Graduate

Graduate students thrive in our dynamic programs in French, German and Spanish that combine the advantages of a large, multilingual department in a comprehensive research university with three distinct language sections.

We offer the MA in Spanish, French and German and the PhD in Spanish and French.

All of our graduate students work together to share their knowledge and coursework, participate in department-wide events, exchange common interests, and interact with faculty in multiple languages. We strengthen their learning through innovative courses in cultural and literary studies and linguistics.

Explore the department directory and the PhD dissertations and MA theses of past graduate students to get an idea of the variety of research and teaching that takes place here. Be sure to also check out testimonials from current graduate students to see what life as a graduate student at Nebraska is like! 

Learn more about applying

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French

Our French graduate program has strong emphases in medieval and early modern literature and culture, Francophone literatures of the Oceanic region, women’s writing, and literary translation. Courses in second language acquisition and literary theory round off this core.

Printable brochures:

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German

The German graduate program emphasizes proficiency in major areas of German literature, culture and pedagogy. Courses and seminars offered represent a spectrum of broad cultural topics and highly specialized themes. Emphasis is placed on discussions, reports, and close work with professors.

Printable brochures:

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Spanish

Our Spanish graduate program offers you the opportunity of critically engaging with Hispanic literatures, cultures and linguistics. You will be able to work with a dynamic and professionally active faculty with a wide range of scholarly and interdisciplinary interests, ranging from early modern literature to contemporary Spain and Latin America.

Printable brochures:

Teaching Assistantships and Fellowships

Deadline for application: February 1.

Our graduate teaching assistantship includes tuition remission of up to 12 credit hours during the Fall and Spring semesters, and six credit hours during the summer. In addition, teaching assistants receive a departmental stipend that covers the cost of living in Lincoln. Students are also eligible for departmental merit fellowships to supplement their assistantship, which can be used to cover student fees. Summer teaching is available to students in Spanish.

We also offer economic support for students presenting their research at conferences. Support is also given to doctoral students interviewing for jobs at the MLA. Students may also apply for various Graduate College fellowships, which provide financial awards in varying amounts.

At the graduate program’s discretion, we accept applications at any time, but priority consideration is given to those who apply before the announced deadline.

Alumni careers and experiences

French

Some of our alumni are now in teaching positions or doctoral programs at other universities, teaching in high school, and working in publishing, non-governmental organizations, and translation and interpretation.

"I gained incredible linguistic and analytical capabilities that equipped me to interact with clients in my second language and adapt easily to working with people from a variety of backgrounds, customs, and languages."

Madeline Smith,
Marketing Manager for Sandhills Publishing

German

Recent MA graduates in German are now doctoral students at other universities, both in the US and abroad, and teachers of German in public schools across the United States. They are also pursuing a range of non-academic careers in areas such as diplomacy, film, translation, business, and international hospitality.

"Because of the open, caring atmosphere among my professors, I felt like all the program participants shared a common goal. We were working with our professors to grow, not just working for them."

Brian Rentfro,
German teacher at Brentwood High School in Williamson County, Tennessee

Spanish

Our recent MA graduates are now in teaching positions in colleges or high schools, both in the United States and abroad. Recent PhD graduates in Spanish are now professors and work at institutions such as Drury University, Universidad Isabel I, Utah Valley University, Truman State University, Dixie State University, Creighton University, University of Nebraska-Omaha, Henderson State University, Hendrix College, and Milligan College.

"I met with my advisor each week to conduct research together and collaborated on classroom questions and activities. So much of who I am as a teacher is a reflection of his methodologies, mentoring, and influence."

Heather Jerónimo,
Assistant Professor at the University of Northern Iowa