Literature I and II
  • Translation Methodology
  • Language and Intercultural Communication
  • Research Methods

Curriculum Information

Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).
Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Glossary of Terms

Credits
You must earn a defined number of credits (aka ECTS) to complete each year of your course. You do this by taking all of its required modules as well as the correct number of optional modules to obtain that year's total number of credits.
Module
An examinable portion of a subject or course, for which you attend lectures and/or tutorials and carry out assignments. E.g. Algebra and Calculus could be modules within the subject Mathematics. Each module has a unique module code eg. MA140.
Optional
A module you may choose to study.
Required
A module that you must study if you choose this course (or subject).
Semester
Most courses have 2 semesters (aka terms) per year.

Year 1 (90 Credits)

Required SH507: Dissertation


15 months long | Credits: 30

Assessments

This module's usual assessment procedures, outlined below, may be affected by COVID-19 countermeasures. Current students should check Blackboard for up-to-date assessment information.

  • Research (100%)
Module Director
Lecturers / Tutors
The above information outlines module SH507: "Dissertation" and is valid from 2018 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Optional SH505: Translation Studies I


Semester 1 | Credits: 15

Assessments

This module's usual assessment procedures, outlined below, may be affected by COVID-19 countermeasures. Current students should check Blackboard for up-to-date assessment information.

  • Department-based Assessment (100%)
Module Director
Lecturers / Tutors
The above information outlines module SH505: "Translation Studies I" and is valid from 2014 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Optional SH530: Latin-American Literature I


Semester 1 | Credits: 15

Assessments

This module's usual assessment procedures, outlined below, may be affected by COVID-19 countermeasures. Current students should check Blackboard for up-to-date assessment information.

  • Continuous Assessment (100%)
Module Director
Lecturers / Tutors
The above information outlines module SH530: "Latin-American Literature I" and is valid from 2014 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Optional SH562: Advanced Language Skills I (Spanish)


Semester 1 | Credits: 10

Assessments

This module's usual assessment procedures, outlined below, may be affected by COVID-19 countermeasures. Current students should check Blackboard for up-to-date assessment information.

  • Department-based Assessment (100%)
Module Director
Lecturers / Tutors
The above information outlines module SH562: "Advanced Language Skills I (Spanish)" and is valid from 2014 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Optional SH556: Research Methods for Spanish Students


Semester 1 | Credits: 10

Assessments

This module's usual assessment procedures, outlined below, may be affected by COVID-19 countermeasures. Current students should check Blackboard for up-to-date assessment information.

  • Department-based Assessment (100%)
Module Director
Lecturers / Tutors
The above information outlines module SH556: "Research Methods for Spanish Students" and is valid from 2014 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Optional GR6100: Language & Intercultural Communication


Semester 1 | Credits: 10

We live in a world of diversity and inter-relatedness. In this course we explore how we communicate in a professional and personal realm underscored by both difference and similarity. We examine how culture effects how we perceive the world and influences our behaviour. We look at different theoretical concepts which underlie how we communicate and specific cultural contexts which embody practices, values and traditions. The aim is to gain a deeper insight into other cultures whilst at the same time be able to think critically about our own culture, thus becoming more competent intercultural communicators. In this course we use media like video and podcasts, in addition to reading widely from academic sources. Student discussion and participation are actively encouraged for each class.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes
  1. Demonstrate an understanding of cultural concepts as tools for examining cultural behaviors
  2. Recognise the importance of engaging in critical examination of elements of your own culture
  3. Demonstrate a knowledge of the diversity and uniqueness pertaining to cultures
  4. Consider commonality pertaining to cultures and improve intercultural competence
  5. Complete a substantial piece of academic writing on an element of intercultural communication
  6. Present research on a particular element of intercultural communication, i.e. intercultural communication in a specific context
  7. Conduct a case study, based on literary analysis, of a particular cultural phenomenon
Assessments

This module's usual assessment procedures, outlined below, may be affected by COVID-19 countermeasures. Current students should check Blackboard for up-to-date assessment information.

