Once you have completed your Honours courses or (equivalent accreditation), you may earn a Masters degree by spending one year (full-time; maximum 2 years) or two years (part-time; maximum 4 years) writing and completing a thesis: SPAN690.
Your Masters degree could have a special focus on any of the pathways indicated below. If you have a different research topic in mind, not mentioned here, feel free to discuss it with the Spanish Subject Coordinator.
Note: We strongly recommend all Honours students who intend to continue with a Masters to take the following courses:
Pathway 1: Translation Studies
If you would like to focus on the topic of translation, you are advised to take the following Honours courses:
Your Masters thesis would consist of the translation of an authentic text of appropriate length and genre, accompanied by theoretical discussion regarding your methodological framework and an analysis of the challenges encountered and strategies used to overcome them. Therefore, you would have to choose an appropriate translation project in consultation with your supervisor.
Common career choices available through this pathway are becoming a translator, either freelance or for a translation agency. You could work on casual bases as a consultant for Hispanic embassies and consulates, or for the police, immigration, and wider local and central governmental organizations.
Note: you may further enhance your expertise by also taking an interpretation course. For more info see www.interpret.org.nz.
Pathway 2: Literature
If you choose to take this pathway, you may write a Masters thesis with the main focus on one or more Spanish-speaking authors. Your topic, which you must choose in consultation with your supervisor, may revolve around an author in relation to different aspects of contemporary narratives, such as the Historical Novel, Latin American Narratives, the Bildungs Roman, to mention just a few possible topics.
To learn more about the courses we recommend and the common career choices available through this pathway please see pathway 3.
Pathway 3: Hispanic Cultural Studies
If you are interested in Hispanic Cultural Studies, you may choose to write your masters thesis on a topic which deals with exile, gender issues, contextual literary analysis, history of ideas, or you could analyze the specific impact of the cultural, political and/or religious policies of a Spanish-speaking country. In this pathway, you may also focus on socio-cultural analysis based on linguistic issues. You may choose other topics in consultation with your supervisor.
If you are taking pathway 2 or 3 you are encouraged to take a combination of Literature and Language courses.
A common career choice through pathways 2 and 3 is the teaching and research careers at tertiary institutions. This is also a suitable background to work in the journalism profession or becoming a creative writer.
Pathway 4: Teaching and Learning Spanish as a Foreign Language
This may be taken in conjunction with the College of Education* or Linguistics. You can write a thesis on L2 teaching issues such as Didactic Strategies and Methodologies for Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language. Common topics of study are the process of foreign language acquisition, the design of effective didactic materials and the use of modern technologies, both inside and outside the classroom, the study of specific challenges that different New Zealand communities face in the process of learning Spanish as a foreign language. Your topic must be chosen in consultation with your supervisor.
Common career choices available through this pathway are in the Teachers Training Profession, or as a school teacher.
All of these pathways will also equip you with a number of transferable skills, such as language abilities, discourse and critical thought, and analytic and verbal aptitudes which are sought after by many employers. This may also help you if you would like to live and work overseas.
* You are advised to choose these in consultation with the Spanish Subject Coordinator.
Regulations
Official University regulations and policies for the MA.
