Graduate Degrees in Spanish

Spanish

The Department of Spanish and Portuguese at the University of Colorado Boulder offers a Master of Arts program in Spanish with four areas of emphasis: Peninsular and Latin American literature; Hispanic linguistics; Spanish & Portuguese studies; and teaching Spanish. We also offer a Doctor of Philosophy program in Spanish with three areas of emphasis: Peninsular literature; medieval and early modern Hispanic literatures; and Latin American literature.

Degree Types

MA ᐧ PhD

Top Green College

(Princeton Review, 2025)

No. 46 among public universities in the country

(U.S. News & World Report, 2026)

5 Nobel Laureates

Since 1989

All students are eligible for graduate teaching assistantships. These appointments include a monthly stipend and tuition remission, and cover all student health insurance premiums.

Grants and fellowships (summer, research, travel) are also available by application.

Our graduates have secured excellent jobs as teachers and researchers. Recent PhD graduates hold tenure-track jobs at schools such as Dartmouth, Middlebury, Carnegie Mellon, Wake Forest, Texas A&M, University of San Diego, Lehigh University, West Point Military Academy, the University of Texas at Austin, Colorado College and Temple University.

Degree Options & Application Requirements

Spanish

Master of Arts

Four areas of concentration:
- Peninsular and Latin American Literature
- Hispanic Linguistics
- Spanish & Portuguese Studies
- Teaching Spanish
All MA students are required to complete at least 30 hours of graduate coursework, at least 25 of which must be completed at CU Boulder. MA students may transfer to the department a maximum of 6 credit hours of acceptable graduate-level courses and may take no more than 6 credit hours of independent study courses.
Students must demonstrate, as early as possible and before taking the comprehensive examination, a communication knowledge (as defined by the Graduate School) of a foreign language other than Spanish. They also must be able to speak, read and write English well.

Application Deadlines & Requirements

To learn about the upcoming term application deadlines, please visit the Graduate School website.

For program details, review the .

Doctor of Philosophy

The PhD in Spanish is offered in three literary periods of concentration:
- Medieval/Early Modern/Colonial Literature
- Modern and Contemporary Peninsular Literature
- Modern and Contemporary Latin American Literature
Before taking the PhD comprehensive exams, students must complete a minimum of 36 credit hours in graduate seminars in Spanish and/or related fields numbered 5000 or above.
Students can take as many as 9 graduate credit hours outside the department.
All PhD students must take at least 30 credit hours of graduate coursework at CU Boulder. PhD students may transfer to the department a maximum of 6 hours of acceptable graduate-level credit.
Students must demonstrate, as early as possible before taking the PhD comprehensive examination, communication knowledge in Portuguese and one other modern language (subject to the approval of the student's PhD supervisory committee). English and Spanish are not part of this language requirement.

Application Deadlines & Requirements

To learn about the upcoming term application deadlines, please visit the Graduate School website.

For program details, review the .

Research Areas

Hispanic Linguistics
Medieval and Early Modern Literatures and Cultures
Modern Latin American Literatures and Cultures
Modern Peninsular Literatures and Cultures
Spanish
Portuguese

Funding Opportunities

We understand funding opportunities play a major role in helping you to decide whether a program is right for you. At CU Boulder, PhD students are supported through research and teaching assistantships. Students are also encouraged to apply for their own sources of funding.

Explore General Funding Explore Department-Specific Funding

Graduate Student Resources

Student success is best met with holistic support and resources. CU Boulder offers robust resources, programming and opportunities to help students establish meaningful connections, adjust to graduate student life and find assistance when they need it. Whether it’s academic, social, or health and wellness support, the university provides an array of resources to meet the diverse needs of our students.

Graduate Student Organizations