  • Department-based Assessment (100%)
Module Director
Lecturers / Tutors
Reading List
  1. "• Introducing Language and Intercultural Communication. Available as an e-book via college library" by Jane Jackson
    Publisher: Routledge
  2. "• Intercultural Competence: Interpersonal Communication Across Cultures" by Myron W. Lustig and Jolene Koester
    Publisher: Pearson
  3. "• Communication between cultures" by Larry A. Samovar Richard E Porter; Edwin R McDaniel
    Publisher: International Edition, Belmont, Calif. Wadsworth; London: Cengage Learning distributor
The above information outlines module GR6100: "Language & Intercultural Communication" and is valid from 2019 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Optional SH531: Latin-American Literature II


Semester 2 | Credits: 15

Assessments

This module's usual assessment procedures, outlined below, may be affected by COVID-19 countermeasures. Current students should check Blackboard for up-to-date assessment information.

  • Continuous Assessment (100%)
Module Director
Lecturers / Tutors
The above information outlines module SH531: "Latin-American Literature II" and is valid from 2014 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Optional SH563: Advanced Language Skills II (Spanish)


Semester 2 | Credits: 10

Assessments

This module's usual assessment procedures, outlined below, may be affected by COVID-19 countermeasures. Current students should check Blackboard for up-to-date assessment information.

  • Department-based Assessment (100%)
Module Director
Lecturers / Tutors
The above information outlines module SH563: "Advanced Language Skills II (Spanish)" and is valid from 2014 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Optional SH571: Translation Methodology (Spanish)


Semester 2 | Credits: 10

Assessments

This module's usual assessment procedures, outlined below, may be affected by COVID-19 countermeasures. Current students should check Blackboard for up-to-date assessment information.

  • Department-based Assessment (100%)
Module Director
Lecturers / Tutors
The above information outlines module SH571: "Translation Methodology (Spanish)" and is valid from 2014 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Optional SH570: Consecutive Interpreting (Spanish)


Semester 2 | Credits: 10

Assessments

This module's usual assessment procedures, outlined below, may be affected by COVID-19 countermeasures. Current students should check Blackboard for up-to-date assessment information.

  • Department-based Assessment (100%)
Module Director
Lecturers / Tutors
The above information outlines module SH570: "Consecutive Interpreting (Spanish)" and is valid from 2014 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Why Choose This Course?

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the MA (Spanish) have gone on to do second- and third-level teaching and doctoral and translation work. They have also found employment in media, administration, cultural activities and journalism.

Who’s Suited to This Course

Learning Outcomes

 

Work Placement

Study Abroad

Related Student Organisations

Course Fees

Fees: EU

€6,800 p.a. 2021/22

Fees: Tuition

€6,576 p.a. 2021/22

Fees: Student levy

€224 p.a. 2021/22

Fees: Non EU

€16,300 p.a. 2021/22

Postgraduate students in receipt of a SUSI grant—please note an F4 grant is where SUSI will pay €2,000 towards your tuition.  You will be liable for the remainder of the total fee.  An F5 grant is where SUSI will pay TUITION up to a maximum of €6,270.  SUSI will not cover the student levy of €224.

Postgraduate fee breakdown = tuition (EU or NON EU) + student levy as outlined above.

Find out More

Dr Lorna Shaughnessy
T: +353 91 492 229 
E: lorna.shaughnessy@nuigalway.ie 
www.nuigalway.ie/spanish

Quick Links

 

What Our Students Say

Ceire

Ceire Broderick |    

I am really enjoying the MA in Spanish: it has a great variety of modules, including literature, translation and interpreting. We expand on the knowledge we already have and complete regular, formative assignments designed to improve our investigative skills, fine-tune our critical analysis of topics, and help us prepare for our dissertation. All the staff work hard to support us. We learn practical skills that will serve us in the workplace and I would definitely recommend it.
Elena

Elena Vaughan |    

Undertaking an MA in Spanish can be a rewarding if challenging experience. The emphasis placed on independent research and learning means the student learns many transferable skills invaluable in the workplace as well as gaining an in-depth knowledge of the subject matter.

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Downloads

  • Postgraduate Taught Prospectus 2021

    Postgraduate Taught Prospectus 2021 PDF (11.3MB)