Spanish

Abstract

The master programme in Spanish covers the four following fields: Hispanic literatures in their historical and cultural context and the relationship between them; the Spanish language, its development through history and its current variants (Spain and Latin America); analysis of modern literature and linguistics; documentation and research techniques.
The course takes an intercultural approach specific to Fribourg; it addresses the relationship between society and literature and combines literary criticism with theoretical reflection. It thus offers a dual linguistic and philological perspective, the University of Fribourg being the only university in the region to specialise in the latter.
The choice of modules guarantees great flexibility as to the content of the course.

  • Show the study programme profile

    Profile of the study programme

    The study programme is made up of compulsory and elective modules and a master thesis. The modules consist of general or monographic courses covering major periods and regions as well as more specific topics, and seminars providing more in-depth knowledge of research and analytical tools. Colloquia and conferences with external speakers complement the research. The study programme allows for great flexibility in terms of the content and order of the modules: the autonomy of the students is not only respected but also encouraged as part of their training.

    This study programme aims to develop students' skills in the following four fields:
    – Hispanic literatures in their historical and cultural context and the relationship between them. The course is taught from an intercultural perspective.
    – The Spanish language, its development through history and its current variants (Spain and Latin America) from a complementary, dual linguistic and philological perspective.
    – Analysis of modern literature and linguistics: the emergence of twenty independent countries and their integration in the modern world (including the demographic explosion of the Hispanic population in the United States) poses numerous problems of perspective and analytical content which necessitate systematic reflection.
    – Technical documentation and research skills in order to independently continue the training received during their university studies in their professional career.

    Particular emphasis is therefore placed on the multiple aspects of research resulting from its inherent complexity and the diversity of a field of study that extends across three continents and combines very varied traditions, cultures and modes of language. In this respect, the role of the module seminars is viewed as fundamental, as is the master thesis.

    The master thesis is the final piece of work for students pursuing this study programme worth 90 ECTS credits. It must address a subject which has a bearing on the master programme and may also be multidisciplinary, as long as it is written in Spanish and deals with a topic related to the Hispanic world. It serves to show that students have a command of the topics and work methods of the discipline concerned and are capable of independent research.

    Fribourg profile
    The study programme has an intercultural orientation specific to Fribourg, which emphasises the transatlantic relationships between Spanish literature and Latin American literatures. The University of Fribourg is also the only Swiss university to specialise in both the linguistic and philological aspects. Furthermore, the study programme addresses the links between society and literature by correlating theoretical reflection and literary criticism, an approach taken by no other Spanish master programme in the surrounding universities. As part of this multidisciplinary approach, we work with the Medieval Institute, the Fribourg Institute of the Renaissance and Modern Period and the Institute of Comparative Literature

    Contact between members of the Department and students is always direct and personal. The size of the classes allows for interactive collaboration and guarantees that everyone is heard. At the master level, a language trip or study trip to a Spanish-speaking country is strongly recommended to complement the teaching of the Spanish language and culture.

    Learning outcomes and career openings
    At the end of their master programme, students will have acquired the necessary skills for independent research in the field of Hispanic literature, linguistics or philology. They will have developed their skills in analysis and synthesis, their capacity for personal critical reflection and documentary research and have a command of the different methodological approaches. Their oral and written proficiency in Spanish will approach the C2 level.

    This course opens up a wide variety of career opportunities, such as:

    • Teaching: university teaching and research; teaching at the upper secondary level (with DEEM/LDM), as well as in private schools and the business sector;
    • Writing professions: journalism, advertising, libraries, archives, literary and technical translation, the book industry (publishing, management and retail);
    • Other: diplomacy, banking, tourism, hospitality, public relations, new technologies, interpreting, commercial and cultural management, international organisations, public and private administration, etc.

Studies organisation

Structure of studies

90 ECTS credits + 30 ECTS credits as an option in a minor study programme freely chosen or in a specialisation programme, 3 to 4 semesters

Curriculum

Admission

Master's degree programmes are built on the knowledge and abilities that were acquired when obtaining a bachelor's degree.

Holders of a bachelor's degree awarded by a Swiss university are admitted to a master's degree programme without any preconditions if they have earned 60 or 90 ECTS credits – depending on the chosen master's degree programme – within the corresponding discipline. However, additional requirements can be required. The same applies to holders of a bachelor's degree awarded by a foreign university, provided that the bachelor's degree is recognised and considered equivalent by the University of Fribourg.

Holders of a bachelor's degree awarded by a Swiss or a foreign university, provided that the bachelor's degree is recognised and considered equivalent by the University of Fribourg, who do not fulfil this condition can be admitted to a master's degree programme with preconditions (which must be successfully completed before starting the master's degree programme) and/or additional requirements (which can be completed during the master's degree programme). The preconditions and/or additional requirements may not exceed 60 ECTS credits in total. The same applies to holders of a bachelor's degree awarded by a Swiss university of applied sciences, according to existing agreements.

The respective conditions of admission for each master's degree programme are reserved.

Alternatives

Also offered as a minor study programme and as a specialisation programme (30 ECTS credits).

Minor study programmes to be chosen

Key points

Degree conferred

Master of Arts in Languages and Literatures: Spanish

Languages of study

Study in Spanish

Commencement of studies

Commencement of studies in the Autumn Semester (September) or in the Spring Semester (February)

Access to further studies

Ph.D.

Contact

Faculty of Humanities
Department of Spanish
Prof. Hugo Bizzarri
hugo.bizzarri@unifr.ch
http://studies.unifr.ch/go/es-spanish