Where you can study
International students
International students are not New Zealand citizens or residents.
Specialise in Spanish for your Bachelor of Arts at Massey
With more than 400 million speakers, Spanish is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. It continues to grow as a popular second language. Spanish is spoken not only in Spain. It’s also spoken in more than 20 countries in Latin America, parts of Africa, and in many regions of the United States.
Relevant in Australasian contexts
The increasingly multicultural nature of society means it is important to learn about new languages and cultures, and how they interact with, and are affected by, your own. The BA (Spanish) produces its own digital study materials, relevant to Australasian students, so you will gain skills that are applicable to your own communities.
Massey is New Zealand’s only university to deliver language qualifications completely via distance. Massey’s BA Spanish is available by distance learning to Australian students.
Highly interactive with plenty of opportunities for language practice
Whether you study on campus or by distance, you will learn from supportive, passionate academics. Your lecturers deliver live online tutorials/lectures at various times - evenings, lunchtimes and weekends - to fit with your busy schedule. You don’t have to learn on your own. Everyone can practise speaking Spanish in a shared environment.
Combines culture and language to enhance your learning experience
Language does not exist in isolation, and becomes more powerful when it is learnt in a cultural context. You will use videos, music and literature to examine social, historical and political developments. Through exploring this context, you will also explore your own culture and identity.
A Bachelor of Arts in Spanish is a good fit if you:
- want to learn a new language
- have Spanish-related personal or professional interests
- enjoy the cultures of Latin America and Spain.
Planning information
If you study full time, in the first year you’ll take eight 15-credit courses, making a total of 120 credits.
If you wish to study over two semesters, you should aim for 60 credits per semester. You may be able to take some courses at summer school if you wish. Make sure you include courses that are prerequisites for the next level of courses you wish to study.
You need to pass five courses at 300-level for your BA. One of these (230310) is in the compulsory core and three are required for your major. If you are not taking a double major or a minor, you will need to take one 300-level elective course to meet this requirement.
About this major
A Spanish major consists of 120 credits (eight courses).
Minors
Completing a minor is optional. Minors increase the breadth of your degree. They give you extra knowledge, attributes and capabilities.
A minor must be in a different subject from your major.
A Bachelor of Arts (Spanish) with a minor
You may choose a minor from the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Business or Bachelor of Science. If the minor is from another degree the regulations of that qualification will apply.
A Spanish minor (for students who are studying a different degree)
If you are not studying towards a BA (Spanish) and wish to complete a minor in Spanish see the BA regulations for requirements.
Official regulations
To understand what you need to study and must complete to graduate read the official rules and regulations for this qualification.
You should read these together with all other relevant Statutes and Regulations of the University including the General Regulations for Undergraduate Degrees, Undergraduate Diplomas, Undergraduate Certificates, Graduate Diplomas and Graduate Certificates.
Returning students
For returning students, there may be changes to the majors and minors available and the courses you need to take. Go to the section called ‘Transitional Provisions’ in the Regulations to find out more.
In some cases the qualification or specialisation you enrolled in may be no longer be taking new enrolments, so may not appear on these web pages. To find information on the regulations for these qualifications go to the Massey University Calendar.
Please contact us through the Get advice button on this page if you have any questions.
Courses you can enrol in
Course planning key
- Prerequisites
- Courses that need to be completed before moving onto a course at the next level. For example, a lot of 200-level courses have 100-level prerequisite courses.
- Corequisites
- Courses that must be completed at the same time as another course are known as corequisite courses.
- Restrictions
- Some courses are restricted against each other because their content is similar. This means you can only choose one of the offered courses to study and credit to your qualification.
Core courses for the Bachelor of Arts
As well as the specialisation courses listed below, this qualification has core courses that you will need to complete.
Spanish courses
Subject courses
Course code: 245101 Introductory Spanish Language I 15 credits
An introduction to basic communication skills in spoken and written Spanish. Aspects of contemporary Hispanic culture and society are also studied.
View full course detailsCourse code: 245102 Introductory Spanish Language II 15 credits
An extension of basic communication skills in spoken and written Spanish. Aspects of contemporary Hispanic culture and society are also studied.
View full course detailsCourse code: 245103 Hispanic Culture and Heritage 15 credits
An introduction to significant aspects of modern Hispanic history, literature, art and culture in Spain and the Spanish-speaking world. No prior knowledge of Spanish is required.
View full course detailsCourse code: 245201 Intermediate Spanish Language I 15 credits
Intermediate level written and oral comprehension and communication skills in Spanish, providing a broad linguistic base for the study of Spanish and Latin American culture, literature and civilisation.
