Studies & Degrees in Hispanic Literature and Theory of Literature

Choose where you would like to study Hispanic Literature and Theory of Literature:

The study of this discipline would mainly involve the analysis of the style and content of Hispanic literature from a variety of time periods, whilst the focus would mainly be on writing. The word ‘Hispanic’ suggests that texts from authors of ‘Hispanic’ countries would mainly be explored, and these include Spain, Central and South America (except for Brazil), and some regions of Africa. The study of literature includes the study and analysis of fiction, poetry, and drama. It exposes students to a variety of standpoints, presented by a great number of authors.

The theory of literature component relates to questions like what is literature; how it is produced; how it can be understood, and what is its purpose. As can be concluded, the subject incorporates philosophical and social perspectives as well as a historical element.

Personal Qualities

For the study of literature, a creative, open-minded personality would be suitable, with an aptitude for writing and exploring various types of texts. Further qualities may include:

• Excellent analytical skills
• Excellent presentation and written communication skills
• Very good at reading and remembering large amounts of information and texts
• Good at doing research
• Aptitude for subjects like history and philosophy

Study Options

Hispanic literature courses are available on many levels of study – ranging from an associate’s degree to a doctorate in literature. The degree you wish to pursue greatly depends on your personal future career goals and aspirations. Regardless of the institution or degree level they embark on, students studying Hispanic Literature and Theory of Literature can expect to be exposed to a wide range of research areas, periods, critical methods, and theoretical frameworks: from textual analysis and cultural studies, psychoanalytic and critical social theory, to the study of genre, gender, and sexuality. From the Spanish-Castilian Middle Ages and Early Modern Studies to contemporary prose, poetry and film in Galician or Catalan, from the Andes and the Southern Cone to Mexico and the Latino/a presence in the USA; and finally, from colonial times to recent transatlantic trends.

Often a degree in Hispanic Literature is a very good complement to a business and marketing degree, especially if you would be dealing with the Hispanic culture. The degree equips students with excellent transferrable skills, as well as cultural background that would help in any chosen profession. Consequently, opportunities for study abroad, research, and internships are a very important point to consider when choosing your school.

Career Options

Spanish is the third most spoken language in the world, so a degree in Hispanic Literature would easily apply to any profession. As with most language and literature degrees, the most popular career options are teaching, marketing, and advertising, as well as media and communications. You can easily find a job within a large corporation, targeting Hispanic customers, write for magazines, or translate novels, articles, journals, and so on. You could also become a high school teacher or a university professor, or even go into the tourism industry. Last but not least, with a certain amount of talent and imagination, you can become a writer or a poet, or work on a freelance basis.