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Studies & Degrees in Hispanic Literature and Theory of Literature

Hispanic literature is the study of literature written in Spanish, in Spain and in the Americas, from the Middle Ages to the present. Students read poetry, fiction, drama and essays closely and place them in their historical and cultural setting. The Universidad de Salamanca describes one aim of its bachelor's degree in Hispanic Philology as being able to describe the evolution of Spanish and Spanish American literatures from their origins to the present day, through authors and texts from each period, genre and movement.

Theory of literature asks the general questions behind that reading: what makes a text literary, how genres work, and how a work relates to its readers and its time. It is often taught together with comparative literature, which sets works from different languages and arts side by side. In practice the two halves of the subject support each other. Students learn the history of the texts and the methods for analysing them, and they write a great deal.

Qualifications and levels

  • Bachelor's degree (grado): in Spain the subject is studied within degrees in Hispanic philology or Spanish language and literature, which have 240 ECTS credits and take four years. At the Universidad de Salamanca, literary theory is part of the basic philological training shared by all the language degrees in the first two years.
  • Master's degree: Spanish master's degrees have 60, 90 or 120 credits under Royal Decree 822/2021. The Universidad de Salamanca offers a master's degree in Spanish and Spanish American literature, theory of literature and comparative literature that lasts one academic year (60 ECTS), including a final project of 13 ECTS. It has two specialisations: Spanish and Spanish American Literature, and Theory of Literature and Comparative Literature.
  • Latin American licenciatura: the Licenciatura en Literaturas Hispánicas at the Universidad de Sonora in Mexico normally takes eight semesters. In Brazil, the Universidade Estadual de Londrina (UEL) offers a four-year teaching degree in Spanish language and Hispanic literature.
  • Doctorate: a PhD follows the master's degree and is the usual route into university teaching and research.

Where to study it

SpainExchange lists 10 active schools for this subject: six in Spain, two in Mexico, one in Brazil and one in the United States. Teaching is mostly in Spanish, so international students need a strong reading and writing level in the language.

In Spain, the Grado en Filología Hispánica at the Universidad de Salamanca is taught in Spanish and offers 150 first-year places for 2026-27. Its master's degree is aimed mainly at graduates in philology, and the university recommends scientific English or French at CEFR level B1 to B2. The master's degree renewed its accreditation in 2018 and 2024. The Universidad de Navarra in Pamplona offers the Grado en Lengua y Literatura Españolas, an official four-year degree of 240 credits with 40 places, taught in Spanish and English. Its study plan includes Introducción a la crítica literaria, Literatura hispanoamericana, Teoría de la literatura and Introducción a la literatura comparada, and students can add a diploma in creative writing. The list also includes the Universitat de Barcelona and the Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, as well as two centres for visiting students in Seville and Granada.

In Mexico, the Universidad de Sonora teaches its degree on the Hermosillo campus. It trains students to identify, analyse and interpret literary texts in Spanish; applicants sit an entrance exam, and graduation requires the university social service. The Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (BUAP) has offered a degree in Hispanic linguistics and literature since 1965, and its faculty also lists a master's degree in Spanish American literature.

In Brazil, the UEL degree is an evening, on-campus programme with 40 places that trains teachers of Spanish language and Spanish-language literatures for primary and secondary schools. In the United States, the list includes Washington University in St. Louis.

Careers

Teaching is the main destination. The Universidad de Salamanca lists secondary school teaching of Spanish language and literature, which in Spain requires the master's degree in teacher training, and university teaching of Spanish literature, Spanish American literature and literary theory. The Universidad de Sonora names the fields of teaching, research, publishing, literary and cultural promotion, libraries and the media. UEL adds work for publishers in text revision, teaching materials and translation.

There are no official employment statistics for literature graduates as a group. For two related occupations in the United States, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of postsecondary teachers in all subjects will grow 7 percent from 2025 to 2035, and notes that they typically need a PhD. Employment of editors is projected to decline 1 percent over the same period, with about 7,900 openings a year from replacement needs.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Hispanic literature and theory of literature?

Hispanic literature studies the works written in Spanish and their history. Theory of literature studies the concepts and methods used to analyse any literary text, and is often combined with comparative literature.

How long does a degree in Hispanic literature take?

In Spain a bachelor's degree takes four years and 240 ECTS credits, and the master's degree at the Universidad de Salamanca takes one more year (60 ECTS). The Universidad de Sonora degree in Mexico normally takes eight semesters.

Do I need a philology degree to enter a master's in Hispanic literature?

Not always. The Universidad de Salamanca aims its master's degree mainly at philology graduates but also considers graduates in history, art history, humanities, philosophy and other fields. Check the admission criteria of each university.

Which language are the programmes taught in?

Mostly in Spanish. The Universidad de Navarra teaches its degree in Spanish and English, and the Universidad de Salamanca teaches in Spanish.