Spanish and History of Art MA (Hons)

Spanish

You will study either Spanish 1A or 1B, depending on your language skills. Typically, students on Spanish 1B come to University with substantially more experience of studying Spanish than students on Spanish 1A.

As well as developing your language skills, both the 1A and 1B courses will introduce you to a diverse selection of cultural texts and films from across the Spanish-speaking world.

History of Art

You will study History of Art 1, exploring the relationship between art, power and belief.

The first part of the course addresses developments in European art (including in Spain) from the rise of Christianity, through the Middle Ages and into the Renaissance, concluding with the religious upheavals of the early modern period.

The second part moves away from the Eurocentric focus of Western art to consider the wider world of visual culture; its diverse geographies and intercultural relations.

Option courses

You will complete your Year 1 studies with option courses chosen from a wide range offered by the University.

You can, for example, opt to study another language, such as Basque, Catalan or Portuguese. We offer one of the widest ranges of languages of any UK university, the majority of which are suitable for complete beginners and include cultural study.

Other options include, but are not limited to, courses in:

• linguistics and language sciences
• business, economics and informatics
• politics, social policy, social anthropology and international relations
• art and architectural history
• history, classics and archaeology 
• Celtic and Scottish ethnology
• philosophy, divinity and law

Spanish

Students of 1A and 1B will come together in our Spanish Language 2 course. This course will help you communicate your ideas in Spanish using more nuanced grammatical structures, vocabulary and syntax. In both your spoken and written work, you will gain confidence in expressing yourself in Spanish, ready to study or work abroad in Year 3.

You will also take a further course on the literatures and cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. You'll be introduced to different genres and artistic currents which demonstrate how culture has reflected, shaped and contested reality from the sixteenth century to the present day.

History of Art

You will study History of Art 2, which begins with the eighteenth century and continues to the present day.

This course explores the rise of some of the art movements that often define Art History as a subject (including Surrealism), as well as the challenges these style labels now pose.

In History of Art 2, art is shown to be at the forefront of national, political and industrial change. The course concludes with the effects of globalisation and radical new conceptions of art that are current in today's world.

Option courses

As in Year 1, you will also choose other courses from a wide range offered by the University.

These option courses include a great selection in European languages and cultures that explore literature, film and theatre in themed and comparative contexts.

Typical option courses include:

• Cultural Responses to War 
• Migration, Exile, Diaspora 
• Crime and Detection in Literature 
• Gender and Culture 
• The Coming-of-Age Narrative 
• Introduction to European Cinema 
• Dynamics of Language and Power
• Languages Beyond University

You can also opt to begin, or continue, studying Portuguese, Basque or Catalan, expanding your knowledge of Iberian languages and cultures.

You will spend Year 3 in a Spanish-speaking country, deepening your knowledge of Spanish by speaking it daily and immersing yourself in local cultures.

Living abroad will also give you the wider perspective, experience and skills to embrace the opportunities and challenges of life after university.

Read our blog post by Spanish student Anu who discovered a passion for teaching yoga on her year abroad

How much time will I spend abroad?

You will spend a minimum of 30 weeks abroad in a country where Spanish is spoken.

You might be able to divide your time between two destinations, but to give you a balanced experience, you will spend at least eight weeks in each place. How you further divide your time abroad is typically based on whether you study, work or combine the two.

Where can I go?

Transforming classroom learning into a lived experience, you will study or work in a country in which Spanish is spoken. The University has exchange places in a wide variety of universities in Spain and Latin America (Argentina, Chile and Mexico).

If you are considering working abroad, the first step is to start thinking about where you would like to go. Visa requirements and application processes vary between countries, so it is a good idea to find out what documentation you will need and whether you are eligible to get it.

Study or work?

When you are abroad, you can typically choose to either:

• study in one or two destinations
• work in one or two destinations
• study in one destination and work in another

If you choose to study, you will take classes at one or two of the universities where we have available exchange opportunities. This means that you will spend either:

• two semesters at a single institution
• one semester at two different institutions (in different destinations)

A work placement abroad is another way to gain an international perspective, build professional networks and prepare you for your career after university.

Once you have checked if you are eligible to work abroad, and have talked through your plans with us, you might choose to do one or more placements. For example, you could:

• arrange to work or volunteer with a private company or charity
• apply to an established placement scheme, such as the British Council’s English Language Assistants programme

Whatever you decide to do, your time abroad is a chance for you to evolve and grow beyond Edinburgh. It adds an international dimension to your studies, showing future employers that you are open to new ideas and experiences.

Coursework while abroad

We will aim to ensure your experience abroad is as beneficial as possible to your final year, as well as to your wider language learning, cultural awareness and skills development.

Regardless of whether you study or work abroad, you will take an e-learning course to prepare you for your Year 4 language courses in Spanish. This course will count as part of your Year 3 marks, alongside any coursework arranged by your host university (if studying abroad).

For History of Art, you will write two independent research projects: Analysing Art History - Parts 1 and 2. You will be supported by access to readings, recorded lectures and supervision by a member of staff in Edinburgh via email and/or online meetings.

Depending on your Year Abroad activities, you also begin preparing for your dissertation while abroad, guided by your dissertation supervisor.

You will study advanced Spanish written language, spoken language and translation into English.

You will also choose from a range of specialist, honours-level courses in Spanish and in History of Art.

For Spanish, these courses explore aspects of Spanish and Latin American:

• film
• literature
• history
• politics 
• language
• linguistics
• media and cultural production

Building on all the knowledge and skills you have developed over four years, including in independent research, you will complete a dissertation or long essay.