Spanish and Sustainable Development
Spanish is a genuinely global language, spoken by hundreds of millions of people across Spain, Latin America and communities around the world, and it opens access to one of the richest literary, cultural and historical traditions in human civilisation. Sustainable development addresses some of the most important questions facing those same societies today, asking how human activity can meet present needs without compromising the capacity of future generations to meet theirs, and how environmental, social and economic goals can be pursued together rather than traded off against one another. This five-year MA programme at the University of St Andrews develops both dimensions with the depth that honours-level study demands.
You will develop your Spanish language and communication skills to a high level of proficiency, exploring the rich cultural heritage of Spain and Latin America through literature, history, film and translation across periods from the Golden Age to the present day. The sustainable development strand brings a rigorous engagement with the environmental, social and governance dimensions of development, examining how policies and practices can be designed to promote long-term human and ecological wellbeing. The combination is particularly coherent given the significance of environmental challenges, land use, extractive industries and climate vulnerability across Latin America.
Graduates of this programme are well positioned for careers that require both linguistic and cultural competence in Spanish and substantive knowledge of sustainability and development. International organisations, NGOs working in Latin America, government departments with development or environmental remits, research institutions, journalism and the private sector all employ graduates with this combination of skills. Environmental consultancy, international development, policy research and corporate sustainability roles are all well-established destinations.
Postgraduate study in Spanish, development studies, environmental policy or international relations is a natural further step.