About Spanish
The Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics offers B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Spanish. The program's dedicated faculty are specialists in Iberian, Latin American and Caribbean Studies, Hispanic linguistics and second language acquisition.
At the undergraduate level, in addition to our core courses on language and literature, we offer a wide variety of specialized courses representing faculty interests (e.g., Amazonia, Caribbean Studies, discourse analysis, gender studies, second language acquisition, phonology, sociolinguistics, syntax and psycholinguistics). Students have the opportunity to study abroad in various Spanish-speaking locations around the world in Costa Rica, Panama or Spain.
Undergraduate
The department offers courses ranging from beginning to advanced levels, and undergraduates can earn a minor (12 credits) or major (30 credits) in Spanish. In addition to developing strong oral and written communication skills, students take content courses that explore the rich literary, cultural, and linguistic traditions of the Spanish-speaking world. Students can also study abroad with FSU’s programs in Costa Rica, Panama and Spain.
Graduate
At the graduate level, students can pursue M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Spanish, with advanced coursework and research opportunities that reflect the diverse interests of the department’s internationally recognized faculty in Hispanic literary and cultural studies and in Hispanic linguistics.
THE IMPORTANCE OF SPANISH IN FLORIDA AND BEYOND
The State of Florida enjoys a long-standing relationship with the Spanish-speaking world. Florida was part of the Spanish Empire (1565-1763 and 1784-1821) longer than it has been part of the United States, and due to its proximity to the Caribbean and Latin America, Florida has maintained important social and economic ties with the Spanish-speaking world for nearly 500 years. Today, over 25 percent of Florida's population is of Hispanic origin, and the U.S. Hispanic population has recently risen to more than 65 million (2023 U.S. Census Bureau). The United States now has the second largest Spanish-speaking population in the world. Considering Florida's past and recent history, coupled with the growing need for bilingual professionals in all areas, Florida State University is an ideal location to begin or to continue your study of the Spanish language and Hispanic literatures, cultures and linguistics.