View full course detailsCourse code: 245202 Intermediate Spanish Language II 15 credits
An extension of intermediate skills in reading, free composition, listening comprehension and oral communication to illustrate aspects of contemporary Spanish and Latin American culture and society.
View full course detailsCourse code: 245203 The Sound of Spanish: Diction, Dialects and Diversity 15 credits
An introduction to socio-linguistic aspects of the use of Spanish around the world, including dialectal variations and bilingualism, through a study of basic Spanish phonetics and phonology.
View full course detailsCourse code: 245204 Latin American Voices 15 credits
An introduction to 20th century Latin American literature and its historical and political contexts through short literary works in Spanish.
View full course detailsCourse code: 245301 Advanced Spanish Language 15 credits
Advanced level skills in reading, free composition, listening comprehension and oral communication in Spanish, illustrating aspects of contemporary Spanish and Latin American culture and society.
View full course detailsCourse code: 245302 Theory and Practice of Spanish Translation 15 credits
An advanced introduction to the theory and practice of translation from and into Spanish and the role and responsibility of the translator.
View full course detailsCourse code: 245303 Latin American Rhythms and Politics: From Tango to Rock 15 credits
Study of representative twentieth century Latin American music styles and their links to key social and political events that have shaped Latin American history. This course will be taught in Spanish.
View full course detailsCourse code: 245304 Travellers' Tales: the Invention of Latin America 15 credits
An exploration of how Latin American people, landscapes and cultures have been defined through the writings of European, North American, Australasian and Latin American travellers. This course will be taught in Spanish.
View full course detailsCourse code: 245305 Spanish Conversation on Film 15 credits
An advanced study of contemporary Latin American cinema within the context of current socio-political debates.
View full course detailsEntry requirements
Admission to Massey
All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.
Specific requirements
There are no specific entry requirements for the Bachelor of Arts (Social Policy), outside of university admission regulations.
English language requirements
To study this qualification you must meet Massey University's English language standards.
If you have already completed a bachelor degree
If you have already completed a bachelor degree you may replace 230111 Tū Kupu: Writing and Inquiry or 230112 Tū Arohae: Critical Thinking with courses of your choice. You will need to apply for replacement courses via a Special permission request in your portal and you will need to attach evidence of your completed degree with the request.
English language skills
If you need help with your English language skills before you start university, see our English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses.
Fees and scholarships
Fees, student loans and free fees scheme
Your tuition fees may be different depending on the courses you choose. Your exact fees will show once you have chosen your courses.
There will also be some compulsory non-tuition fees and for some courses, there may also be charges for things such as study resources, software, trips and contact workshops.
- Get an estimate of the tuition fees for your qualification
- View a list of non-tuition fees that may be payable
Already know which courses you're going to choose?
You can view fees for the courses that make up your qualification on the course details pages.
Student loans (StudyLink) and Fees Free scheme
You may be eligible for a student loan to help towards paying your fees.
The New Zealand Government offers fees-free tertiary study for eligible domestic students. Find out more about the scheme, including how much could be covered and your eligibility on the Fees Free website.
Scholarship and award opportunities
Search our scholarships and awardsFees disclaimer
This information is for estimation purposes only. Actual fees payable will be finalised on confirmation of enrolment. Unless otherwise stated, all fees shown are quoted in New Zealand dollars and include Goods and Services Tax, if any. Before relying on any information on these pages you should also read the University's Disclaimer Notice.
Careers and job opportunities
Trade, tourism and diplomatic relations between New Zealand and the Hispanic world are on an upward trend. By majoring in Spanish your knowledge of Spanish language and culture will prove both valuable and rewarding. A degree majoring in Spanish makes a wide range of career choices possible, including:
- banking
- journalism
- management
- marketing
- teaching
- trade and export
- travel and tourism.
Plan your courses
View your course options and plan your study using our course planner.
What our students say
“Teachers were very available and so encouraging. The four years at Massey equipped me well to become a language teacher.”
“In my last semester I did an exchange and studied in Alicante on the Mediterranean coast in Spain. It was an amazing opportunity.”
Related study options
Spanish – Graduate Certificate in Arts
Boost your career while learning a new language. The Graduate Certificate in Arts (Spanish) will give you the equivalent of an undergraduate major in Spanish without having to complete a second bachelor’s degree.
Spanish – Diploma in Arts
Prepare for the global marketplace. With over 400 million speakers, Spanish is one of the most widely spoken native languages in the world and continues to grow as a popular second language.
Spanish – Graduate Diploma in Arts
Learn Spanish, one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. The Graduate Diploma in Arts (Spanish) will give you the equivalent of an undergraduate major in Spanish without completing a second bachelor’s degree.
Useful planning information
Key information for students
Compare qualifications and academic information across different New Zealand institutions. Learn more on careers.govt.nz